IOG INDUSTRY AWARD SPONSOR
PREVENTION RATHER THAN CURE The number of weapons in the turf manager’s arsenal is shrinking, so tackling plant health before disease can take hold is becoming ever-more important A preventative approach results in stronger turf
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hanges in pesticide legislation are continuing to have a deepening effect on sports turf quality. In 2017, we lost the most effective fungicide combination, Tebuconazole and Prochloraz, and in the summer of 2018, the industry lost the remaining contact curative active, Iprodione. Turf managers are having to shift their emphasis to a proactive approach to plant health, utilising nutritional inputs as a management tool. In terms of disease management, the reduction in curative products available has been a game-changer and has
effectively ended the option of reactive fungicide applications. Using preventative fungicides to control Fusarium Patch (Microdochium nivale) will continue to be an essential tool in the turf manager’s armoury – especially during the moistureladen autumn and spring months. However, producing a grass plant that is strong and healthy, therefore making it difficult for disease to take hold in the first place, is now more important than ever. This approach takes a longer term, strategic view of turf disease management. Headland started to explore this area in 2007 and has commissioned trials at the STRI every year since, to improve the products used and the results offered. The result of these years of research and trials are a number of disease management strategies, which feature both the timely application of preventative fungicides, and the use of nutrients to maximise plant health going into and during, the main disease periods.
Headland’s industry-leading ‘20-20-30’ tank-mix is now a proven strategy, which uses preventative applications of liquid plant health products that work together to strengthen the plant, reducing the reliance on costly repeated fungicide applications. The latest approach uses the ’20-2030’ mix (Liquid Turf Hardener, Turfite, Seamac Proturf) together with Mantle, a new product launched in 2018. Trials conducted in 2017/18 and ongoing in 2018/19 have shown the efficacy of this approach with excellent reduction in active Microdochium nivale compared to the untreated control. To achieve optimum results, this tank-mix combination is designed to complement a full IPM program that includes fungicides and cultural control of surface organic matter. Timing is essential. If disease activity is kept in check during October and November, then turf managers stand a better chance of a much healthier sward coming through into the new season. This preventative approach can also considerably reduce the need for curative chemical applications, reducing costs by up to 50 per cent compared to using fungicides alone. While chemistry continues to be a fundamental tool in preventing outbreaks of disease, a pro-active, enhanced plant health strategy must be combined with careful maintenance practices. For more information about the ‘20-20-30’ strategy see www.headlandamenity.com
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