The AHDB is inviting researchers to tender for a new project to understand alternative desiccation methods following the EU’s ban on diquat, the active ingredient in widely-used potato herbicides.
The European Commision’s decision not to renew approval for diquat has big ramifications for potato growers, since it is currently the main product used to desiccate crops.
Joe Martin, crop protection senior scientist for AHDB, said: “This research will be closely aligned with our knowledge exchange programme and trials will be carried out across our Strategic Potato (SPot) farm network.
“We are now requesting tenders for scientific coordination and trial implementation at a number of our sites. It may be that one organisation may tender for any part or the whole of this research, this can be split into research area or by region.”
This topic was introduced at SPot North in 2018, where Graham Tomalin of VCS Agronomy carried out work at Somerby Top Farm in Brigg, north Lincolnshire.
The demonstration saw 13 treatments, including two flail treatments, applied to 26 varieties of potato. These plots attracted keen interest at SPot North events over the 2018 season.
This year, fully replicated experiments will involve treatments applied in challenging situations, such as the early desiccation of a seed crop of the indeterminate variety Markies. Assessments will tease out the effect of different treatments on time to skin set, occurrence of diseases such as black dot and extent of passive bulking following treatment.
Alistair Redpath, chief executive for Cygnet Potato Breeders and chair of AHDB’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee, said: “This is a welcome move for the potato industry. The loss of diquat has had a major impact on both seed and ware growers, and with this research we can now hope to learn more about available desiccants and optimal burn-down strategies and keep producing good quality potatoes.”
Those interested in tendering for this research should visit:https://ahdb.org.uk/p1901285-potato-dessication
