More than 200 growers and members of the potato industry were presented with the latest advice from the British Potato Council and independent experts at the West Midlands Potato Day last week.
The management of water and soil formed key topics for discussion.
Denis Buckley at TAG told growers that investment in water should stand them in good stead. “The industry must now have the capacity to irrigate more than 80 per cent of the potato acreage, but due to higher transpiration rates, most growers cannot cope with a dry season such as 2006,” he said.
“Media publicity always emphasises extremes in terms of annual temperature rises. If global warming becomes a reality it is important to manage water effectively as a resource. But the situation is improving as more investment is made by growers.”
Eric Anderson at Scottish Agronomy warned growers that soil management was “critical” in terms of minimising minimising down-slope erosion, wind erosion and flooding risk.
He warned that crops produced on slopes of more than three per cent are at risk of soil erosion and that, if soil is dumped on roads or houses, insurance may cover the first incident but civil action may be taken thereafter.
“Tied ridgers and the Aqueel can minimise erosion and also maintain water in a dry season,” he said: “The Aqueel potentially can achieve 192,500 indentations per hectare, with a capacity of up to one litre per indentation and benefit of 50 per cent reduction in field sediment loss.”
Iain Dykes at the BPC led a discussion on new research on Dickeya dianthicola, one of the Erwinia chrysanthemi (Ech) complex of bacteria, which causes rots and crop losses.
A BPC-funded project is underway to build up geographical knowledge of the problem. Dykes urged growers to report suspected cases.
He said: “D. dianthicola has caused limited economic loss to date in the UK. Climate change and continued introduction of the pathogen to the UK could result in this becoming a serious economic threat.
“The current BPC guide - Managing the risk of soft rot and Blackleg - provides advice for control,” he added.
The event was sponsored by the Environment Agency and supplier Greenvale AP and supported by McCain Foods (GB) Ltd.
The UK potato sector is responding proactively to the new soil and water legislation, according to BPC agronomist Kate Jackson, and this was reflected in the high attendance on the day.
“With these workshops, the BPC is leading the way on interpreting the legislation and discovering the production benefits for growers,” she said. “I’d urge all growers to find out where their local event is and attend.”
For more information go to www.potato.org.uk/soils
No comments yet