Velum Prime sets new standard for yield protection in the presence of nematodes in carrots

Velum Prime, the liquid nematicide containing fluopyram, has demonstrated yield protection in carrots equal to that delivered by the previous standard, Vydate 10G (oxamyl).

The private trial ran by Alan Bartlett and Sons in 2020 comprised 90 plots and involved inspecting 4,658 carrots for evidence of nematode damage such as fanging and stunting. The trial site, a coarse sand over flint field outside Swaffham, Norfolk, was chosen specifically for its history of high pressure. 

“The nature of the cropping on the farm, which includes potatoes, sugar beet, other vegetables and even irrigated barley, means it was almost inevitable that crops would suffer nematode damage of some form,” explains Peter Saunders, Alan Bartlett and Sons agronomist.

Because of the often-sporadic nature of nematode distribution across a field, the plots were arranged so that there was always a treated plot either side of the untreated.  “This ensured that when we recorded severe damage in the untreated, the results of the adjacent treated plots were of high statistical value,” says Mr Saunders.

Across the trial the average incidence of nematode damage in the untreated plots was roughly 15%, but to give a more informative indication of the yield protection afforded by nematicides, the data from those areas where there was no damage in the untreated were discounted. The highest level of damage in an untreated plot was 52%.

“It’s more informative to focus on the damage to crops either side of an untreated plot with a high proportion of damaged roots.  In these plots the best level of damage reduction ranged from 92% for Vydate 10G and 88% for Velum Prime. The Velum Prime is clearly working; these results are virtually the same,” says Mr Saunders.

Velum Prime was applied as a broadcast spray in 500 L/ha water up to 30 minutes before incorporation with a bed-former and sowing, while Vydate 10G was applied at drilling. It should be noted, however, that since the trial was completed authorisation for oxamyl, the active substance in Vydate, has been withdrawn.

“Amongst the higher-pressure areas of the field it is clear that Velum Prime is as effective as Vydate 10G in reducing the incidence of FLN damage.What we found interesting is that applying Velum Prime and Vydate 10G in sequence resulted in almost zero nematode damage. The combination of the two products was extremely effective,” says Mr Saunders.

Average incidence of damage depending on treatment (all plots including those with no nematode damage)

Source: Alan Bartlett and Sons, 2020 trial comprising 90 plots, Swaffham, Norfolk