Potato growing is more challenging
A Bourne agronomist has said that high levels of potato blight last year are making growing the crop more and more challenging.
Robert Boothman, of Boothman's Agriculture, said that the blight that growers faced in 2007 was an altogether more difficult disease than usual.
Traditionally the UK had one strain of blight called "A1". However, a new strain called "A2" has been on the rise over the last five years and exploded in 2007, accounting for 70 per cent of the blight population.
The more aggressive strain can complete its lifecycle quicker, makes bigger lesions and can flourish in cooler temperatures.
However, Mr Boothman said that better potato blight fungicides are available than before and growers who used the correct products managed to control the strains effectively.
He said: "The high incidence of potato blight last year is no doubt still fresh in growers' minds.
"Successful control came from growers who used the correct products at the correct time with close intervals and good spray application technique. We have a better armoury of potato blight fungicides than ever before.
"Positioned with the correct timing, effective control is possible. However, on account of the new aggressive strains, intervals between fungicides will need to be tightened."
Mr Boothman also warned that the new type of blight could produce fungal resting spores, which can survive in soil for up to four years.
It has not been confirmed in the UK yet, but it would make blight a soil-borne disease.
He added: "My advice is to review all aspects of blight control with your agronomist at the start of the season and have a plan, but be prepared to react quickly to changing circumstances."
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Weather for Spalding
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
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