United Kingdom
July 15, 2020
Recent news on the approval of the fungicide seed treatment Vibrance Duo for barley could provide a bonus for establishing Scottish crops. When combined with the vigorous growth of a hybrid, there is potential to lift barley to another level.
“The vigour of hybrid winter barley already makes it well-suited to Scottish growing environments,” says Mark Bullen of Syngenta.
“AHDB Recommended List data for the North shows the hybrids Belmont and SY Kingsbarn, for example, have yielded equivalent to 10.6 t/ha.”
Gillian Colman Mark Bullen
Seedcare Marketing Manager Head of Seed and Seedcare Sales
Now, when combined with even better rooting and foliar growth seen from Vibrance Duo + a loose smut active partner to cover an even broader disease spectrum – there are opportunities to release even more potential.
The combination of hybrid barley plus Vibrance Duo + a loose smut active partner seed treatment is an exciting prospect for growers, says Gillian Colman, Syngenta Seedcare Marketing Manager
Getting more from winter barley
Hybrid barley + Vibrance Duo seed treatment technology + loose smut active partner = Even better barley potential
- Improved plant establishment*
- Improved rooting*
- Improved tillers*
* All seen with Vibrance Duo + ipconazole in hybrid barley trials
Increased rooting from Vibrance Duo
“Trial plots drilled on 12 September at Berwick last year showed SY Kingsbarn treated with Vibrance Duo + a loose smut active partner produced a massive 74% increase in rooting and a 93% increase in foliage weight over untreated seed,” says Syngenta seedcare marketing manager, Gillian Colman.
“This combination also produced an average of 217 plants/m2 with six tillers per plant. That compared with just 189 plants/m2 and four tillers per plant from a standard seed treatment.
“We have also seen rooting and foliar improvements in hybrid trial plots elsewhere when drilled on 10 October on a sandy loam soil.
“Hybrid barley is already known for vigour. Better root structures are associated with improved access to water and nutrients,” Gillian adds.
Other hybrid benefits
Other attractions for hybrid barley in Scotland include early maturity, for a good entry into oilseed rape, plus good Rhynchosporium resistance, says Mark Bullen.
“Trials have also shown high straw yields from hybrids, and there is compelling evidence of greater black-grass, ryegrass and brome suppression from a hybrid’s vigorous growth.“The average specific weight of hybrids on the AHDB Recommended List also now equals the average for conventional two-row feed barleys,” Mark adds.