In September 2016 a field trial was set up to evaluate the persistence of selected insecticides (Karate Zeon®, Mavrik®, Pirimor®, Transform™, Eco-oil®, and Poncho®-treated seed) in spring barley to provide growers with information on their residual activity against cereal aphids.
Key points
- The seed treatment Poncho® was shown to be the most persistent product of those tested, giving 13.4 days of persistence from the date the foliar insecticide treatments were applied and 43 days after sowing.
- Transform™ at a full rate gave 10 days persistence which was significantly longer than all other treatments except for Karate Zeon 40 ml/ha at 6.5 days.
- Karate Zeon® at a half rate, Mavrik®, Pirimor® and Eco-oil® gave a similar persistence of 3.8 to 5.2 days.
- In addition to persistence, other factors need to be considered such as price, rotating modes of action for anti-resistance and choosing insecticides more compatible with beneficial insects.