Greencrop Irrigation has developed a machine for the application of Nemaslug through irrigation hose-reels using both booms and rain guns, allowing growers to apply slug control while irrigating. The system ensures that Nemaslug is applied in optimum conditions to provide maximum effect.
The GCAD305 applicator trailer is coupled up to the irrigation pump using the power from the engine unit, or solar power supply, to drive a mixer, which agitates the nematodes, keeping them in suspension. They are then pumped through a water-powered dosing unit at pre-set application levels to match the flow and trajectory of the hose-reel irrigator.
Slugs are one of the most widely known pests of cultivated plants; they cause extensive damage in a wide range of crops. attacking seeds, leaves, stems, flowers and root structures. Furthermore, most species of slugs are capable of causing subterranean damage. For example, with young seedlings, slugs can destroy the growing point before it emerges from the soil surface. Moreover, with crops like potatoes, slugs need not come to the surface since they have a ready-made food source from the growing tubers. Finally, slugs pose a contamination risk, where the mere presence of the pest on harvested crops faces the risk of rejection by packers and supermarkets.
The only weakness in the slug armoury is their susceptibility to desiccation. Slugs protect themselves from drying out by staying underground during daytime when conditions are dry and only come above the surface to feed. They focus their feeding activity at night when conditions are usually damper and of course out of direct sunlight.
Nemaslug contains the mollusc pathogenic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, this aggressive organism is found naturally in the soil, but only in small numbers. A single dose of Nemaslug applied as a spray/drench provides tens of thousands of nematodes for every square metre of applied area. It is this significant army of nematodes that provides superior control of slugs.
Nematode products contain nematodes in their vigorously infective juvenile stage. These aggressive organisms actively seek out slugs and then enter through natural body openings. Once inside they release symbiotic bacteria, quickly killing the slug, then the nematodes reproduce inside the dead host and release a new generation of infective juveniles, which disperse in search of further prey.
Nemaslug is mollusc specific and will kill a wide number of slug species including the most important field slug, Deroceras reticulatum. Nemaslug will also control other Deroceras species, many of the important Arion Species and soil-dwelling snails like Oxyloma species.
Why use Nemaslug:
- Only product to provide persistent, long term control.
- Unaffected by wet weather.
- Effective knockdown control.
- Works by killing slugs in the soil, exactly where the pest spends most of its time.
- No crop residues.
- No harvest interval.
- For use on all crops including organics.
- Can be used through irrigation lines.
For more information visit: www.greencrop.co.uk.
