Diversity of crop rotation is a key agroecological tool, and an arable project in Pukekohe is focused on bringing barley into the rotation in the northern part of the North Island.
In this video case study, Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) researcher Jo Drummond explains how the FAR-A Lighter Touch project at the Pukekohe Research and Demonstration Farm is demonstrating management of the barley crop utilising integrated pest management and use of selective chemistry as required.
As Jo explains, the late-spring timing of barley in the northern part of the North Island, particularly around Pukekohe, can make pest and disease management of the crop particularly challenging.
“We’re drilling at a time that could potentially be really risky for aphid flights, but it’s also a time that’s really good for beneficial species and supporting beneficial species.
FAR Researcher Jo Drummond.
“We have risks of disease. We’ve got a crop that’s rapidly going through its growth stages, so we don’t have a lot of time for intervention. And we’re wanting to make sure that we are responsible with the chemistry that we’re using and doing things for the right reasons,” Jo says.
The project is also demonstrating a side-by-side comparison of management approaches, comparing good current practice with a future focused approach, considering how pest and disease pressures might be managed in the future where arable growers might not have access to the tools currently available.
FAR’s future management approach aims to demonstrate how the integration of new crop protection tools can reduce agrichemical use and produce a successful yield and margin. The future management approach includes:
- resistance management strategies,
- non-chemical tools such as a biostimulant seed treatment,
- monitoring the ratio of beneficials to aphids as a basis for spray decisions, rather than calendar spraying,
- use of selective chemistry, rather than broad-spectrum products, and
- rationalising the number of fungicide applications.
This season will be the third and final year of the project, with this year’s barley crop due to be sown in October. This season’s barley will follow a cover crop, with half the block being drilled into the cover crop after it has been crimped, and the other half being mulched and cultivated before planting.
Learn more about FAR’s A Lighter Touch projects here, and read more about activity on this project and others this season in the update on demo farm activity here.
