Achieving a greater certainty of crop yield is money well spent. And with POD-LOCK you can keep your valuable seeds securely in their pods.
Pod-lock® reduces losses in high value crops
Achieving a greater certainty of crop yield is money well spent. That’s according to Mike Goodwin, UPL NZ Ltd. Central South Island Regional Manager. Mike says, particularly considering recent extreme weather events, taking precautions makes a lot of sense.
Pod-lock, a pod protecting sealer from the sustainable agriculture solutions provider UPL, has a unique latex polymer blend. That - as the name suggests - keeps seeds securely in the pod. The adjuvant’s specialised polymer blend works by forming a pliable netting that dries on the pod, creating a seal that helps keep the pod intact and strengthens the pod wall itself.
Protecting high value brassica seed crops from shedding
High value brassica seed crops including oilseed rape are particularly susceptible to seed loss through shedding - also known as shattering. Mike says the naturally occurring process is made worse by factors including severe weather, and even harvesting itself.
“When you’ve got rain followed by the dry heat which we tend to get a lot in Mid Canterbury, then shedding/shattering can become a real problem. That makes Pod-lock a really good fit for our local farmers’ needs and growing conditions.”
Widely used in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, Pod-lock was launched in New Zealand ahead of the 2009/10 harvest. Mike says it was with Mid Canterbury farmers particularly, in mind. “It’s been good to see there’s now really good uptake here.”
Making a big difference
He says awareness of the product, appreciation of the difference Pod-lock can make to the final harvested yield, and the recent number of extreme weather events have sharpened farmers’ and growers’ focus. “Knowing that they’ve got that backstop there takes away a bit of stress.
“Costs in agriculture have also been rising, which makes optimising yield a priority.”
He says with seed crops for export market, especially, the stakes are high. “They have a lot of inputs and a lot of spray, resources, and time going into those crops. You don’t want to lose a single seed pod, if you can help it.
“Seed losses, as a result of split pods, of 10-25% are common. In more extreme examples, you can even get losses of up to 70%. Protecting seed resources and worldwide food security are urgent issues too.”
POD-LOCK pays for itself
Mike says Pod-lock is more than paying for itself with ROIs of 50 to 60%. ‘Using Pod-lock, you just don’t get those big seed losses. And enhancing the profitability of the crop is what agriculture is all about right now.”
Trials in the UK (where the product is marketed as PODSTIK®) have shown a 200-500 kg/ha seed saving when the product is used. “When you’re looking at a crop yielding 4 tonne/ha that’s pretty significant.”
As a bonus, Mike says, Pod-lock helps deliver cleaner paddocks post-harvest with fewer volunteer plants germinating from lost seed. “You don’t have the potential seed burden that needs to be sorted out next season – which can be a saving in itself.”
He says fewer seeds on the ground may also mean the crop is less attractive to birds. “It’s anecdotal but it certainly makes sense.”
Mike says Pod-lock does not impact plant senescence and has no adverse effects on seed maturity or, importantly, on the quality of the seed produced.
Pod-lock can be applied between BBCH 80 (when pods are still green and bendy) through to BBCH 89 (when pods are fully ripe and seeds have hardened). It can be mixed with a range of commonly used desiccants including glyphosate.
Long efficacy
Mike says the product is effective for about a month, although some UK field trials show efficacy for up to 8 weeks after application. Mike also recommends re-spraying if heavy rain occurs.
Pod-lock should be applied in 150-300 L/ha, with 300 L/ha water volume recommended for use on dense crops for maximum benefit. Pod-lock is effective at such low use rates as it bridges the upper pod suture line. This is the point where the pod starts to split when mature, or when repeatedly wetted and dried. By essentially ‘sticking’ this area together the upper suture is prevented from opening which prevents seed loss. Pod-lock does not have to cover the whole pod to be effective.
Pod-lock doesn’t translocate within the plant but sticks where it lands. Moreover, Pod-Lock has no residue limit and is broken down naturally over time by weathering and sunlight.
Immediately after application, the sprayer must be rinsed thoroughly with water. Then add All Clear® 2X tank cleaner to ensure Pod-lock is removed from the sides of the tank, pump and spray lines and spray nozzles.
Read more on POD-LOCK here.
