UK

A large container nursery stock grower was chosen with a known prevalence of black vine weevil and whose chosen method of control is Nemasys L nematodes.

Application:

The trial was conducted over a 6 month period from April to the end of September 2014 to allow for dry areas to begin forming through the warmer months of June, July and August. Aqualatus was added to the nematode application every 4 weeks therefore 6 applications were given in total.

Aqualatus was applied at 1.2 litres every 4 weeks. Core samples were then taken before every application from random pots within the trials area. Moisture notation and nematode presence was noted from three points along the core to allow for the edges and centres of the pots to be covered. For the presence of nematodes, the core would be cut into 3 and water dripped along the length of the cores to provide run off which would then be placed under a computer microscope for notation.

Objectives:

The aim of the trial was to utilise the lateral movement qualities of Aqualatus soil surfactant to maximise and maintain optimal wetting of the growing media to prevent dry areas from forming and therefore provide a continually moist rootzone in which the nematodes could move freely.

Results:

Aqualatus proved to be a positive addition to the irrigation water as moisture levels increased under the influence of the product and where levels of moisture were higher nematodes could be found.