Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2021 13 TRAP CROPS Potatoes, Anne Stone, said: “Members of this field lab were keen to work out what is the latest viable sowing date of trap crops. “In the immediate situation, growers can often move crops round so short season ones are grown on land low in PCN. But they then have to clean up infested fields, so there will be more interest in trap crops. They are more reliable than options like biofumigation but the best time to sow them clashes with the main growing season for cash crops, so as of yet, they are seldom grown.” The field lab is investigating two nightshade trap crop species - solanum sisymbriifolium and a less researched variety, solanum scabrum. The seeds, provided by Produce Solutions, were planted and compared at two different depths – approximately 1.5 and 3cm. They were drilled between cash crop harvest and planting dates to avoid the loss of the cash crop in the rotation, and drilling took place from early July to early August. Researchers from Harper Adams University, Curious Raven and OptiGro assisted with assessing trap crop cover, biomass and density and PCN soil counts. The field lab found that establishment varied considerably between farms and concluded that planting in North Shropshire in late June has potential in lighter soils. At some sites, particularly on clay loam soils, weeds and soil moisture impacted establishment. Trap crops have the potential to reduce PCN populations by up to 80%, but unless they can work between cash crops in the rotation, they won’t be seen as a viable option. By putting farmer priorities at the forefront of this research, the growers can properly risk assess whether they can make trap crops fit into the commercial practice. This sort of systems-based approach is what farmer-led research is good at, according to Kate Pressland, Programme Manager at Innovative Farmers. “It is remarkable how much VIM the Innovative Farmers field lab has added to trap crops for PCN,” she said. The group will continue trials this year, exploring plant nutrition and PCN counts. “For 20 years I’ve been planning that part of my strategy which will be to include a trap crop within our rotation across the farm.” Neil Furniss, Manager, M.E. Furniss & Sons “It is remarkable how much VIM the Innovative Farmers field lab has added to trap crops for PCN.” Kate Pressland, Programme Manager, Innovative Farmers Sisymbriifolium. Scabrum.