Nematodes seriously affect productivity of Brazilian crops

Date:09-02-2013

According to surveys conducted by UNESP Jaboticabal (SP) in Brazil, it was observed losses bigger than 50% in soybeans fields due to damage caused by the infestation of nematodes in area able to be to cultivate. The problem is present in the largest proportion of Brazilian crops and it is difficult to measure because the pest is hidden and silent, which compromises the productivity of crops significantly.

According to Pedro Luiz Martins Soares ,Nematology professor and consultant  at the Department of Agricultural Sciences in UNESP Jabotical, the plague spreads quickly through the soil and that’s why it is important to have an integrated handling as part of the routine of the farm, considering each particular case, since two or more species may occur simultaneously in the area. "You must be careful with the choice of control adopted for a species so it does not help the development of another. Therefore, prior knowledge of the species occurring in the area is the most necessary information for management planning.

To Siegfrid Baumann, Product Manager for Seed Treatment at Bayer CropScience, one of the solutions most known for its efficiency is the protection of the seeds. "This is an excellent tool in crop handling, since it enables the use of areas that are infected with the plague, reducing the nematode population to acceptable levels and allowing the development of planted cultures," he said.

Bayer Solution - CropStar ®, one of the options offered by Bayer CropScience in its seeds protection portfolio, is an insecticide that makes mastigadors and sucking’ pests control as well as promotes the control of nematodes attack the root system protecting soybean plants in the initial phase and in the first days after emergence in the field. Moreover, it has selectivity to natural enemies, being suitable for integrated pest management (IPM) .

Bayer CropScience leads the discussion about the importance of nematodes handling and it acts on several research focuses to try to control this pest. "The goal is always to expand the guidance to farmers looking to further improve handling of the affected areas and promote best agricultural practices available with expert technical support so that the producer can produce more and better," concludes Baumann.