Spud Builder does what it says on the can!
Spud Builder field trials data were presented during both the Workshop and the New Phosyn Products sessions at the MM 2005. This potato specific composite product has been shown to consistently improve crop performance in field trials investigations. Recent Canadian data were only briefly summarised at the MM 2005. It is now possible to present a more complete overview of this trial.
The field trial was conducted by the potato specialist contractor Cavendish Agri-Services on Prince Edward Island which is a major potato producing region for the processing industry in Canada, particularly French Fries. Russet Burbank, a leading French Fry variety, was the cultivar involved in the trial with four replicates of each treatment in the randomised block experimental design.
Spud Builder was applied at the recommended rate of 10 l/ha on each of two spray occasions with the first application at early bulking and the second twelve days later.
Total tuber yield achieved in the Spud Builder treated plots was 11.9% higher than in the untreated control plots. The contractor also reported that Spud Builder increased the percentage of tubers greater than 10 ounces in weight by 69.5% over the untreated control.
Furthermore, the "pay hundred weight (cwt)" category was raised 15.2% by
Spud Builder and the "greater than 10 oz cwt" category was raised 83.8%. This Canadian trial has clearly demonstrated that
Spud Builder really can build spuds when applied during bulking!
Author: David Bilsborough, UK
Published: September 2005