Regrassing is important for increasing pasture productivity and farm profitability. It is a process that requires thorough planning to achieve a successful outcome. Seed treatment has an important role to play in this process, helping protect young seedlings against invasive insect pests and diseases when they are at their most vulnerable stage. The successful establishment of forage grass is the critical first step in achieving a high yielding pasture.
Superstrike grass seed treatment is recommended for all spring and autumn sown grass seed (e.g. ryegrass, fescue and cocksfoot), where Argentine Stem Weevil, Black Beetle or Grass Grub are active. The presence of these harmful insect pests during pasture establishment can result in significant losses ranging from a partial to a total resow if the seed is unprotected. Grass seed sown in northern regions of New Zealand (where Black Beetle is active), in a no-tillage programme or undersown into an existing pasture are all high risk situations, which should be mitigated by the use of Superstrike grass seed treatment. The early growth of slow establishing species such as fescue and cocksfoot is also enhanced by seed treatment through the positive effect on plant vigour.
ADDITIVE |
PEST AND DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDE | Argentine Stem Weevil (adults and larvae), Black Beetle (adults), Grass Grub (larvae) | Above and below ground protection against economically damaging insect pests, during the first 6 weeks after sowing. |
CONTACT FUNGICIDE | ‘Damping off’ (Pythium, Fusarium) | Protects the root zone from 'Damping off’ fungal pathogens in the first 3-4 weeks of establishment. |
NUTRIENT | Zinc, Molybdenum, Manganese |
Nutrients are distributed evenly around the seed and available for fast uptake by the germinating seedling. |
BIRD REPELLENT | - | The green coloured treatment and the fungicide component have properties that help deter birds from eating surface applied seed. |
Superstrike grass treatment has a positiveeffect on seedling vigour and early growth through the chemical and micronutrient additives, which can result in first grazing occurring earlier. The boost to seedling growth has been shown to occur in situations where plants are under pressure from an external stress (e.g. insect attack) and when growing conditions are favourable.
Seed treatment and novel endophyte technologies complement each other in the field, helping protect the host plant from target insect pests over the life of that plant. The seed treatment provides early plant protection and the novel endophyte in ryegrass or fescue products delivers long-term protection after it becomes fully expressed within the plant at 4-6 weeks.
Superstrike is a filmcote seed treatment, therefore seed should be sown at the same rate as untreated seed. The one exception relates to Grass Grub protection, where Superstrike treated seed should be sown at a minimum of 15 kg/ha.
Under full pasture renovation livestock should not graze Superstrike treated grass seed in the first 6 weeks after sowing. When Superstrike treated seed is undersown or ‘stitched’ into an existing pasture sward, the withholding period for grazing is 3 weeks after sowing, due to the dilution effect from existing plant material, which is pesticide free.
Prillcote® grass is a seed treatment developed for oversowing. It provides plant protection, plant nutrition and weight build-up additives formulated to improve the physical application of seed and the subsequent establishment and growth of grass seedlings in hill and high country environments.
Prillcote grass seed treatment is recommended for all grass seed applied in an aerial oversowing programme. With the seed coat increasing the weight of the seed by 100%, the sowing rate of Prillcote grass seed should be increased by 100% in comparison to untreated seed.
ADDITIVE |
DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
CONTACT FUNGICIDE | ‘Damping off’ (Pythium, Fusarium) | Protects the root zone from ‘Damping off’ fungal pathogens in the first 3-4 weeks of establishment. |
NUTRIENT | Lime | Provides the weight increase for improved ballistics, helping ensure more seed reaches its target on the soil surface. Also helps provide a localised pH correction around the seedling. |
BIRD REPELLENT | - | The green coloured treatment and the fungicide component have properties that help deter birds from eating surface-applied seed. |
The application of plant protection and plant nutrition agents, in addition to rhizobia to clover and lucerne seed, are a very cost-effective means of delivering these additives to the soil to enhance the establishment and growth of seedlings. The successful establishment of clover seed is an important step in setting up a high producing pasture sward.
ADDITIVE |
PEST AND DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDE | Clover Root Nematodes |
Protects the root zone during plant
establishment.
|
NUTRIENT | Lime |
Helps provide a localised pH correction around the seedling and assists root development.
|
NUTRIENT | Molybdenum |
Provides a start-up supply of this important micronutrient, which is required for root nodulation and seedling growth. Molybdenum is distributed evenly around the seed and available for fast uptake by the germinating seedling.
|
RHIZOBIA* | - | The green coloured treatment and the fungicide component have properties that help deter birds from eating surface applied seed. |
ADDITIVE |
DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
NUTRIENT | Lime |
Provides the weight increase for improved ballistics, helping ensure more seed reaches its target on the soil surface. Also helps provide a localised pH correction around the seedling and assists root development.
|
NUTRIENT | Molybdenum |
Provides a start-up supply of this important micronutrient, which is required for root nodulation and seedling growth. Molybdenum is distributed evenly around the seed and available for fast uptake by the germinating seedling.
|
BIRD REPELLENT | - |
Seed inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria specific to clover.
|
Forage herbs such as chicory and plantain are now widely utilised in pastoral farming systems. Protecting young vulnerable seedlings during the establishment phase with seed treatment is considered best practice to help maximise seedling emergence and survival.
ADDITIVE |
DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
CONTACT FUNGICIDE | 'Damping off’ (Pythium) |
Protects the root zone from the 'Damping off’ fungal pathogen in the first 3-4 weeks of establishment.
|
NUTRIENT | Lime |
Helps provide a localised pH correction around the seedling and assists root development.
|
NUTRIENT | Molybdenum |
Provides a start-up supply of this important micronutrient, which is required for root nodulation and seedling growth. Molybdenum is distributed evenly around the seed and available for fast uptake by the germinating seedling.
|
RHIZOBIA* | - |
Seed inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria specific to lucerne.
|
ADDITIVE |
DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDE
|
Springtail |
Above and below ground protection during the first 6 weeks after planting.
|
CONTACT FUNGICIDE | 'Damping off’ (Pythium) |
Protects the root zone from 'Damping off' fungal pathogens in the first 3-4 weeks of establishment.
|
BIRD REPELLENT | - |
The green coloured treatment and the fungicide component have properties that help deter birds from eating surface-applied seed.
|
ADDITIVE |
DISEASE
|
BENEFIT |
CONTACT FUNGICIDE
|
‘Damping off’ (Pythium, Fusarium)
|
Protects the root zone from ‘Damping off’ fungal pathogens in the first 3-4 weeks of establishment.
|
NUTRIENT | Lime |
Provides the weight increase for improved ballistics, helping ensure more seed reaches its target on the soil surface. Also helps provide a localised pH correction around the seedling.
|
BIRD REPELLENT | - |
The green coloured treatment and the fungicide component have properties that help deter birds from eating surface-applied seed.
|