Managing Lodging Risk with Targeted PGR Programmes this Spring!

Watch out for wet or waterlogged soils which would put a high proportion of crops at risk of stem or root lodging and ensure crops are assessed for lodging risk routinely every year, so at risk crops can receive careful management early enough to protect yield and quality.

Clayton offers a small range of reliable, high-performance PGRs for cereal crops this spring. Achieving good standing crops to prevent harvesting difficulties and to maximise yields often relies on effective use of growth regulators. Careful planning in terms of product choice and timing will help growers achieve the best results.

Lowering lodging risk

Root lodging caused by loss of anchorage of the crown roots in the soil is the most damaging and prevalent type of lodging in the UK, often occurring during very wet periods in early summer. Whilst stem lodging often occurs closer to harvest when stem strength can reduce by up to 50% during grain fill in the ear. Good agronomic practices e.g. later drilling date and lower seed rates help produce stronger roots and better anchorage to protect against root lodging, alongside using PGRs which can be vital to prevent stem lodging and also help against root lodging as well.

Modes of action

Gibberellins (natural plant growth hormones) are produced at the nodes to initiate cell elongation below the growing point and PGRs such as chlormequat, prohexadione and trinexapac all act by inhibiting the biosynthesis of gibberellin, whereas ethephon breaks down ethylene to inhibit elongation. Early PGR applied at GS30/31 or at GS32 needs to work quickly to shorten and strengthen the lower internodes. PGRs are an integral part of effectively managing lodging risk and growers should carefully monitor crop growth stage to ensure accurate timing application.

PGR benefits include;

• Quick, safe and reliable activity
• Shorten and strengthen lower internodes
• Stem thickening, even tillering and improved rooting
• Shorten upper internodes to prevent stem lodging and reduce brackling

Read more about our Spring PGR Product Range in our product guide below:

Coming soon…Clayton Truss™ – PGR formulation containing 250g Trinexapac

Get in touch with our Technical Team:

Will Ridgewell – Commercial Manager – will@claytonpp.com

Martyn Rogers – Product Development Manager – martyn@claytonpp.com