The fundamentals of fungicide trialing

Fungicides are an essential part of production ornamentals; however, with everything a grower does with the crop it’s just one component in growing. An untreated fungal disease can literally wipe out an entire crop in a matter of days. While most growers have thankfully never experienced this catastrophe, many have had to battle fungal outbreaks at some time.

Growers generally turn to researchers and university partners for information about proven fungicide solutions. But while scientific trials provide evidence about how well a fungicide or other treatment performs in the field, every greenhouse or nursery has its own unique growing conditions.

To find out whether the latest fungicides will work well in their individual environments, growers should consider a do-it-yourself fungicide trial. The process isn’t as complicated as many believe — especially when growers take advantage of available outside resources. By conducting their own trials, growers can see the results for themselves. Depending on your situation, your procedure may vary slightly. But here are the basic steps:

1. Determine what to trial
Before beginning the trial, establish the issue you want to resolve. Need to control a specific disease? Looking for a broader control method? Want to produce better plants? Know your goal before you start to test a new product or application approach.

2. Talk to a trusted partner
Manufacturer, industry consultants and distributor sales representatives can provide expertise in setting up a trial. They understand product capabilities and are versed on the newest chemistries on the market. These local experts can offer potential solutions that you can put to the test.

3. Work with a consultant
Partnering with a consultant to trial fungicides within your own operation is a sensible step to consider. Growers often lack the time and effort needed to take a product sample and conduct the trial themselves. A consultant can provide the amount of expertise that’s right for you. Perhaps you want a partner who can simply help monitor the trial, or conduct it from beginning to end and then share the completed results. Consultants can also do hands-on work, like treating the plants, and compiling or evaluating the data.

4. Define a plan
Decide where the trial will take place on site, how long it will last, and how often the fungicide will be applied to the test plants. Be as thorough as possible in outlining these details so you get the most reliable — and potentially repeatable — results.

For example, if the crop consistently experiences disease during a specific growing phase, such as in the finish house, that’s probably the best place and time to begin the trial. When partnering with your manufacturing rep, consultant, or distributor, he or she can help decide essential details for the trial.

5. Begin the trial
Ideally, you should begin the trial when you’re free from looming deadlines or the pressure of getting a crop out (and revenue in). Typically, the group of plants to be tested with should be placed on a bench that’s set apart from the “control” plants, but close enough that both groups grow under the same conditions. The only variable within your trial should be the fungicide regimen; watering, soil, fertilizers and other factors should remain the same. Also, communicate with staff, especially spray technicians, that you’re conducting a trial so they clearly understand that the test plants should not be treated like the rest.

6. Collect data
Throughout the trial, regularly collect data or have a consultant help you. Critical data-collection times, depending on the goals of the trial, need to be made; otherwise, you will not know the value the new product brings to your production.

7. Analyze results and determine next steps
Once the trial is complete, review the data to see if the initial issue has been resolved using the new product and/or application regiment. If the results are favorable, you’ll probably want to incorporate the new product or approach into your disease-control rotation.

Kathie Kalmowitz is a technical specialist for BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals.