Breeders Limagrain UK are keen to remind growers that Evolution gets away more quickly in the spring than varieties such as KWS Kielder and KWS Santiago, so it is important to be vigilant with crop walking and responsive to PGR requirements.
Evolution responds well to differing PGR applications with good height reduction and reduced lodging risk, with no yield loss penalties, says Ron Granger, arable technical manager with Limagrain.
“The aim is to shorten the first internode, then keep the second node close to the first, increasing straw stiffness, and as long as you get the PGR on correctly you can then apply nitrogen rates applicable for high yield potential for your own farm situation.”
“We would recommend in most situations that a split PGR treatment should be used, with two-thirds rate of a CCC based product applied at the glume primordia stage or first node moving of the base, followed by a one-third rate application at first node detectable, usually at GS 31.”
“In situations of high yield potential CCC based products can be mixed with additional PGR products with different chemical activity to strengthen stems and synchronise tiller development, for example Canopy + CCC in a tank mix is a strong option.”
Limagrain has done collaborate work with BASF looking at seed rates, PGR and fungicide interactions with Evolution. The data shows very positive results from Canopy (prohexadione-calcium and mepiquat chloride) which at an early timing acts to strengthen and balance out tillers, there is also a positive effect on root spread and depth, thereby improving nutrient uptake and plant anchorage as the crops gets going in the spring says Louis Wells, agronomy manager with BASF.
The table below (click for large, high quality image) shows the differing PGR treatments applied over an Evolution crop established at 350 seeds/ m2 with an input of 200Kg / ha of nitrogen and a respectable fungicide programme.
| Treatment | T0 | T1 | T2 |
| Untreated – No PGR | Untreated | Untreated | |
| 3. Low PGR | 1.6 CCC750 | 0.6 CCC750 | |
| 5. Med PGR | 0.3 Canopy | 0.5 + 1 Canopy + CCC750 | |
| 7. High PGR | 0.3 Canopy | 0.5 + 1 Canopy + CCC750 | 1.0 Terpal |
| MED FUNG | T0 | T1 | T2 | T3 |
| 0.75 Capalo | 1.25 +1 Tracker +Bravo | 1.25 Adexar | 1.5 Brutus |
From this particular trial it’s clear that whilst untreated Evolution will still deliver on yield at over 9t/ha, it is a tall plant and lodging percentage is about 60- 70%. However, a medium PGR and fungicide programme boosts yields to over 12t/ha – reducing height by 10.4cm from untreated and lodging percentage from over 11% to below 8%, says Mr Wells.
“Increasing the PGR and maintaining the moderate fungicide inputs, shows yields still up at 12%, but with a further height reduction of 3.47cm bringing plant height down to 81.73cm and reducing lodging risk to less than 10%.”
“In addition, one of the key benefits of Canopy is its ability to work in cooler temperatures and it is not reliant on sunlight. Active from the spray tank, and at temperatures as low as 5°C, Canopy works well in catchy spring conditions to give a solid, consistent response; it’s worth considering this when early applications are being made on earlier drilled crops”.