Field-scale trials of a biofumigant mustard crop have given around 50% potato cyst nematode suppression, Andy Barker of Barworth Agriculture told growers.
PCN control had become more difficult, particularly since the suspension of use of the soil sterilant, Telone II, he noted.
So positive results from the use of a biofumigant crop were exciting, he said. "They aren't an easy option, but my hope is that growers could start to use them as a standard approach within the rotation."
In the trial, 3ha of Fumore 3, a blend of a "hot"mustard, ISCI99, radish and a white mustard, was planted in August and incorporated in early October, Dr Barker said.
"It wasn't a great crop, reaching around 50-60t/ha of biomass, instead of the 80t/ha ideally I would have wanted to see, so I wasn't expecting results as good as we achieved."
Pre- and post-crop sampling of PCN by Richard Austin Associates found PCN levels in 1ha blocks decreased by 40-75%
Around 100kg/ha of nitrogen and 20kg/ha of sulphur were needed to grow the crop, which costs around £80/ha for the seed.
"But you get your money back on the fertiliser from the green manure value of the crop, and it also has positive benefits on soil structure."
Biofumigant crops also had benefits against rhizoctonia, and other diseases such as fusarium and pythium, he suggested.
