TRIALS

COMPANION® MICROBIAL INNOCULANT
LETTUCE TRIAL 2002

Conducted on behalf of
SprayGro Liquid Fertilisers
by
Rachel Walker B.Agr Sc. (Hons.)
Serve-Ag Research
(Ref: SPR01218)

Discussion
Observation on root development in transplant plugs
Companion®-treated had a more developed root system with longer roots and a higher density of finer
roots.

	Drenching plugs with COMPANION® via watering can

		COMPANION® treated plug on left; untreated on right
	Crop vigour was good to excellent in all plots treated with Companion®. Crop vigour was good to poor in untreated control plots, and plots treated with commercial fungicides.

Disease incidence

Sclerotinia developed progressively throughout the trial, with most significant disease symptoms visible at harvest. Disease control in all plot treated with post-plant Companion® applications was better than the commercial standard.

Crop yield

The effect of Companion® increasing head weights is illustrated in Graph 3, which shows an incremental increase from the untreated control, to Companion® + no paddock treatments, to Companion® drenching + Companion® paddock treatments.

Head size

There were very little variation in mean head size between treatments, with mean head sizes ranging from 59.3 - 62.6cm

Firmness

Head in plots treated with a Companion drench + Companion® paddock treatments were marginally firmer, while heads in plots treated with Companion® + Sumisclex® treatments were marginally softer.

Colour

Colour was generally excellent in all plots


Plot with high numbers of lettuce remaining uncut due to disease		COMPANION® plot after harvest. Very high pick count; very few of inferior quality remaining uncut in paddock

Graph 1 - CROP VIGOUR ASSESSMENTS
Iceberg Lettuce - transplanter 3/1/02
(double click above to view graph)

COMPANION® MICROBIAL INNOCULANT LETTUCE TRIAL 2002

Disease incidence

Crop yield

COMPANION® MICROBIAL INNOCULANT
LETTUCE TRIAL 2002