Get ready to fight back against slugs

With cereal drilling largely complete, and unsettled weather anticipated to dominate from mid-November onwards, the threat of slug attacks on newly emerging crops is expected to rise.

The timely application of a high quality molluscicide will therefore be of critical importance to protect young crops, as will the efficacy and quality of the slug pellets being applied.

Choose the most effective bait

Although all commercial molluscicides are based on the same active ingredient, ferric phosphate, not all slug pellets are created equally, with differences in manufacturing process, pellet size, shape and colour, and baiting point density all affecting how well the crop is protected and for how long.

In principle, there are four main characteristics which should be considered when selecting which brand of slug pellet to use: formulation efficacy, baiting point density, pellet palatability and pellet colour.

Efficacy and speed of activity

To ensure crops are protected quickly and effectively, slug pellets should take effect as soon as possible after ingestion: a pellet with an appropriate amount of ferric phosphate will disrupt gut activity and suppress the slug’s appetite as soon as it has been eaten, thereby halting grazing and protecting the crop even before the slug’s ultimate demise.

With an anhydrous ferric phosphate content of 2.94%, Gusto® IRON pellets provide the optimum dose of molluscicide to combat slugs in a range of agricultural and horticultural crops.

Baiting point density and spreading accuracy

Only pellets of a uniform size, shape and weight will spread accurately and evenly to the desired working width. ADAMA’s Gusto® IRON pellets are the ideal size and shape for optimal baiting point density: at 2.5mm by 2.1mm they spread accurately to wide operating widths and provide the optimal number of baiting points (40-50 pellets per m²) when applied at typical field rates.

In contrast, smaller ‘mini’ pellets won’t spread accurately at wider spreading widths, while larger pellets will provide too few baiting points. Similarly, smaller pellets have a larger comparative surface area and therefore tend to degrade more rapidly.

Pellet palatability and longevity

Slug pellets should boast good mould resistance and rain-fastness to enable them to remain viable and effective during periods of wet weather.

A good quality, wet-processed pellet such as Gusto® IRON will retain its shape and palatability for longer, even in excessively wet conditions. In contrast, pellets of a lower quality may start to degrade in as little as seven days and become unpalatable due to mould growth as soon as 10 days after application.

Pellet colour and retention

Pellets of a vibrant and persistent colour are easier to spot in the seedbed. This not only makes it easier to assess the evenness of application, but also makes it less time consuming to determine if/when the next application of pellets should be made to ensure vulnerable crops remain protected.

Gusto^® IRON: The obvious choice for cost-effective slug control

Gusto^® IRON is a ready-to-use, pelleted bait containing 2.94% w/w anhydrous ferric phosphate. It is approved for use in a range of agricultural and horticultural crops and offers the following key benefits:

• A durable, persistent and palatable slug pellet for the control of all UK slug species
• Rainproof and with superior mould resistance
• Excellent colour retention for easy detection
• Uniform pellet size and density for accurate spreading to wide working widths
• Optimum baiting points of 40–50 pellets per m² when applied at a field rate of 5kg/ha.

For more information, visit the company website.

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