New insecticide Spruzit available for field crops

Novel insecticide Spruzit (pyrethrin and rapeseed oil) can now be used on field crops.

The treatment can now be applied using horizontal boom-mounted sprayers as its new label makes it available for growers of field crops such as lettuce, strawberries and brassicas for the first time.

Spruzit is available for both conventional and organic growers, and targets a wide range of pests, such as mealy aphids, whitefly and spider mites.

Certis technical officer Alan Horgan said: "Spruzit is a broad spectrum insecticide with a quick knock-down effect. It has a unique two-way action -- it contains pyrethrins which work on the insects nervous system and oil, which works by physical means and makes it difficult for the insect to breathe."

Spruzit is a very short persistence product, which means that there is no requirement for a harvest interval following application, providing growers with the capability of protecting crops from pest invasion right up until the point of harvest.

Horgan added: "The maximum individual dose that can be applied via a tractor mounted horizontal boom sprayer is 6 litres/ha and must be applied in a minimum water volume of 300 litres/ha.

Repeat treatments at seven-day intervals may be required to maintain control, with two sprays normally sufficient for most pests. Up to four sprays per year are permitted.
In addition, unlike some other pyrethrin based products, Spruzit contains no piperonyl butoxide (PBO), which is excluded by some organic certification organisations in Europe.

Spruzit has been granted organic status in the UK by the Organic Farmers & Growers Association.