This report presents information from a survey of the pesticide usage practices on hardy nursery stock crops grown in Northern Ireland in 2003.

he total area of hardy nursery stock crops grown was 1,018,358 m2 (102ha), with an estimated 44% of all hardy nursery stock crops grown in County Down. Field-grown Christmas and native trees accounted for 66% of the area grown. Data collected from 111 growers estimated that 527kg of pesticide active ingredients were applied to 2,292,748 treated m2 (229 spha).

Herbicides accounted for 47% of the pesticide-treated area, representing 25% of the weight of pesticides applied. Glyphosate was the herbicide active ingredient most frequently used, mainly around field-grown tree areas.

Fungicides, applied to 33% of the total pesticide-treated area, accounted for 69% of the weight of pesticides applied. Carbendazim, mainly used on field-grown cut flowers, was the most frequently used fungicide active ingredient.

Insecticide and acaricides were applied to 17% of the pesticide-treated area, representing only 1% of the total weight of pesticides applied. Bifenthrin was the insecticide/acaricide active ingredient most extensively used, mainly on shrubs.

The only molluscicide recorded was metaldehyde and this active ingredient was applied to less than 1% of both the pesticide-treated area and the quantity of total pesticides used.

Growth regulators were applied to less than 1% of both the total pesticide-treated area and the weight of pesticides used. Paclobutrazol was the only growth regulator recorded.

The biological control agent Bacillus subtilis (principally applied when the crops were inside during the propagation and liner stages) was used on 2,710spm2 of mixed crop areas.

Mixed formulations, containing fungicide/insecticide mixtures and phenolic derivatives, accounted for 2% of the total pesticide-treated area but represented 4% of the total weight of pesticide used.

A full list of published reports is available together with abstracts from other relevant published work.

For further information on this work please contact:

Pesticide Usage Survey Group
Agri-food and Biosciences Institute
Newforge Lane
Belfast BT9 5PX

Email: pesticide.science@afbini.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)28 90 255689
Fax: +44 (0)28 90 255035