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

Sample data were collected from 65 growers and the total area of protected non-edible crops grown was 366,584 m2. Ornamental crops accounted for 49% of the area grown, bedding and pot plants 43%, cut flowers 7% and other crops (i.e. trees and bulbs grown under protection) <1%. An estimated 59% of all protected non-edible crops were grown in County Down. A total of 630kg of pesticides active ingredients was applied to 2,103,703 treated m2 (210spha).

Fungicides, applied to 53% of the total pesticide-treated area, accounted for 48% of the weight of pesticides applied. Iprodione, mainly used on bedding and pot plants, was the fungicide active ingredient most frequently used.

Insecticides and acaricides were applied to 32% of the pesticide-treated area, representing 3% of the total weight of pesticides applied. The pyrethroid deltamethrin was the insecticide/acaricide active ingredient most extensively used, primarily on bedding and pot plants.

Herbicides accounted for 10% of the pesticide-treated area, representing 3% of the weight of pesticides applied. Quinoclamine was the herbicide / algicide active ingredient most frequently used, primarily to control liverwort and moss on protected nursery stock plants, with oxadiazon also extensively used.

Growth regulators were applied to 4% of the total pesticide-treated area accounting for 3% of the weight of pesticides used. Daminozide and paclobutrazol were the most extensively used growth regulators.

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

Mixed formulations, containing fungicide/insecticide mixtures, soil sterilants and phenolic derivatives, accounted for less than 1% of the total pesticide-treated area but represented 43% of the total weight of pesticide used. This was mainly due to the use of the soil sterilant dazomet, which is used at a high rate per unit area.

No biological controls were recorded used in this survey period.

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