Summary
A survey of pesticide usage practices within the arable sector in Northern Ireland, 1990, indicated that 363 tonnes of pesticide active ingredients were applied to 235,000 spray hectares including seed treatments. Fungicides were applied to 44% of the pesticide-treated area accounting for 27% of the total quantity of pesticide used. Potatoes, including seed, early and ware crops, received 84% of fungicide active ingredients representing 67% of the area treated with fungicides. The most commonly used fungicide active ingredient formulation was mancozeb to control potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potatoes.

Herbicides and desiccants were applied to 32% of the pesticide-treated area, accounting for 70% of the total quantity of pesticide used. Sulphuric acid, used as a potato haulm desiccant, accounted for 72% of the weight of herbicide and desiccant active ingredients applied but only 1.4% of the area treated by this pesticide group. Spring barley received 13% of the total weight of herbicide and desiccant active ingredients, representing 45% of the area treated by this pesticide group. The most commonly used herbicide and desiccant active ingredient was metsulfuron-methyl, used to control annual and perennial broad-leaved weeds.

Seed treatments accounted for 18% of the total pesticide-treated area. Phenylmercury acetate seed treatment was applied to 84% of the cereal crops sown in the Province.

Growth regulators, applied primarily to winter cereals, accounted for 3.7% of the total pesticide-treated area. The three growth regulators recorded in use were chlormequat, 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and mepiquat chloride.

Insecticides and molluscicides were applied to 2.3% of the pesticide-treated area accounting for 0.3% of the total quantity of pesticides used. The most commonly used insecticides were cypermethrin, demeton-S-methyl and dimethoate to control aphids in winter cereals. The molluscicide metaldehyde was used on 79% of the molluscicide-treated area of winter wheat and winter rape crops.

Only 1% of the arable crops, grown in Northern Ireland in 1990, did not receive treatment from one of the pesticide groups listed above. A total of 145 products, comprising 84 active ingredients, were recorded in the survey.

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