Help to provide home grown carrots and parsnips for longer

UK - September 22, 2009



Dow AgroSciences has received a number of queries regarding the SOLA of Fazor (maleic hydrazide) on carrots and parsnips and provide this information to ensure that the product is used correctly. 

Fazor has SOLA's for use in all varieties of outdoor carrots and parsnips, valid up until December 2013.  The application rate in carrots and parsnips is 8 kgs product/ha, with one application per crop.  The MRL for maleic hydrazide remains at 30 mg/kg in these crops.

To ensure good product stewardship and to get the best from Fazor, it should be applied using a conventional hydraulic sprayer in 350-500 litres of water per hectare, when the crop foliage is mature, but not actively growing.  Application timing should be judged on a crop by crop basis but must be before the first frost.  It is better that applications are made slightly later rather than earlier; too early and this may impact on yield if the canopy is not mature.  The spray window is typically from mid October onwards when 5-25% of foliage is yellow and necrotic and when the crop begins to lean.  Green tops are essential for the product to be absorbed and translocated to the roots.

If the crop is to be over-wintered, at least 4 days should be allowed after application before topping or covering the crop for frost protection.  Fazor should not be applied less than three weeks before harvest.  It can be used in conjunction with black polythene for in-field storage. 

Fazor maintains the quality of over-wintered carrots and parsnips by suppressing the development of external lateral hairs and thereby inhibiting sugar metabolism in the root crop, thus maintaining flavour, sweetness and processing quality.  This prolongs the time that carrots and parsnips can be left in the ground and can extend the lifting period.  The end result is that the season for locally supplied produce is longer.

By using Fazor in the field to suppress re-growth, maintain quality and extend harvest, carrot and parsnip growers can help to provide a supply of home grown UK root vegetables to the supermarkets and other outlets for longer, reducing reliance on imports.

Growers need to obtain a copy of the notice of approval to use Fazor in carrots and parsnips via the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) web site, ADAS offices, the HDC or NFU.  The SOLA reference number is 1326 of 2008.

Fazor contains 60% w/w maleic hydrazide, formulated as a high quality, free flowing water-soluble granule and is packed in a 2.5 kg bag.  It is recommended on second earlies and maincrop potatoes and bulb onions.  It has SOLAs in carrots, parsnips, garlic and shallots.