The preparation "Prestige" for potato processing: trust, but check

This article can be useful for gardeners who use the drug "Prestige" for processing potatoes. How effective is it? Is it harmful to the body? How does it work? The article contains the main questions of gardeners and, of course, answers are given to them. All of the above is a purely personal opinion of the author, based only on reliable facts and recommendations of a specialist with a diploma in chemistry. Read and decide - trust or verify.

1. What composition does Prestige (KS) have for potato processing?

The drug, produced in the form of KS (concentrated suspension) and packed in liter bottles, consists of imidacloprid and pencicuron (140 g / l and 150 g / l, respectively).

2. How does Prestige work for processing potatoes?

I must say that the selected composition is really effective against the vast majority of pests, including sucking and gnawing. No exception - insects that live in the soil. As an insecticide, the agent copes well with beetles, equinoids, lepidopterans, thrips; As a fungicide, it works against common scab and rhizoctonia. The mechanism of action of imidacloprid lies in the blocking of the transmission of nerve impulses (receptors of the postsynaptic membrane). Pencicuron, penetrating the cuticles of plants, inhibits the growth of mycelium (more precisely - germination), brakes the biosynthesis of the sterol with free fatty acids inside the fungus and, which is also important, reduces the transport of glucose. The metabolic product - chlornicotinic acid-imidacloprid (inducer of systemic plant resistance), causing changes at the physiological and biochemical level, allows the plant to more easily overcome stresses. In fact, the product "Prestige" not only protects the tubers from pests, but also protects the future crop from certain diseases, increasing resistance to abiotic and biotic "surprises" of the environment, increasing germination, improving shoot formation and growth of vegetative mass, enhancing photosynthetic processes. The drug proves its effect for more than a year.

3. How should the potato be processed before planting?

There are no difficulties here. Seed tubers (dried) are etched before planting with a working solution. It is most convenient to use a spray gun, having previously spread out the potatoes on an oilcloth. There is no need to turn the tubers. The percentage of water and slurry in the working solution is indicated in the instructions on the package. Tubers affected by wet bacterial decay are not treated or planted (sorting is necessary).

4. How long does Prestige substance work for potato processing?

From wireworms, the remedy protects the entire growth period of the vegetable, from the beetle (Colorado) - at least two months from the moment of emergence (the longer the period, the weaker the effect), from aphids - 40 days from the day of emergence, from the scab with rhizoctonia - growth time with gripping Flowering period.

5. Is it possible to combine Prestige for processing potatoes with other manufacturers' pesticides?

Very effectively work with the joint use of the means "Prestige" and "Maxim" 025 FC. However, this is only an observation. Research of tubers was not carried out subsequently, therefore there is no guarantee that no harmful substances are present in them. Combine the drug with other pesticides is not desirable.

7. Is the Prestige preparation for potato processing safe?

The first two months since the day the processing has been done, the potato tubers can not be used categorically. The manufacturer ("Bayer") guarantees that you can easily eat a young potato after 53 days of treatment. And what really? Imidacloprid, as mentioned, is the basis of the drug. Now it is recognized practically in all countries, because it is really very effective. Toxicity is an average (moderate poison). Influencing warm-blooded creatures (including humans), causes tremors, disrupts coordination, weight loss against diarrhea. Has an effect on the reproductive organs (increases the likelihood of spontaneous abortions and the probability of problems with the skeleton in the offspring). It also has mutagenic properties. Being chronically and sharply poisonous, imidacloprid becomes over time harmless to those pests that could develop resistance to it. According to the European Union study, the decomposition of DT50 (imiprolopride) is on average 77 to 200 days (field DT 50 to 174 days, laboratory DT 90 to 717 days). It turns out that the potatoes put into the cellars for the winter are really safe. But the statements about security on the 53-day term raise doubts. Whether to process potatoes "Prestige", you decide. However, when comparing the action with other drugs that require multiple treatment, the choice in favor of it is obvious.

8. Preparation "Prestige" for potato processing (reviews about its use).

Most gardeners who tried the drug agree that it is really effective. Tubers are practically not affected by wireworm and scab (except for the cultivars "Teterev" and "Wizard"). As for the Colorado beetle, the insect larvae begin to appear mainly towards the end of flowering.