Nearly six years of observation, from a single application, in soil with a known history of Fusarium wilt — against a registered fungicide programme.
Fusarium wilt — Tropical Race 1 — has caused widespread losses on banana farms. Once a block has carried it the soil stays a source of infection, and replanting into it is a known and expensive risk.
Matt Dunne had a block at East Palmerston where prior banana plantings had been affected.
To test whether applying The Black Stuff affected the incidence of TR1 in a subsequent planting, and to find an effective rate.
January 2021. About 2 m³ spread on the rows with a belt spreader. Two rows of roughly 150 plants each, planted into the affected soil at standard spacings.
The control was treated with a Syngenta product formulated to control Tropical Race pathogens.
| Date | Treated rows | Control |
|---|---|---|
| November 2022 | All plants healthy. No signs of TR1. No losses. | Same. |
| July 2023 | Full bunches. All healthy. No signs of TR1. | — |
| April 2024 | Full bunches. All healthy. No signs of TR1. | All plants clearly affected. |
| November 2024 | Full bunches. No signs of TR1. | All control rows removed by the grower. Every plant affected. |
| 21 October 2026 | Site inspection. Plantains flourishing. Still persistent — no signs of TR1 at 69 months, no further application since January 2021. | — (removed November 2024) |
No signs of Tropical Race 1 have been observed in the treated rows at any inspection. The most recent, on 21 October 2026, was 69 months after a single application, with no further product applied — the effect has persisted and the plantains were flourishing. Yields were maintained and the plantains were of high quality. Areas outside the trial remained affected throughout.
A rate of 3 m³/ha was identified as effective in this trial.
Observational trial, in one grower's block, in one variety group, from one application, followed over nearly six years. It records what was observed.
The Black Stuff is a soil conditioner. It is not registered as an agricultural chemical product, and nothing here is a claim that it controls, prevents or treats any plant disease.
East Palmerston plantain trial, 2021–2026 · 7 pp. The Black Stuff is a soil conditioner and is not a registered agricultural chemical product. Nothing in this report is a claim that it controls, prevents or treats any plant disease.
Grower — Matt Dunne
Location — East Palmerston, Qld
Crop — Pacific plantain; a small number of Ducasse
Applied — January 2021
Rate — ~2 m³ over two rows
Method — belt spreader, on row
Control — registered Syngenta product
Observed to — October 2026
