Forty months of observation 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. |
No signs of Tropical Race 1 were observed in the trial area over the 40-month period. 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, over one planting cycle. 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, 2021–2025 · 5 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 — April 2024
