Amvista Chafer Special Fertiliser is a granular, slow release nitrogen fertiliser, found to be antagonistic to chafer grub larvae and speeds up recovery of chafer damaged lawns and turf.
Key points:
- Slow release, nitrogen based fertiliser, aiding recovery of chafer damaged lawns and turf.
- Calcium cyanamide metabolites found to damage sensitive chafer grub larvae.
- Great compliment for integrated approach to chafer control using Biological Products.
- Easy application using lawn spreading equipment.
Other information:
- Must only be used on established lawns.
- Allow newly seeded grass to establish (tiller) before application.
- Amvista Chafer Special will supply a lawn's nitrogen requirement. Other nutrients may also be required (eg phosphate, potash, sulphur etc). This requirement can be accurately assessed by undertaking a Soil Analysis, or speak to one of our technical advisors.
Background Information:
Discouraging chafer grub, leatherjackets, ants and slugs.
Cock chafer grubs have resurged as a major pest problem in agriculture and forestry after being nearly extinct in the 1970's.
The adult beetles lay their eggs into the soil on grassland from mid to end-May. The summer chafer (which is smaller) lays its eggs in June.
The larval grub develops over the next three to five years. The grubs cause the most damage in the third or fourth season when they have reached full size by feeding on the roots. On heavily affected lawns the sward can be completely destroyed by grubs.
The tiny larvae are more sensitive to any kind of chemical as they hatch close to the surface of the soil. Grubs have a large surface area in relation to their body mass. Thus, side effects of chemicals or fertilisers against grubs can be used most effectively two to three weeks after eggs are laid. Adult beetles are not present in large numbers every spring, but intensively in odd years. Therefore the aim must be to reduce the number of larvae, regardless of their age to limit the damage in the following years and to lessen the number of emerging adults.
One way to prevent damage caused by grubs and aid recovery is regular fertilisation of meadows and turf with Chafer Special Fertiliser. Research has shown some side effects against grubs but the application rate is limited by the tolerance of the grass and the frequency of applications, limited by nitrogen demand.
