Potatoes, taking into account the biological characteristics of its growth, are highly susceptible to the influence of various fungal diseases, of which late blight is the greatest danger. Special drugs called fungicides are called upon to overcome this scourge; Some of them are designed specifically for potatoes. This article will discuss one of these tools, which is called "Shirlan" and has already managed to earn a good reputation.
- Active ingredient and preparative form
- Benefits
- Mechanism of action
- Preparation of working solution
- Application technology and substance consumption
- Period of protective action
- Toxicity and precautions
- Compatibility
- Shelf life and storage conditions
Active ingredient and preparative form
The main active ingredient of this drug is fluazinam; besides it, the composition includes substances that contribute to the penetration of the main compound into the plant. Their list is indicated in the annotation before the fungicide instructions. The concentration of fluazinam in the Shirlan preparation is 0.5 g / ml.
The drug is distributed in the form of suspension concentrate, which is a colloidal solution, according to external parameters, having the appearance of a creamy mass. It is strictly not recommended to use the drug in this form, before using it is necessary to prepare the working solution according to the attached instructions. 
Benefits
Among the advantages of this fungicide the most important are the following:
- treatment with the use of this drug will not harm your culture, because the drug does not have pronounced phytotoxicity;
- in comparison with other fungicides with a contact principle of action, it has a more pronounced effect when using low dosages;
- the phenomenon of cross-resistance with modern drugs that are used for the treatment and prevention of potato diseases was not detected;
- has a good indicator of water resistance and a sufficiently long period of active resistance to diseases;
- helps to stop sporulation, by reducing the production of zoosporangi carriers;
- its use has a decelerating effect on zoospores, both inside the plant and in the ground, in the course of dispute movement along capillaries placed in the ground, thereby creating a barrier to spores from entering the soil surface and significantly reducing the likelihood of infection of young plants.
Mechanism of action
When using the Shirlan fungicide on potatoes, its main active substance quickly penetrates plant cells and soil, after which it begins to inhibit the processes of sporulation, growth of apressoria, and the development of hyphae of pathogenic microorganisms.
Preparation of working solution
Before proceeding to the manufacture of the solution used for spraying, it is necessary to carefully check the working capacity of the sprayer and the cleanliness of the tip, the conductive solution of the pipes and the tank in which the substance will be placed. 
After that, it is necessary to determine the amount of liquid, as well as whether the water supply through the tip is uniform, and compare the data obtained with the calculations for the estimated cost of the working solution per 1 hectare.
The preparation of the solution should begin immediately before the start of the process. ¾ The tank must be filled with water, then the pre-calculated amount of the suspension must be added and the process of adding water to the tank should be continued while mixing the contents. It is desirable to continue to mix the solution during its direct application, in order to preserve the homogeneous structure of the finished mixture.
If you intend to apply spraying with several preparations at once, then you should wait for the full dissolution of the previous one to be added to the mixture of the subsequent substance. The applied solution can not be stored in finished form longer than one day. 
Application technology and substance consumption
This drug should be used for prophylactic purposes. The optimal time to start treatment will be the period when weather conditions conducive to the development of the disease have already come, but the symptoms of the disease have not yet manifested. In a situation when the sprayed plants are already infected, it is recommended to perform primary processing with the use of curative fungicides.
In order to obtain the maximum positive effect, it is necessary to adjust the sprayer so that it gives drops of small or medium size. "Shirlan", like any other fungicide, must have a consumption rate sufficient for complete and abundant wetting of the entire surface of the sheet. It is allowed to increase with an eye on the size of the leaf surface of the treated plants. It is necessary to ensure that the solution does not flow from the foliage that has been treated, to the ground, where its efficiency will be minimal.
The average rates when using the Shirlan product on potatoes are about 0.3-0.4 ml per 10 square meters in suspension form, or 200-500 ml per 10 square meters in the form of a working solution.
Period of protective action
The active protector effect of "Shirlan" from phytophtoras and Alternaria is 7-10 days and may differ depending on the methods used to obtain the crop and different environmental conditions.Exceeding the allowable multiplicity of treatment contributes to reducing the effectiveness and reducing the duration of the protective period.
Toxicity and precautions
This drug belongs to the second degree of danger to humans, which regulates the need to comply with personal safety measures when working with him. Be sure to wear a protective gown, goggles, gloves and an individual mask or respirator when carrying out work activities involving this substance.
In case of contact with the open area of the skin or mucous membranes, it is urgent to wash it off with a large amount of running cold water, and if symptoms of irritation appear, consult a doctor. 
The drug has a low toxicity with respect to bees and other insects, however, it is capable of causing harm to fish, and therefore there are restrictions on its use in and around the territories of fisheries plants.
Compatibility
"Shirlan" has good compatibility when mixing it in a tank with various insecticides, for example "VDG", "MKS", "KARATE", "ZION" and "AKTARA", as well as desiccants "BP" and "REGLON SUPER". However, it is categorically not recommended to mix it with various preparations having an alkaline nature, for example, with Bordeaux mixture, since this can lead to chemical decomposition of the preparation.
You should not use this tool in combination with various herbicides due to the fact that the timing of their use does not match. It is forbidden to mix different drugs in undiluted form. Be sure to make sure before making the mixes that the time of use of different drugs in the mixture are the same. 
Shelf life and storage conditions
The substance should be stored in unopened form in a dry place inaccessible to open sunlight, away from children and animals. The optimum temperature content from 0 ° C to 40 ° C. Do not allow the substance to come into contact with dishes and surfaces on which food is prepared. You can store for 3 years.
We hope that this article has answered all your questions regarding the nature and use of this antifungal agent. We wish you to collect a truly amazing and decent harvest of potatoes!
