Ratibor

Effective plant protection with systemic action

When the Colorado potato beetle, weevils, or aphids strike your fields, there is no time for trial-and-error with contact insecticides. "Ratibor" by Presens is a workhorse in my agronomist's kit, a go-to solution for immediate control. Its primary advantage is its systemic activity: the product is absorbed into plant tissues, rendering them toxic to pests for a sustained period. This is vital for protecting onions from onion flies or apple trees from codling moths, where protecting new growth is more important than just spraying the bugs on contact.

Field Experience

Working with this water-soluble concentrate is straightforward; it mixes easily in the spray tank without clogging nozzles or leaving residue, provided you prepare the stock solution correctly. With an application rate of up to 0.5 L/ha, it is cost-effective even on large-scale potato or beet plots. I apply it during the vegetative stage. Always check the labels, as the pre-harvest interval can vary significantly—from 20 days on some crops to as little as 1 day on others.

Key Points for Operators

• Systemic Power: Once dry on the leaf, Ratibor is not easily washed away by rain.
• Broad Spectrum: It is highly effective against a range of sucking pests, making it indispensable for tomatoes and eggplants during peak growth.
• Active Ingredient: Imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid) provides excellent stability even under challenging environmental conditions.

For me, as an operator, the main advantage is that it causes no equipment issues. It is a reliable chemical solution that gets the job done as long as you follow the dosage rates and crop growth stages.