Volume of pesticides used on cereals higher and volume used on rape lower

Central Statistical Bureau provisional data about use of pesticides on cereals harvested in 2022 show that, compared to 2017, in 2022 volume of pesticides¹ used per hectare of cereal cropland increased by 12 % and volume used per rape hectare reduced by 22 %.

Last year, 874.5 tonnes of pesticides were used on cereals, which is 173.8 tonnes or 24.8 % more than in 2017 when the last survey on pesticide use on cereals, field beans and rape was conducted. The volume of pesticides used per hectare of cereal cropland has grown from 1.0 kg in 2017 to 1.12 kg in 2022.

The 2022 weather conditions resulted in higher herbicide volumes applied

Cereal area has grown by 10.9 % since 2017, consequently the total volume of pesticides used on cereals has grown as well.

Pesticide applications is also affected by sown area structure in the respective year (plant protection products on winter crops are applied in autumn as well). The share of winter crops in the total cereal cropland rose from 53 % in 2017 to 66 % in 2022. In addition, climate conditions encourage spread of diseases and insect population while rain stimulates weed growth. The 2022 weather conditions facilitated weed growth and thus higher herbicide volumes were needed. The average volume of herbicides used per cereal hectare grew from 0.36 kg in 2017 to 0.51 kg in 2022 leading to significant increase in the total pesticide volume used on cereals. 

The heaviest use of herbicides was observed in winter wheat areas – 73.3 % of the total volume of herbicides used on cereals. The winter wheat areas have grown by 117.7 thousand hectares or 35.5 % over the five years. Higher volumes of herbicides were used on all cereals, except for winter barley and buckwheat. Herbicide use per winter wheat hectare increased from 0.36 kg in 2017 to 0.64 kg in 2022, per spring wheat hectare from 0.28 kg to 0.37 kg, per spring barley hectare from 0.26 kg to 0.42 kg and per oat hectare from 0.18 kg to 0.25 kg.

‘Longer autumns and warmer winters are favourable for wintering of broadleaf weeds in winter cereal areas. Farmers fight the weeds with selective herbicides like MCPA which are applied at relatively high dosage per hectare,’  points out Vents Ezers, State Plant Protection Service, Plant Protection Department, Director.

Smaller volumes of fungicides used

The volume of fungicides and plant growth regulators used per hectare of cereal cropland has reduced over the five years – fungicides from 0.24 kg in 2017 to 0.22 kg in 2022 and plant growth regulators from 0.44 kg to 0.39 kg, respectively. In 2022 rather small volumes of insecticides were used, which may be explained by both small pest population in the harvesting year and small application dose per hectare.

The volume of fungicides applied per hectare of winter wheat decreased from 0.38 kg in 2017 to 0.31 kg in 2022, per hectare of spring wheat from 0.20 kg to 0.15 kg, and per hectare of spring barley from 0.13 kg to 0.11 kg, respectively.

The volume of plant growth regulators used per hectare of winter wheat reduced from 0.71 kg in 2017 to 0.59 kg in 2022, per hectare of spring wheat from 0.30 kg to 0.23 kg, per hectare of rye from 0.44 kg to 0.23 kg, and per hectare of winter barley from 0.25 kg to 0.17 kg, respectively.

Rape areas were treated with 156.9 tonnes of pesticides, which is 9.2 tonnes or 6.2 % more than in 2017. Higher total use of pesticides was caused by notably larger rape areas which have grown by 42.9 thousand hectares or 36.5 %. However, the average volume of pesticides used per one hectare of rape fell from 1.26 kg in 2017 to 0.98 kg in 2022.

Field beans were treated with 36.2 tonnes of pesticides, which is 33.3 tonnes or 48.1 % fewer than in 2017. Field bean areas have reduced by 16.9 thousand hectares or 39.8 % over the period.

The highest volume of herbicides per hectare was used on winter wheat – 0.64 kg on average, followed by winter rape with 0.59 kg, spring rape with 0.58 kg, winter barley with 0.49 kg, and field beans with 1.25 kg.  The volume of plant growth regulators used per hectare of winter wheat was 0.59 kg on average, while the volume of insecticides applied, which are used for pest control, was very low.

In 2022, the share of herbicides in the total volume of pesticides used on cereals reached 45.1 % (30.3 % in 2017), in the volume used on rape 59.9 % (78.8 % in 2017), and in the volume used on field beans 88.2 %.

The number of active substances used on cereals, rape, and field beans has decreased from 100 in 2017 to 86 in 2022. The total volume of herbicides used on cereals was mainly (61.5 %) formed by three active substances: glyphosate (27.9 %), MCPA (18.0 %), and prosulfocarb (15.6 %), while the total volume of fungicides mainly (64.4 %) by four active substances: prothioconazole (30.5 %), spiroxamine (12.9 %), tebuconazole (10.9 %), and pyraclostrobin (10.1 %). The plant growth regulator chlormequat chloride took 79.6 % of the total plant growth regulator volume used on cereals. The largest share (77.2 %) of herbicides used on rape areas was formed by three active substances: metazachlor (41.7 %), glyphosate (25.0 %), and dimethachlor (10.5 %). In field bean areas, aclonifen took 39.6 % of the herbicides used.

Methodological information

¹ Plant protection products are recalculated into active substances (substances, including microorganisms that have general or specific effect on hazardous organisms or plants as well as parts or products thereof).

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Guna Karlsone
Agricultural Statistics Section
E-mail: Guna.Karlsone@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366981