Agronomy Journal (2007) 99, 113-121

K.D. Subedi, B.L. Ma and A.G. Xue (2007)
Planting date and nitrogen effects on fusarium head blight and leaf spotting diseases in spring wheat
Agronomy Journal 99 (1), 113-121
Abstract: Cultural management practices play important roles in minimizing losses caused by Fusarium head blight (FHB) and leaf spotting diseases (leaf-spot) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A field experiment was conducted in Ottawa, Canada, for 3 yr (2003-2005) in two sites representing clay loam and sandy loam soils to examine the effects of planting date and N management on the incidence and severity of FHB and leaf-spot {tan spot, Septoria leaf blotch and Stagonospora nodorum blotch) in spring wheat. The cultivar AC Brio was seeded at three dates at approximately 10-d intervals starting in the last week of April. The five N treatments included 0, 60, and 100 kg N ha^-1 applied as starter; 60 + 40 kg N ha^-1 (starter + top-dress at boot stage); and 60 + 40 kg N ha^-1 (starter + foliar spray at boot stage). Generally, incidence of FHB and severity of leaf-spot were greater in the heavy-textured soil than in the light-textured soil. Across site-year, the incidence of FHB ranged from 13 to 45%, and severity varied from 14 and 52%. On both soils, planting date had a consistently greater effect on the incidence and severity of FHB: the later the planting date beyond 9 May, the greater the incidence of FHB. The late-planted wheat also had the greatest severity of leaf-spot. Planting after 9 May also significantly reduced grain yield by 15 to 45%. Wheat grown without added N had the greatest incidence of FHB and leaf-spot severities than that supplied with adequate N, especially in the heavy-textured soil. The effect of N on FHB was not consistent over site-years, but leaf-spot was significantly reduced with a starter application of N at 100 kg ha^-1. Our data indicate that environmental variation induced by different planting dates or by different growing seasons and site appeared to have greater effects on FHB and leaf-spot in wheat than N application. The results suggest that the incidence of FHB and severity of leaf-spot in spring wheat can be minimized through early planting combined with adequate starter N application.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Allen G. Xue

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Parastagonospora nodorum	Wheat (Triticum)	Canada (east)
	Fusarium graminearum	Wheat (Triticum)	Canada (east)