Alert over take-all
Alert over take-all
AS take-all patches begin to show in crops, sometimes even in first wheats, Rothamsted Research scientist Richard Gutteridge urges growers to work hard to keep break-crops free of couch and volunteer cereals this autumn.
Failure to control the take-all carriers in oilseed rape trials left up to 15% whiteheads in following wheats, he notes.
Levels of the yield-sapping disease doubled in field monitoring this May, adds Monsantos Geoff Hall. "It does appear to be quite a high take-all year," agrees Aventiss Tim Holt.
His advice is not to be tempted to drill second wheats early. "If you can delay until October so much the better."
With true eyespot also widespread and sulphur deficiency causing similar symptoms, Mr Gutteridge says growers should dig down to check for take-alls typical blackened roots to confirm infection before harvest. *
£/ha % change £/tonne % change
Wheat 5.39 -3 30.60 –
Winter barley 4.57 -7 26.70 -3
Spring barley 6.39 +11 33.67 –
Oats 3.36 -27 22.05 -14
Peas 6.10 +19 26.18 +7
Beans 5.60 -19 31.34 -10
Oilseed rape 8.07 -10 1440.00 +6
Linseed 7.60 – 146.32 –
Triticale 7.49 – 44.03 –