promising but…
Take-all project
promising but…
EARLY results from a four-year take-all project are encouraging. But further questions need addressing.
"We are now in the second year of MAFF funded work studying the effect fluquinconazole has on the build up and decline of take all epidemics in sequence," says IACR Rothamsteds John Jenkyn.
First year results in plots drilled with Hereward seed treated with fluquinconazole show a marked reduction of take-all where levels were high at the outset, but a more modest reduction in plots with lower initial indices, he explains.
Yield responses largely reflect take-all indices. At East Wynch, which had the highest take-all index, yield response was 0.77t/ha (0.31t/acre).
"We are fairly sure that applying chemical will slow development of take-all and applying treatment to consecutive crops will see a delay in the epidemic. But what is not certain is if it is simply a delay in the epidemic peak or whether the peak will actually be reduced," says Dr Jenkyn.
Take-all trials
Take-all index Yield response
untreated treated (t/ha)
Rothamsted 24 21 0.02
Sacrewell 44 31 0.22
East Wynch 53 29 0.77
Variety: Hereward.
Take-all responses to fluquincon-azole have been up to 0.77t/ha. But are they worth pursuing under lower take-all pressure, asks IACRRothamsteds John Jenkyn.