Effect of superphosphate and superphosphate plus flutriafol on yield and take-all of wheat

Abstract

Wheat was grown in soil amended with 5 levels of superphosphate with or without 4 levels of flutriafol at 3 sites naturally infested with Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. The severity of take-all was related to the rates of superphosphate and flutriafol. At all sites, the disease incidence and severity were high, with values for the moderate plus severe category (i.e. >25% of the root system discoloured by the takeall fungus) exceeding 80% for untreated plots. As plants responded to increasing levels of superphosphate and flutriafol, the percentage of infected roots declined. There was no further decline in the severity of take-all with increasing levels of flutriafol above 50 g/ha. The lowest severity of take-all was observed at the highest superphosphate level (200 kg/ha) and a fungicide level of 50 g/ha. Take-all severity for this treatment varied with the site location, being 52% at Condingup while the Mt Ridley and Neridup sites had 60% infection of take-all on the roots. There was a 25-30% increase in grain yield in response to added flutriafol at the highest superphosphate level. There were also corresponding increases in dry matter production and 1000-grain weights with superphosphate and fungicide application.