Effects of cultivation on Rhizoctonia root rot, cereal cyst nematode, common root rot and yield of wheat in the Victorian Mallee

Abstract

The effects of method, time and number of cultivations on root diseases and yield of wheat were studied in a field experiment, in 1985, on a calcareous sandy loam in the Victorian Mallee. The incidence and severity of rhizoctonia root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) were higher in direct-drilled wheat than in wheat sown after cultivation. Compared with direct drilling, the severity of rhizoctonia root rot in seedlings was reduced by 40% with cultivation 20 weeks before sowing; by 70% with cultivation 1 day before sowing; and by 90% with 2 cultivations, the first at 16 weeks and the second 1 day before sowing. Cultivation generally increased the incidence of common root rot (Bipolaris sorokiniana) but had no significant effects on the severity of damage by the cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) or the number of nematode cysts produced, compared with direct drilling. The incidence and severity of root diseases, and the number of H. avenae cysts produced, were not significantly different in wheat sown after rotary hoeing than in wheat sown after scarifying. The severity of damage by H. avenae, the number of nematode cysts and the incidence of common root rot were higher (45, 70 and 36%, respectively) when scarifying was done 1 day before sowing, compared with scarifying 20 weeks earlier. Differences in sowing depth probably caused this effect since seed was sown deeper (as indicated by subcrown internode lengths) and plant emergence was less in the latter treatment. The timing and number of cultivations with a rotary hoe, however, did not significantly affect the severity of damage by H. avenae, the number of nematode cysts or the incidence of common root rot. The incidence of common root rot was correlated (r = 0.71) with the subcrown internode lengths, indicating that the deeper the seed was sown the greater the proportion of plants with the disease. Dry weight of seedlings and grain yield were negatively correlated (r = -0.79 and -0.66) with the severity of damage caused by H. avenae. Plant dry weight and grain yield were, however, not correlated with the severity of rhizoctonia root rot or the incidence of common root rot.