Some effects of field history on the relationship between grass production in subterranean clover pasture, grain yield and take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici) in a subsequent crop of wheat at Bannister, Western Australia

Abstract

The relationship between grass production in subterranean clover pastures with two different rotation histories and take-all in a subsequent wheat crop following barley was studied. Grass production in the pastures ranged from 0 to 1700 kg ha-1. The incidence of take-all in the wheat crop ranged from 10 to l00%, while the take-all severity percentage ranged from 4 to 99.In one rotation series (pasture 9 years; barley, barley, pasture, wheat), each kilogram increase in grass production in the last pasture year caused a 0.087% increase in the take-all severity rating. In the second series (pasture 7 years; oats, pasture 3 years; barley, wheat), each kilogram increase in grass production caused a 0.040% increase in severity. These figures are significantly different (P < 0.05). Thus the field history ranging back at least four seasons influenced the effects that grass level in the last pasture year had on take-all severity. Reductions in wheat yields ranged from 8.6 to 10.5 kg ha-1 for each 1% increase in take-all severity rating.