Crawley,
Western Australia
March 15, 2006
In-furrow
fungicides could increase wheat yields by almost five per cent
and offer up to three months protection from diseases
infiltrating growers’ paddocks.
The
Kellerberrin Demonstration Group, with support from
Northam-based Farm Focus Consultants and the Department of
Agriculture, Western Australia (DAWA), conducted a three year
investigation, which was initiated after the 2002 stripe rust
outbreak.
In 2004 the
highest yielding treatment of flutriafol, plus a foliar
propiconazole application, gave an extra $67.20/ha, which more
than covered the cost of the fungicide and application.
Jeff Russell
of DAWA said that in-furrow applications of flutriafol on wheat
sown into wheat stubble could increase yields and safeguard
crops from diseases.
“Fungicide applications at seeding protects
crops, creates a safety net against disease outbreaks and helps
growers with their tactical spray applications later in the
season,” he said.
The trial was conducted through the
Local Farmer Group Network
(LFGN), which has encouraged agribusiness consultants to work
directly with local growers. The Network’s website is then used
to exchange these trial results with other groups.
Based at the University of Western Australia, the
LFGN has helped co-ordinate the Agribusiness Trial Network, with
support from the Grains
Research and Development Corporation.
James Eyres,
Farm Focus Consultants, said that while the results didn’t
suggest growers should always use in-furrow fungicides, they
helped the decision making process in a wheat on wheat
scenario.
“All the three years using flutriafol in-furrow
gave a modest, yet significant, yield increase in the range of
three to five per cent.
“The results give growers in the Kellerberrin
district confidence that in the circumstances of wheat on wheat,
low leaf disease pressure and yields of 2.5 tonnes per hectare
or more, they should at least get their money back using
flutriafol,” he said.
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