Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important staple food crops in the highlands of Ethiopia. However, the production and productivity of barley are constrained by various a biotic and biotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses, barley net blotch and leaf rust are the most destructive diseases of barley. The field experiment was conducted at three locations (Sinana, Robe and Goba) for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) crop growing seasons. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different fungicides for the management of barley net blotch and leaf rust diseases. Treatments were composed of one highly susceptible barley variety (Guta) to major barley diseases and seven systemic foliar fungicides (Tilt250EC (PropiconazoleEC), RexDuo (Epoxiconazole+Thiophanatemethyl), AmistarXtra280SC (Azoxystrodin+Cyproconazole), OperaMax (F500 (85G/L)) (Pyraclostrobin+Epoxiconazole), Natura250EC (Tebuconazole250EC), Nativo300SC (Tebuconazole50%+Trifloxystrobin75WG), Artea330EC (Propiconazole+Cyproconazole) and untreated plot (control) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The present study revealed that Tilt 250 EC and Artea 330 EC fungicides provided significant grain yield increment over untreated plot (control) across the three sites. The highest grain yield obtained from plots treated by Tilt 250 EC (2778.9 kgha-1) and Artea 330 EC (2538.9 kgha-1), which was 40% and 35% higher than the untreated control, respectively. The most effective among all tested fungicides, Artea 330 EC and Tilt 250 EC applied at the rate of 0.5 litre per hectare which reached 98.63% and 94.54% efficacy in controlling barley rust disease, respectively. Likewise, Tilt 250 EC and Artea 330 EC also relatively reduced net blotch disease severity to the lowest level. Likely, Tilt 250 EC and Artea 330 EC revealed that 11.4 quintal ha-1 and 9 quintal ha-1 yield advantage over untreated plot (control). The highest net benefit obtained from the application of Tilt 250 EC followed by Artea 330 EC fungicides as compared to the untreated plot. The application of Tilt 250 EC and Artea 330 EC fungicides gave maximum economic profitability with an attractive acceptable return to control leaf rust and a net blotch of barley. One time application of Tilt 250 EC and Artea 330 EC fungicides is the most effective in controlling barley leaf rust and net blotch diseases at the time of disease appearance.
Highlights
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world, which has been cultivated for thousands of years [9]
The two years growing seasons were marked by mild temperatures and moderate rainfall which made a conducive environment to the development of barley net blotch and leaf rust diseases across all locations
The most effective among all tested fungicides; Artea 330 EC and Tilt 250 EC applied at the rate of 0.5 litre per hectare, which reached 98.63% and 94.54% efficacy in controlling barley leaf rust disease, respectively (Table 5)
Summary
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world, which has been cultivated for thousands of years [9]. It ranks fourth among most grown cereal worldwide following wheat, maize, and rice, with an area harvested of 46.9 million ha and a production total of 141.3 million tons in 2016 [7]. Barley is one of the most important staple food crops in the highlands of Ethiopia. Barley is a cool-season crop that is adapted to high altitudes. It is a hardy crop grown in a wide
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