Impact of cropping and tillage system on take-all disease of winter wheat (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici)

Abstract

Diseases induced by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (G. g. tritici) are the most important wheat root diseases in all cropping areas around the world and significantly reduces yield and quality of wheat grain. A multi-year field experiment was used to evaluate infestation of winter wheat roots by G. g. tritici. The experimental factors included: I. cropping system (CS): 1) crop rotation (CR): pea – winter wheat – spring barley; 2) monoculture of winter wheat (MON); and II. tillage system (TS): 1) CT – conventional tillage, 2) RT – reduced tillage, and 3) NT – no-tillage. The following cultivation treatment were applied: a shallow ploughing after previous harvest and pre-sowing ploughing in the CT system; double cultivation instead of both aforementioned ploughing treatments in the RT system; and glyphosate in NT system. A cultivation set, consisting of a cultivator, a string roller, and a harrow, was used before wheat sowing. The value of the index of winter wheat roots infestation by G. g. tritici was significantly higher in the monoculture than in crop rotation. The value was also higher in NT than in CT system. In wheat monoculture with NT system, the percentage of highly and severely infested plants was higher than in crop rotation with CT system.