Abstract
Biostimulators with chemical protection are a challenge in sustainable agriculture to obtain high yield, healthy, and pesticide-free wheat. The aim of this four-year spring wheat field experiment was to assess the effectivity of using herbicide, mixed fungicides protection, and a humic biostimulator. The following treatments were tested: biostimulator (S), sulfosulfuron (H), H + S, H + propiconazole + cyproconazole/spiroxamin + tebuconazole + triadimenol (H + F1 + F2), and H + F1 + F2 + S. Evaluations of wheat yield and fungal diseases (Septoria tritici blotch, eyespot, sharp eyespot, Fusarium spp.) were performed using visual and qPCR methods. Thirteen mycotoxins were analyzed by LC–MS/MS. Infestations of six weeds were examined visually. Temperatures and precipitation data of the vegetative seasons were monitored. Precipitation most affected the occurrence of leaf diseases despite the same chemical/biostimulator treatments (up to 48% Septoria tritici blotch severity for the S treatment). The highest mean yield was obtained for H + F1 + F2 + S (5.27 t ha−1), while the lowest level of mycotoxins was obtained for H + F1 + F2 (221.68 µg kg−1). For H + S, a greater reduction of mycotoxins was determined compared to the H treatment (27.18%), as well as a higher severity of eyespot (18%) and sharp eyespot (24%). In 2017–2020, the most effective reduction of weed infestation and Fusarium spp. DNA on ears was indicated for H + F1 + F2 (16 g and 0.88 pg g−1 DNA, respectively). The greatest saved production value (196.15€) was determined for H + F1 + F2 + S.
Highlights
Cereal crops are the basic group of cultivated plants used worldwide for consumption, fodder, and industrial purposes
Despite frequent single herbicidal protection, the highest yield in the years 2017–2020 was determined for the sulfonylurea herbicide with a biostimulator (H + S; 6.5 t ha−1), herbicide combined with morpholine/triazole fungicides (H + F1 + F2; 6.3 t ha−1), and the herbicidal and fungicidal treatment combined with a humic biostimulator (H + F1 + F2 + S; 6.1 t ha−1) (Table 2)
The results of our research are a response to the current problems in the cultivation of wheat affected by fungal diseases and weeds, and may have a universal character in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe
Summary
Cereal crops are the basic group of cultivated plants used worldwide for consumption, fodder, and industrial purposes. To increase the supply of wheat grain, crop protection methods contributing to higher yields and reduced occurrences of fungal diseases and mycotoxins need to be developed. Wheat is susceptible to fungal pathogens which cause losses in yield and grain quality. Pathogenic fungi are responsible for leaf and stem diseases, contributing to severe yield and grain quality losses (e.g., Septoria tritici causes Septoria tritici blotch, Tapesia yallundae is responsible for eyespot, while Rhizoctonia cerealis causes sharp eyespot) [3]. FHB is manifested by the bleaching of spikes and, due to the accumulation of mycotoxins in industrially used grains, it is the disease that requires the most attention in wheat cultivation [5]. Compared to other countries of this region (e.g., Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary), Poland has similar fungal diseases and mycotoxins profiles of cereals [6]. It was noticed that high precipitation and temperature affect fungi development and mycotoxins secretion; less is known about the efficacy of sustainable crop protection in changing climate conditions
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