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Proper irrigation management strategies can help prevent fusarium head blight infection in crops.
Fusarium head blight (FHB), also known as scab or tombstone, is a serious disease of cereals and grasses. It is caused by several species of Fusarium; however, F. graminearum is the primary species involved. Wheat and barley infected by FHB may contain mycotoxins that are toxic to animals and can negatively affect marketability of the grain.
For more information on FHB, see: Fusarium head blight – Overview.
Irrigation management is one of several recommended strategies for managing FHB.
Irrigation management is the determination and control of the rate, amount, and timing of the application of irrigation water. This involves:
The purpose of irrigation management is to efficiently use available irrigation water to manage and control the moisture environment of crops in order to promote desirable crop response (yield and quality), while taking care of environment and water quality.
If not properly managed, irrigation can pose the following FHB infection risks in crops:
If possible, limit irrigation just prior to and during the flowering period to reduce humid conditions in the crop canopy which would otherwise favour FHB infection.
The following irrigation management strategies help prevent FHB infection in crops:
Differences exist in flowering characteristics and duration among cereal crops. Barley starts flowering prior to heading, whereas most wheat crops start to flower three to four days after heading out. The flowering duration of a uniform barley or wheat crop is approximately ten days. Barley might have a shorter flowering duration, depending on variety.
In order for cereals to complete their flowering uniformly, proper irrigation and agronomy management must be practiced during early growth stages and especially during tillering. Additional ways of making sure plants are uniform (minimize tillering) include:
During a 10-day flowering period, barley or wheat will use approximately 60 to 70 mm of moisture. These approximate water-use numbers are based on long-term averages during the flowering period and could be higher if conditions are sunny, windy, dry and hot.
Soils can provide enough moisture to cereals during flowering without irrigation, depending on soil type. Table 1 shows irrigation management recommendations based on soil textural classes and a 10-day flowering window.
Table 1: A soil-texture-based irrigation strategy for preventing FHB
Soil Type | Total plant available moisture at field capacity (mm/m) |
Allowable depletion (50% of total available) (mm/m) | Crop water use during flowering (10 days) (mm) |
Plant available moisture at the end of flowering (mm/m) | Next irrigation event after flowering (days) |
Loamy sand | 112 | 56 | 64 | 48 | Moisture stress starts before flowering is over |
Sandy loam, Sandy clay loam |
140 | 69 | 64 | 76 | Right at after flowering is done |
Loam, Sandy clay loam |
178 | 89 | 64 | 114 | 2 to 3 days after flowering is done |
Silty loam, Sandy clay, Silty clay loam, Silty clay, Clay loam, Clay |
204 | 102 | 64 | 140 | 4 to 5 days after flowering is done |
Connect with the Ag-Info Centre:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-FARM (3276) - no area code needed
Phone: 403-742-7901 (outside Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
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