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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #109147
Title: LEAF SPOT DISEASES ON SPRING WHEAT CULTIVARS INFLUENCED BY THE APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM CHLORIDE.

Author
item Krupinsky, Joseph
item Tanaka, Donald

Submitted to: Proceedings Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Leaf spot diseases are normally found on wheat grown in the northern Great Plains. The plant nutrient chloride, when applied as potassium chloride (KCl) fertilizer, has been shown to reduce leaf spot diseases of small cereal grains, such as wheat and barley, when chloride levels are low. This study was undertaken to determine if the application of KCl influenced dthe amount of leaf spot disease symptoms on spring wheat. Spring wheat wa grown on a fine silt loam soil southwest of Mandan, ND. KCl was applied to part of the planting in 1996, 1997, and 1998 before tillage operations prior to seeding. Plant nutrients, ammonium nitrate (50 lb N/a) and treble superphosphate (10 lb P/a), were applied at seeding. Wheat varieties grown with and without KCl were evaluated for leaf spot diseases. Major leaf spot diseases were tan spot and stagonospora nodorum blotch. There were differences among varieties in their reaction to leaf spot diseases and in their response to KCl application. The severity of leaf spot diseases was reduced in some varieties with KCl, and in others it was increased, while, with yet others, there was not a consistent effect. Even though spring wheat kernel weight was increased with the addition of KCl, this benefit did not carry over to a yield increase. This study indicates the importance of variety selection when considering the effect of KCl on diseases.

Technical Abstract: Spring wheat production in the northern Great Plains can be influenced by leaf spot diseases. Spring wheat cultivar trials were conducted southwest of Mandan, ND on a Temvik-Wilton Silt loam (fine silty, mixed Typic and Pachic Haploborolls). Potassium chloride (KCl) was applied (200 lb/a) in 1996, 1997, and 1998 before tillage operations prior to seeding. Ammonium nitrate (50 lb N/a) and treble superphosphate (10 lb P/a) were applied at seeding. Wheat cultivars grown with and without KCl were evaluated for leaf spot diseases to determine if the application of KCl influenced the severity of disease symptoms. Major diseases were tan spot and stagonospora nodorum blotch. There were differences among cultivars in their reaction to leaf spot diseases and in their response to KCl application. The severity of leaf spot diseases was reduced in some cultivars with KCl, and in others it was increased, while, with yet others, ,there was not a consistent effect. Even though spring wheat kernel weight was increased with the addition of KCl, this benefit did not carry over to a yield increase. This study indicates the importance of cultivar selection when considering the effect of KCl on diseases.