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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313809
Title: Economics of a decision-support system for managing the main fungal diseases of winter wheat in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg

Author
item EL JARROUDI, MOUSSA - University Of Liege
item KOUADIO, LOUIS - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item BEYER, MARCO - Centre De Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann
item HOFFMANN, LUCIEN - Centre De Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann
item MARAITE, HENRI - Universite Catholique
item Bock, Clive
item DELFOSSE, PHILIPPE - Centre De Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann

Submitted to: Field Crops Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2014
Publication Date: 12/29/2014
Citation: El Jarroudi, M., Kouadio, L., Beyer, M., Hoffmann, L., Maraite, H., Bock, C.H., Delfosse, P. 2014. Economics of a decision-support system for managing the main fungal diseases of winter wheat in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. Field Crops Research. 172:32-41.

Interpretive Summary: We evaluated the cost effectiveness of a decision-support system (DSS) developed for assessing in real time the risk of progression of the main fungal diseases (Septoria leaf blotch, powdery mildew, leaf rusts and Fusarium head blight) of winter wheat in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (GDL). Three fungicide spray strategies were compared: a single DSS-based system and two commonly used spray practices in the GDL, a double (2T)- and a triple (3T) spray treatment, and a non-treated control. In years with high disease pressure, the DSS-based recommendation resulted in protection of the three upper leaves comparable to that achieved with the 2T and 3T treatments, with significant grain yield increases compared to the control. Financial gain in treated plots compared with the control ranged from 3 to 16%. In dry seasons no DSS-based fungicide spray was recommended, reducing use of fungicide, and thus saving the cost of the product. This study demonstrates the potential advantages to disease management and profitability of using a DSS based approach.

Technical Abstract: We evaluated the cost effectiveness of a decision-support system (DSS) developed for assessing in real time the risk of progression of the main fungal diseases (i.e., Septoria leaf blotch, powdery mildew, leaf rusts and Fusarium head blight) of winter wheat in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (GDL). The study was conducted in replicated field experiments located in four agricultural locations (representative of the main agro-ecological regions of the country) over a 10-year period (2003-2012). Three fungicide spray strategies were compared: a single DSS-based system and two commonly used spray practices in the GDL, a double (2T)- and a triple (3T) spray treatment; there was also a non-treated control. In years with high disease pressure, the DSS-based recommendation resulted in protection of the three upper leaves comparable to that achieved with the 2T and 3T treatments, with significant grain yield increases (P > 0.05) compared to the control (a 4 to 42% increase, depending on the site and year). Overall, the financial gain in treated plots compared with the control ranged from 3 to 16% at the study sites. Furthermore, in seasons when dry weather conditions precluded epidemic development, no DSS-based fungicide spray was recommended, reducing use of fungicide, and thus saving the cost of the product. The gain in yield for the 2T and 3T plots (compared with control) did not necessarily result in a financial gain during those seasons. This study demonstrates the potential advantages to disease management and profitability of using a DSS based approach.