As disease pressure mounts, fungicide applications to prevent fusarium head blight (FHB) have started in wheat across Western Canada.
Effective FHB suppression comes down to timing and knowing where your target is, explains AgriMetrix spray application specialist Tom Wolf in this Wheat School episode.
“We are specifically after the wheat head. We need an angled spray, typically a twin fan. Water volume becomes slightly less important because the head is typically exposed, but we do want to add enough water to get some supplemental benefits of foliar protection that all these fungicides offer,” he explains.
The rise of awned wheat varieties over the last two decades has complicated the process of delivering FHB fungicide to its target, he says, referring to past studies: “Quite a bit of the spray was intercepted by the awns themselves before it was able to reach the wheat head and the glumes where it actually should be for FHB.”
More water and coarser droplets can help fungicide get through the awns’ “force field.”
“Awns are really good at catching fine droplets, so if you’re spraying a fine spray onto the wheat head in an awned situation, probably you’re just getting it onto the awns,” he says.
Tom joined Kelvin Heppner to discuss fungicide timing, application on awned wheat varieties and what to consider when deciding whether to go with two fungicide applications:
More Fusarium-Focused Wheat School episodes:
- Wheat School: The Fusarium Head Blight Spray Decision
- Wheat School: Is a Double Nozzle a Must for Fusarium Control?
- Wheat School – Three Key Components of Fusarium Head Blight Management
- Wheat School: Don’t Miss the Fusarium Suppression Window!
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