Introduction to LINK project Targeting barley disease management.

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The problem

Barley yield depends on the source (dry matter available from leaves and stems for grain filling) and sink capacity (capacity for storing assimilate in the grain) of a crop.  Disease management in barley, unlike wheat, may be predominantly sink management. This LINK project involves winter barley field experiments to determine the components of yield and their response to disease control. Spring barley field work is also in progress, funded by HGCA and SEERAD.

The partners

Research partners: ADAS and Scottish Agricultural College run the core experiments.

Industrial partners: Home Grown Cereals Authority is the principal representative of user interests.  BASF plc, Bayer Crop Science Ltd, Agrovista UK Ltd., CSC Crop Protection Ltd., Masstock Arable (UK) Ltd., and UAP Ltd provide field sites to validate findings from the core experiments.

Objectives

1.      Quantify effect of source:sink balance on response to disease control
2.      Quantify effects of disease on contributions of canopy components to source and sink capacity
3.      Test results across different crops and environments

The research

Objective 1: combinations of seed rate and N fertiliser will alter the source:sink balance, with and without fungicides for R. secalis.  Objective 2: different fungicide timings will vary disease severity at key developmental stages.  Objective 3: industry partners will use common treatments across a range of sites/cvs. 

Potential Impact

1.      Produce an HGCA Barley Disease Management Guide.
2.      Improve barley yields
3.      Better targeting of fungicides
4.      Identify key crop phases for disease risk assessment

For further information, contact:

Dr Neil Paveley

Tel: 01944 738646

E-Mail: neil.paveley@adas.co.uk