Abstract: Effect of Non-Targeted Application of Tilt® on the Yield and Kernel Plumpness of Malt Barley

Tilt® (propiconazole) is a fungicide sprayed to barley to control net blotch and scald. Two experiments were carried out from 1989 to 1998 to assess the impact of Tilt® on yield, kernel plumpness and protein content of barley seed independent of whether a disease pressure was present or not (non-targeted). Experiment 1 contained 135 site-years at 24 different locations and consisted of trials arranged in a split-plot design with fungicide applications (0 and 220 mL/acre at flag leaf stage) as main plots and combinations of N and P rates as subplots. Experiment 2 contained 90 site-years and consisted of trials arranged in a split plot design with fungicide applications as main plots and N rates (0, 18, 27, and 54 lb N/acre) as sub-plots. Six different malt barley cultivars were used in both experiments. A yield increase was obtained in 90 percent of the trials of Experiment 1 with a statistically significant yield increase of 5 and 10 bu/acre in 65 and 40 percent of trials, respectively. At $2, $3 and $4/bu of barley there was a 60, 75 and 80 percent probability of a 2:1 return on every $1 spend on fungicide when its cost was $6/acre. When the fungicide cost was $12/acre, the probabilities were 30%, 50% and 60% for $2, $3 and $4/bu, respectively. Experiment 2 showed that yield increases due to application of Tilt® were independent of N rate. Application of Tilt® resulted in improvement of kernel plumpness at all N rates. There was no impact of Tilt® on grain protein.

R.E. Karamanos, N.A. Flore, J.T. Harapiak and D.P. Poisson
Western Cooperative Fertilizers Limited

Presented at the 3rd Canadian Barley Symposium, June 19-20, 2003

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This information published to the web on October 7, 2003.