Over the last decade, the link between the physiological importance of the top four leaves in cereal crop canopies and the success of disease management strategies has been well-established. This research has identified key application timings based on specific development stages of the crop which coincide with the emergence of the most important leaves in the canopy. The risks of straying from these timings and extending the gaps between the timings have been clearly identified, resulting in timings either too late to properly protect the crop or the over-application of fungicides.
This research component of RiskWi$e aims to use the key physiological timings for fungicide applications, combined with the monitoring of key criteria, to improve decision making on disease management. This will be achieved through the development of a simple Decision Tree, which aims to address the question of “should I spray or not?”. A prototype of the Decision Tree will be tested over three cropping seasons, both in small plot trials to enable the model to be refined, and in larger on-farm trials to validate its effectiveness under real-world conditions.
By engaging with local growers and advisers to co-develop and refine the Decision Tree, this project aims to equip growers and advisors with a straightforward and robust tool to make informed decisions about fungicide applications.