Abstract
Background
Foliar fungicide applications to corn (Zea mays L.) occur at one or more application timings ranging from early vegetative growth stages to mid-reproductive stages. Previous studies indicated that fungicide applications are profitable under high disease pressure when applied during the tasseling to silking growth stages. Few comprehensive studies in corn have examined the impact of fungicide applications at an early vegetative growth stage (V6) compared to late application timings (VT) for yield response and return on fungicide investment (ROI) across multiple locations.
Objective
Compare yield response of fungicide application timing across multiple fungicide classes and calculate the probability of positive ROI.
Methods
Data were collected specifically for this analysis using a uniform protocol conducted in 13 states in the United States and one province in Canada from 2014–2015. Data were subjected to a primary mixed-model analysis of variance. Subsequent univariate meta-analyses, with and without moderator variables, were performed using standard meta-analytic procedures. Follow-up power and prediction analyses were performed to aid interpretation and development of management recommendations.
Results
Fungicide application resulted in a range of yield responses from -2,683.0 to 3,230.9 kg/ha relative to the non-treated control, with 68.2% of these responses being positive. Evidence suggests that all three moderator variables tested (application timing, fungicide class, and disease base level), had some effect (α = 0.05) on the absolute difference in yield between fungicide treated and non-treated plots (D̅). Application timing influenced D̅, with V6 + VT and the VT application timings resulting in greater yield responses than the V6 application timing alone. Fungicide formulations that combined demethylation inhibitor and quinone outside inhibitor fungicides significantly increased yield response.
Conclusion
Foliar fungicide applications can increase corn grain yield. To ensure the likelihood of a positive ROI, farmers should focus on applications at VT and use fungicides that include a mix of demethylation inhibitor and quinone outside inhibitor active ingredients.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-5-2019
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217510
Funding Information
Funding for specific trials presented in the research analysis is acknowledged from the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board (T.F.), the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board (P.P.) and the Michigan Corn Marketing Program (M.C.).
Related Content
The data underlying this study have been deposited to Dryad (doi:10.5061/dryad.2463f63).
S1 Fig. PRISMA flow diagram. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217510.s001 (DOC)
S1 File. PRISMA checklist. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217510.s002 (DOC)
Repository Citation
Wise, Kiersten A.; Smith, Damon; Freije, Anna; Mueller, Daren S.; Kandel, Yuba; Allen, Tom; Bradley, Carl A.; Byamukama, Emmanuel; Chilvers, Martin; Faske, Travis; Friskop, Andrew; Hollier, Clayton; Jackson-Ziems, Tamra A.; Kelly, Heather; Kemerait, Bob; Price, Paul III; Robertson, Alison; and Tenuta, Albert, "Meta-Analysis of Yield Response of Foliar Fungicide-Treated Hybrid Corn in the United States and Ontario, Canada" (2019). Plant Pathology Faculty Publications. 90.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/plantpath_facpub/90
S1 Fig. PRISMA flow diagram.
journal.pone.0217510.s002.doc (64 kB)
S1 File. PRISMA checklist.
Notes/Citation Information
Published in PLOS ONE, v. 14, no. 9, e0217510, p. 1-15.
© 2019 Wise et al.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.