Alan Gotlieb, Sid Bosworth and John Aleong,
Extension Professor of plant pathology, Associate extension professor of
agronomy, professor of statistics, and research technician, Plant and Soil
Science Department, University of Vermont, alan.gotlieb@uvm.edu;
Lanny
Rhodes, Ohio State Univ; Forrest Nutter, Iowa State Univ;
Craig Grau, University of Wisconsin
Duration: 1995 - 1997
This study is part of a four state project (Ohio,
Wisconsin, Vermont and Iowa) with the primary goal being to fill the knowledge
gaps needed to accurately anticipate the impacts of pesticide control policies
concerning the use of fungicides on alfalfa production at the farm, state,
regional, and national levels. Specifically, these knowledge gaps
pertain to the need for credible, quantitative information concerning:
(i) fungicide efficacy in alfalfa production, (ii) geographical, time-series
data affect on prevalence, incidence, and severity of foliar pathogens,
(iii) yield (and yield loss) data for different scenarios of fungicide
input, and (iv) economic impact analyses in relation to fungicide usage,
non-usage, and the alternatives used to manage foliar diseases of alfalfa
in the U.S. Thus, this study will provide time-series data (i.e.,
year-to-year variation) concerning the prevalence, incidence, and severity
of foliar diseases and their effects on forage yield. This will allow
us to generate probability estimates of disease outbreaks which will identify
high risk production areas where the use of fungicides may be required
to optimize net return to the grower. We are now analyzing the third
year of data from this study and will combine and analyze regional
results this year. For Vermont, yield was occasionally increased
with the use of four different fungicides during the second and third
growth periods. It doe not appear that disease conditions are predictable
enough to use an IPM procedure to determine the benefit of spraying prior
to application. The analysis of this data for regional impact is
in progress. Varietal resistance may be the most important
method of controlling these diseases.
This site is maintained by Sid.Bosworth@uvm.edu, Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Vermont.
Sponsored by:
and 
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Last modified May 26 2004 12:55 PM