The 2023 HYC Barley Disease Management trial looked to investigate the (i) influence of management strategies on grain yield and,  (ii) Influence of fungicide treatment on Net Form of Net Blotch (NFNB) severity and incidence on Flag, Flag-1 and Flag-2, and green leaf retention 

• Despite RGT Planet’s SVS rating to Net Form Net Blotch (NFNB), drier conditions in spring meant little disease was present in this trial.
• When assessed during mid-flower on the 16 October, severity of NFNB (% leave area infected) peaked at only 1% with an incidence score of 40% on flag-1, the most important leaf in barley (Table 2).
• Although only low levels of disease were found, there were differences in yield with the untreated yielding 6.92t/ha, which was significantly lower than treatments where 2-4 fungicide units had been used. The exception was the use of Aviator Xpro as a single spray at GS39-45. (Table 1).
• Treatments with only a single fungicide unit, used earlier in the season, or treatments not using higher rates of products, did not yield statistically different from the untreated (Table 1).

Rotation position: 2022 Canola
Soil type: Organosol over grey clay
Colwell P (mg/kg) 0-10cm: 59 mg/kg
pH (CaCl2) 0-10cm: 7.5
Organic Carbon (%) 0-10cm: 8.0%