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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291530
Title: Foliar fungicides on alfalfa: 2012 University extension field trial results from Minnesota and Wisconsin

Author
item HALFMAN, BILL - University Of Wisconsin
item BLONDE, GREG - University Of Wisconsin
item JENSEN, BYRAN - University Of Wisconsin
item Samac, Deborah - Debby
item BEHNKEN, LISA - University Of Minnesota
item BREITENBACH, FRITZ - University Of Minnesota
item UNDERSANDER, DAN - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Forage Focus
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2013
Publication Date: 3/1/2013
Citation: Halfman, B., Blonde, G., Jensen, B., Samac, D.A., Behnken, L., Breitenbach, F., Undersander, D. 2013. Foliar fungicides on alfalfa: 2012 University extension field trial results from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Forage Focus. March 2013, p. 16-17.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To answer the increasing number of questions received regarding the use of foliar fungicide on alfalfa, a group of Extension and USDA Agricultural Research Station staff in southeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin worked together to conduct field research trials to examine the benefit of using a foliar fungicide, alone or in combination with foliar insecticide on alfalfa. The research trials were conducted at three locations in Wisconsin and two locations in Minnesota. The Headline treatment significantly reduced defoliation and infected leaf area in 12 of 14 observations compared to the untreated check. Headline + Warrior II reduced disease significantly in 10 of 14 observations compared to Warrior II alone. The greatest effect on foliar diseases was in the first cutting at all locations. A positive yield response was observed in five out of 14 observations when using Headline alone compared to the untreated check. When evaluating the addition of Headline to an application of Warrior II, a positive yield response was observed in four out of 14 observations. A negative yield difference was observed at one of the locations when comparing Headline + Warrior II with Warrior II alone. There was no correlation between defoliation and yield. When evaluating quality across locations and cuttings that compared Headline and Warrior II to Warrior II alone a positive difference in crude protein was observed in three out of 14 observations, and a negative protein difference was observed in two of 14 comparisons. Observations of net energy of lactation were positive in four of 14 observations and negative in two of 14 observations. The trials conducted in 2012 had similar results to the trials conducted at three locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota in 2011. Response to the application of Headline was variable and inconsistent both years.