Chemical control of FHB in wheat with different nozzle types and fungicides

Four nozzle types were tested oil large scale trials with 2500 m(2) plot size. The AIC TeeJet. the TeeJet XR, the Turbo FloodJet and the Turbo TeeJet Duo nozzles were tested in 2006 and 2007. 250 l/ha spray amount was used for all nozzles at 7-8 km/hr speed. Nine fungicides generally used to control FHB were tested. Across nine fungicides the mean reduction in symptoms was 60 % for both AIC TeeJet and XR TeeJet nozzles, but the more effective fungicides performed better with the XR TeeJet nozzle. The Turbo TeeJet Duo nozzles reduced the symptoms by 70 % and the Turbo FloodJet nozzle by 80 %. Among the fungicides the Prosaro l l/ha was the most effective. The coverage was controlled by water sensitive paper stripes and UV sensitive color mixed into the spray. Data show better uniformity by paper stripes, (lie UV pictures show that the all-side protection by the Turbo FloodJet nozzle is not perfect, the coverage is less than anticipated. Therefore, further work is necessary for improve the coverage being necessary to an even more effective control. However, the existing improvements allow 80 % or higher reduction with the best fungicides giving a chance for a better protection. Small plot tests with the same fungicides gave highly similar results achieved with the large-scale farm application. Farm efficacy could be forecasted with r = 0.90 correlation based on small plot hand sprayed tests.