Influence of Cultural Practices on Incidence of Foot Rot in Winter Wheat. T. Herrman, Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843. M. V. Wiese, Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843. Plant Dis. 69:948-950. Accepted for publication 25 March 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-948.

Crop rotation, preplant tillage, cultivar selection, nitrogen fertilization, and benomyl application were evaluated for their individual and interactive effects on foot rot (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides) and seed yield in winter wheat. Preplant tillage had a significant and direct effect on disease incidence. Conventional tillage (plow and disc) consistently supported significantly higher foot rot levels than reduced-tillage and no-till treatments. Cultivars Daws and Stephens supported higher and lower foot rot levels, respectively, than either Luke or Nugaines. The effect of rotation on disease incidence was inconsistent and nitrogen levels between 101 and 135 kg/ha had no significant effect. In 1981, seed yield was influenced significantly by tillage, cultivar, and benomyl treatments. Benomyl application elicited significantly higher yields with all cultivars under reduced tillage but not under no-till. In 1982, benomyl/rotation/tillage, benomyl/tillage/cultivar, and benomyl/rotation/cultivar interactions with yield were significant. Conventional tillage and benomyl application supported the highest yields. Results indicate that reduced-tillage practices can limit both soil erosion and foot rot incidence, but these advantages must be weighed against possible yield reductions.