T1 and T2 applications provide the majority of disease control, yield benefits, and economic returns. However, adding a T3 spray often creates the best balance in a fungicide programme. A T3 application is timed to protect the 22% of yield linked to the leaf sheath and ear, but need for it will depend on seasonal disease pressure. This update outlines examples of balanced and targeted fungicide programmes which will aid profitability and reduce pressure on both cultivars and chemistry.
Key points
- T3 applications rely on triazoles (Group 3 fungicides); the choice depends on your target disease and which triazoles have already been used earlier in the season.
- FAR trials have observed little or no difference in disease control, yield or financial return, between fungicide programmes which finish at T3 and those which include a T4 (GS 69-72) application.
- If a T4 is important to you, remember that some mixtures have relatively long with-holding periods.