Health Status of Spring Barley Grown on Alfisol as Affected by Catch Crop

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of field pea grown as a catch crop and used for green manure on the health of spring barley grown in cereal crop rotation.
Study Design: The experiment was carried out in the randomized block design with four replications.
Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was carried out in the years 2008-2011 at Mochelek (17º51′E; 53º13′N), the Experiment Station of the University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Methodology: The experimental factor was made up by the manner and the time of the catch crop biomass incorporation into the soil: the catch crop plowed-in in autumn; catch crop left as mulch for winter and incorporated in spring; control. The evaluation of the health of roots, stem base and spikes was complemented by mycological analysis.
Results: Catch crop has an ambiguous effect on the health of barley. Averaged over the three years it significantly decreased the stem infection with Fusarium spp. and Cochliobolus sativus and leaf infection with Puccinia hordei. On the other hand, the use of cover crop increased leaf infection with Blumeria graminis and Rhynchosporium secalis as well as spike infestation with Fusarium spp. and C. sativus. There was no significant effect of catch crop on the occurrence of eyespot, sharp eyespot, root rot and net blotch. The pathogens which occurred on diseased roots were predominantly Gaeumannomyces graminis. There were also many Fusarium and C. sativus isolates. The infected stems were most often infested by Fusarium spp., C. sativus and Glomerella graminicola. The pathogens on necrotic spots on barley spikelets were mostly represented by C. sativus and less frequently - by Fusarium spp.
Conclusion: Catch crop decreased the stem infection with Fusarium spp. and C. sativus and leaf infection with P. hordei. It also contributed to the increase in leaf infection with B. graminis and R. secalis and spike infestation with Fusarium spp. and C. sativus.