Copper on Winter Wheat Project

The application of copper has been promoted to improve disease resistance of wheat, and ultimately to improve grain yield and quality. In 2008, the Quinte Regional Soil & Crop Improvement Association initiated a project to evaluate the use of foliar applied copper with the herbicide on winter wheat for cereal leaf and grain disease control, and to measure the impact on yield. Soil samples and leaf tissue samples were collected. Visual disease comparisons were made during the growing season.

Results

*Critical Deficiency Levels – a nutrient is deficient when the nutrient concentration falls below the critical level and would expect a yield response to applying that nutrient.

Soil Test Copper = 1 ppm (DTPA extractable. 0 - 6" depth)

Leaf Analysis Copper = 3 ppm

Leaf Analysis calcium = 0.25% 

Summary

Visual ratings taken during the growing season observed similar disease present on both the untreated and treated plots at low levels. The soil samples for copper were above the critical deficiency of 1 ppm at all the sites. Organic matter was generally high at all sites. From the leaf tissue analysis, both copper and calcium levels were above the critical deficiency levels. The 2008 yield results showed little to no advantage to foliar applied copper. For a quality comparison, grain samples are currently being graded and analyzed for toxin levels.

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