Environmentally Friendly Wheat Farming: Biological and Economic Efficiency of Three Treatments to Control Fungal Diseases in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Field Conditions

Abstract

The control of wheat diseases using bioagents is not well studied under field conditions. The present study was aimed at investigating, during four consecutive growing seasons (2017–2020), the efficacy of two integrated crop protection (ICP) systems to control the common wheat diseases for enhancing the productivity and profitability of winter wheat crops and ensuring nutritional and food security. Two environmental-friendly treatments were tested, biological (T1), which contained bioagents and fertilizers, and combined (T2), which included fertilizers and bioagents coupled with lower doses of fungicides. The chemical treatment (T3) was used for comparison with (T1) and (T2). Furthermore, two Russian winter wheat varieties (Nemchinovskaya 17 (V1) and Moscovskaya 40 (V2)) were studied. A randomized complete block design was used with four replicates. Diseases infestation rates for snow mold (SM), root rot (RR), powdery mildew (PM), and Fusarium (Fus), yield performances, and grain quality (measured through protein content) were determined according to the tested treatments, and the economic efficiency was calculated for each treatment. The combined treatment (T2) was the most effective against fungal diseases with 1.8% (SM), 1.2% (RR), 0.9% (PM), and 0.9% (Fus). The highest grain yield (6.8 t·ha−1), protein content (15.2%), and 1000-grain weight (43.7%) were observed for winter wheat variety Moscovskaya 40 with the combined treatment (T2). The highest number of productive stems (N.P.S) (556 stems/m2) was attained for combined treatment (T2), followed by biological treatment (T1) (552 stems/m2) with the variety Nemchinovskaya 17. The profitability (cost–benefit ratio) of the combined treatment (T2) was 2.38 with the Moscovskaya 40 variety (V2), while 2.03 was recorded for the biological treatment. Applying environmentally friendly combined and biological treatments resulted in high wheat yield and net income, as well as healthy products.

Crop Cultivation Efficiency and GHG Emission: SBM-DEA Model with Undesirable Output Approach

“…Practices (adjusting sowing dates and other climate adaptation treatments) and plant varieties that are more tolerant to water shortages and resistant to high temperature and disease should be used [2,[55][56][57]]. An integrated crop production system consisting of rational fertilization, the use of plant protection products and appropriate crop rotation can improve farm efficiency [58,59]. The use of natural fertilizers was revealed to have a negative impact on efficiency, mostly due to the higher consumption of fuel and machinery during this treatment; there is, therefore, a need to improve agrotechnics in this aspect.…”

Biological control of wheat powdery mildew disease by the termite‐associated fungus Aspergillus chevalieriBYST01 and potential role of secondary metabolites

“…4,5 The mechanisms responsible for the biocontrol activity of these beneficial microorganisms vary and include inhibiting the germination of pathogenic spores, producing antimicrobial toxins, stimulating plant defense reactions, and niche competition. 2,[6][7][8][9] Secondary metabolites produced by biological agents can suppress the growth of Bgt. For example, gopalamicin derivative of salbomycin produced by soil actinomycetes MSU-625 and MSU-616 can reduce its incidence in glasshouse experiments.…”

“…For example, the application of the main bio‐inoculants Trichoderma and Bacillus in agriculture has significant improved in the plant growth, yield, and quality of varieties of crops 4,5 . The mechanisms responsible for the biocontrol activity of these beneficial microorganisms vary and include inhibiting the germination of pathogenic spores, producing antimicrobial toxins, stimulating plant defense reactions, and niche competition 2,6–9 . Secondary metabolites produced by biological agents can suppress the growth of Bgt.…”

Artificial Intelligence Integrated GIS for Land Suitability Assessment of Wheat Crop Growth in Arid Zones to Sustain Food Security

“…The world's largest wheat collection at the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) evaluated winter wheat adaptation to climate change for 50 years of genepool research [13], as the control of wheat diseases using bioagents is not well studied under field conditions [14]. In this regard, land suitability analyses are necessary to guarantee an efficient and sustainable supply of wheat from agricultural lands, which are scarce natural resources [15][16][17].…”