Mycotoxins and Crop Yield in Maize as Affected by Irrigation Management and Tillage Practices

Abstract

In addition to the weather conditions, agronomic practices can have a major influence on maize crop yield and contamination with mycotoxins. In this work, the effect of different irrigation systems (flood vs. sprinkler irrigation), sprinkler irrigation management (low vs. high frequency, daytime vs. nighttime irrigation) and tillage practices (conventional tillage, no tillage with or without crop stover) on crop yield and the contamination with aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FUM) and deoxynivalenol (DON) were evaluated in the maize grain from two experimental maize fields. No aflatoxins were detected in any of the samples analyzed. DON and FUM levels were significantly higher when the sprinkler irrigation was performed at nighttime (0.54 and 1.21 mg kg−1, respectively) as compared to daytime (0.38 and 0.45 mg kg−1). Likewise, DON and FUM were greater when irrigation frequency was low (0.61 and 1.09 mg kg−1, respectively) in comparison with high frequency (0.30 and 0.57 mg kg−1). DON concentrations were significantly higher in fields with sprinkler irrigation (0.53 mg kg−1) as compared to flood irrigation (0.19 mg kg−1), while the levels of FUM were very similar regardless of the maize irrigation system. Mycotoxin concentrations were not affected by the different soil tillage practices. This highlights the importance of implementing crop management practices to minimize the risk of mycotoxin contamination in maize.

Integrated mycotoxin risk management strategies for grain handling and feed manufacturing industries

“…These findings agreed with the Illinois-centric model for early months having a high relative influence on predicting AFL contamination; therefore, agronomic practices that happen when corn is not in the field, such as tilling and drilling, should be further researched to determine if fungal growth for AFL is being harbored in soil residues Accinelli et al, 2008;Herrera et al, 2023). Tillage practices are an essential pre-planting factor for determining Aspergillus spores in leftover crop stover; the chances for infection are greater if leftover stover is left on the soil (Herrera et al, 2023;Payne et al, 1986). Even though it is wise from a conservation standpoint to conduct no-till practices to maintain soil resources, it may enhance AFL contamination .…”

The role of husk traits in maize susceptibility to Fusarium verticillioides: A multi‐location study in northern Italy

“…The methods used in the prevention of mycotoxin contamination T A B L E 2 Summary of agronomic parameters collected in three locations on 38 hybrids: number of husks, husk coverage, Fusarium verticillioides severity, fumonisin concentration (ppm), grain relative humidity (%) and yield estimate (t/ha). include cropping techniques, crop residue management, disease control through chemicals or biocontrol, irrigation, and harvest timing (Battisti et al, 2022;Herrera et al, 2023;Krnjaja et al, 2019;Marín et al, 2010;Marocco et al, 2008;Rossi et al, 2009;Tran et al, 2021). However, the best method for controlling F. verticillioides is the selection of more resistant genotypes, even if completely immune genotypes are not available (Lanubile et al, 2017;Stagnati et al, 2019).…”

“…Nowadays, Fusarium disease and the resulting accumulation of fumonisins pose a global safety hazard for human and animal health (Awuchi et al., 2021; De Ruyck et al., 2015; Magarini et al., 2023). The methods used in the prevention of mycotoxin contamination include cropping techniques, crop residue management, disease control through chemicals or biocontrol, irrigation, and harvest timing (Battisti et al., 2022; Herrera et al., 2023; Krnjaja et al., 2019; Marín et al., 2010; Marocco et al., 2008; Rossi et al., 2009; Tran et al., 2021). However, the best method for controlling F. verticillioides is the selection of more resistant genotypes, even if completely immune genotypes are not available (Lanubile et al., 2017; Stagnati et al., 2019).…”

“…Another key factor is tillage and crop residue management, but their importance is still debated (Battisti et al., 2022). Many authors reported that tillage practices did not significantly affect the incidence of fumonisins in maize (Herrera et al., 2023; Marocco et al., 2008), while other studies showed that fields with previous crop stovers exhibited a greater presence of F. verticillioides in comparison to fields without stovers (Rossi et al., 2009; Tran et al., 2021). Also, water management is considered a key factor in controlling the fungal infection, and drought stress has been associated with higher mycotoxin production (Marín et al., 2010).…”

“…Also, water management is considered a key factor in controlling the fungal infection, and drought stress has been associated with higher mycotoxin production (Marín et al., 2010). In this context, climate change predictions suggest an elevated risk of mycotoxin contamination in European maize as a result of long period of drought and rising temperatures (Herrera et al., 2023). Irrigation method is also crucial and overhead irrigation, which keeps the silks excessively wet, is associated with higher infection compared to flood irrigation (Herrera et al., 2023).…”