Non-Peer ReviewedOn the Canadian prairies, Fusarium head blight (FHB) mitigation requires an integrated pest management approach. The lack of highly resistant varieties and the limited effectiveness of fungicide make managing the disease difficult. A diverse crop rotation should be a sustainable strategy. We are investigating the effect of multiple crop sequences of host and non-host crops on FHB and other diseases of wheat and barley. The crop sequences include four of the most commonly grown field crops in western Canada and maize. The experiment is being conducted over three growing seasons (2018-2020) at six locations. The impact of the various crop sequences will be determined by the Fusarium spp. detected in the wheat crop in year three, the FHB index, yield, and quality (deoxynivalenol and protein content). Last year data showed a low FHB pressure across the prairies and high levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) were detected in harvested samples. Concerning the Fusarium spp., it was possible to isolate F. graminearum, F. poae and F. culmorum from the six locations in wheat, durum, barley and oats samples. Our aim is to increase sustainability of wheat and barley production in western Canada by providing information on which to develop best management practices for crop rotation
