On the other hand, the crop may not be able to take up or metabolise these resources if diseases reduce leaf area or cause root pruning. Root pruning by diseases such as take-all, root lesion nematode and rhizoctonia will reduce the plants' ability to take up nutrients and water efficiently. Use crop rotations to reduce the risk of root diseases in your crop. Leaf and stem diseases such as septoria, yellow spot and rusts will reduce the leaf area of a plant and its likely ability to supply carbohydrates during grain filling. Growers should choose resistant varieties in high disease risk areas, carefully plan rotations and monitor leaf disease development to assist with decisions on spraying.
Weeds compete with the crop for moisture and nutrients.
If this competition occurs during grain filling, then it is likely that small grains will be a problem. If weeds emerge with the crop, yield reduction is likely from a decrease in grain numbers but it is likely that the crop can still fill the remaining grains adequately. Its availability does not imply suitability to other areas, and any interpretation or use is the responsibility of the user. Mention of product or trade names does not imply recommendation, and any omissions are unintentional. Recommendations were current at the time of preparation of the original publication.