Careers
Reducing mycotoxin levels in winter grains
After the harvest is before MK Soil.
MK Boden helps reduce the mycotoxin content in winter grains by up to 50.5% t. When used in combination with a fungicide, the product reduces the mold content by up to 71.4%.
In the fall, mold forms on remaining crop residues such as corn or grain straw. This can have a massive negative impact on the quality of future crops. The DON (deoxynivalenol) content—a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi—is a key indicator of mold contamination.
Even the way crop residues are handled (mulching/cultivating, plowing) affects the decomposition process and, consequently, mold development.
The study
As part of a three-year field trial conducted by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (Plant Production Department) under the direction of DI Köppl, the effects of fungicides, MK Soil, and various post-harvest tillage methods were investigated.
The aim of the study was to analyze the optimal combination of harvest residue treatment and post-seeding treatment to promote straw decomposition and reduce mycotoxin levels in winter wheat following a previous crop of grain corn.
To this end, corn straw was incorporated into the soil using a plow or a cultivator (mulch seeding) on three different plots. The plots were then treated with the following variants:
- V1: untreated control
- V2: fungicide (foliar application: 0.6 L/ha Champion + 0.6 L/ha Diamant (ES39); bloom spray: 1.0 L/ha Input (ES 61-65))
- V3: MK soil application (on corn straw in the fall; 66 L/ha)
- V4: MK soil + fungicide
- V4 represents a combination of V2 and V3. For each tillage strategy and treatment variant, DON content, yield, and additional revenue per hectare were analyzed. The values from multiple locations and years were averaged.
As part of a three-year field trial conducted by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (Plant Production Department) under the direction of DI Köppl, the effects of fungicides, MK Soil, and various post-harvest tillage methods were investigated.
The aim of the study was to analyze the optimal combination of harvest residue treatment and post-seeding treatment to promote straw decomposition and reduce mycotoxin levels in winter wheat following a previous crop of grain corn.
To this end, corn straw was incorporated into the soil using a plow or a cultivator (mulch seeding) on three different plots. The plots were then treated with the following variants:
- V1: untreated control
- V2: fungicide (foliar application: 0.6 L/ha Champion + 0.6 L/ha Diamant (ES39); bloom spray: 1.0 L/ha Input (ES 61-65))
- V3: MK soil application (on corn straw in the fall; 66 L/ha)
- V4: MK soil + fungicide
- V4 represents a combination of V2 and V3. For each tillage strategy and treatment variant, DON content, yield, and additional revenue per hectare were analyzed. The values from multiple locations and years were averaged.
The result
The DON content in winter wheat was reduced in all treatment variants compared to the untreated control (V1), with the combination of MK Soil and fungicide (V4) resulting in the greatest reduction. However, this treatment also incurred the highest costs, regardless of the tillage method (Table 1). Thus, the combined treatment is not economically viable.
Treating the fields with MK Soil (V3) resulted in a stable yield of 80 dt/ha in both tillage variants. On the fields tilled with a plow, DON levels were lower overall (191.5 vs. 912.8 μg/kg). The DON content in winter wheat was reduced by 50.5% (plow) and 27.3% (cultivator) through rototilling with MK Boden compared to the untreated control. At the same time, treatment with MK Soil also increased the yield following cultivator tillage by 7.7% compared to the control. This results in an additional revenue of 20 cents/ha and 100% profitability on the areas treated with MK Soil.
The DON content in winter wheat was reduced in all treatment variants compared to the untreated control (V1), with the combination of MK Soil and fungicide (V4) resulting in the greatest reduction. However, this treatment also incurred the highest costs, regardless of the tillage method (Table 1). Thus, the combined treatment is not economically viable.
Treating the fields with MK Soil (V3) resulted in a stable yield of 80 dt/ha in both tillage variants. On the fields tilled with a plow, DON levels were lower overall (191.5 vs. 912.8 μg/kg). The DON content in winter wheat was reduced by 50.5% (plow) and 27.3% (cultivator) through rototilling with MK Boden compared to the untreated control. At the same time, treatment with MK Soil also increased the yield following cultivator tillage by 7.7% compared to the control. This results in an additional revenue of 20 cents/ha and 100% profitability on the areas treated with MK Soil.
Table 1: Winter Wheat Yield, DON Content, and Profitability: Comparison of Plow vs. Cultivator; total additional revenue and profitability calculated for all fields per treatment.
Table 1: Winter Wheat Yield, DON Content, and Profitability: Comparison of Plow vs. Cultivator; total additional revenue and profitability calculated for all fields per treatment.
Conclusion
By using MK Boden to control the decomposition of corn stover, the mycotoxin content in the subsequent winter wheat crop was significantly reduced. Combined with the increase in yield, this resulted in 100% profitability.
By using MK Boden to control the decomposition of corn stover, the mycotoxin content in the subsequent winter wheat crop was significantly reduced. Combined with the increase in yield, this resulted in 100% profitability.
Results
The use of MK Soil for decomposition management significantly reduced the mycotoxin content. In combination with fungicide use, there was an increase in yields, both in the plough (+11.4%) and the cultivator (+9.8%) variants.
The use of MK Soil for decomposition management significantly reduced the mycotoxin content. In combination with fungicide use, there was an increase in yields, both in the plough (+11.4%) and the cultivator (+9.8%) variants.
Do you have questions about the studies?
We will be happy to answer them!
Head of Research and Development, Quality Management
Dr. Katharina Kraxberger MSc
Phone:
+43 7247 50 250 149
