Continuous corn disease considerations

When corn is planted back into corn residue, producers should be aware of the increased potential for certain diseases, says Doug Jardine, Kansas State Research and Extension plant pathologist. Not all diseases are affected by crop rotation, however.

The following is a brief summary from Jardine of how soil and leaf diseases differ between continuous corn and rotated corn.

• With continuous corn, there is a greater probability of developing lesion nematode problems. 
• Root rots, such as Fusarium root rot, could potentially be more severe. Root rot often develops into stalk rot. 
• Root rots also are weather dependent, so just being in continuous corn does not necessarily lead to more root rot every year. 
• Gray leaf spot could be more of a concern, since the disease overwinters on corn residue. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers