Crop Damage
Southern corn leaf blight earned its place in history during an epidemic in 1970. During that summer, the southern leaf blight epidemic reduced corn yields by 20 to 25 percent nationwide, resulting in an estimated $1 billion loss. This epidemic underscored the need for genetic diversity, led to the development of certified seed and is the reason why detasseling of hybrid seed corn fields still exists today as a common cultural practice. Genetic diversity remains one of the most effective methods to manage southern corn leaf blight.
When southern corn leaf blight lesions occur, they can merge to kill large areas of corn leaf tissue. The result is reduced photosynthesis, which can increase stalk rots and reduce yield potential.
Managing Southern Corn Leaf Blight
Farmers can benefit from several options to manage southern corn leaf blight, including hybrid selection, scouting, cultural practices and fungicides. A combination of these crop protection practices provides optimum security to enhance corn yields and should be implemented to sustainably manage corn diseases.
Hybrid selection
Choosing corn hybrids with genetic disease resistance offers the best economical and effective defense against southern corn leaf blight and other diseases. Although no hybrid provide resistance to all diseases, even partial resistance goes a long way in protecting corn yields.
Scouting
Early and frequent scouting for diseases is a routine best management practice to manage pest problems before they lead to economic damage. In the case of southern corn leaf blight, generally observe for symptoms in the lower plant leaves, which become nutrient stressed with the disease. Symptoms are typically not found at the ear leaf or above. The best time to scout is at tasseling through the R4 growth stages, earlier in seed production fields. AgWeb offers a helpful summary of scouting tips.
Cultural practices
Crop rotation remains a solid tactic to help diminish disease threats. Rotating from corn to non-host crops helps reduce favorable environmental conditions for disease pathogens, risk of infection and disease levels.
Any type of tillage that reduces crop residue from a previous corn crop will help manage southern corn leaf blight and other diseases overwintering in corn residue. A combination of integrated management practices is especially recommended in continuous corn grown with no-till and reduced-tillage cropping systems, according to University of Illinois Extension.
Fungicides
Foliar fungicides may be applied early in the growing season to corn seedlings as a risk-management tool for southern corn leaf blight and other corn diseases, including anthracnose leaf blight and corn eyespot. After southern corn blight is identified during the growing season, fungicides should be applied early in the disease outbreak for maximum effectiveness.
Delaro® fungicide offers preventative and curative defense against yield-robbing diseases, including gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, anthracnose leaf blight and southern rust. This versatile fungicide has application flexibility — at-tassel timing (VT to R2), in combination with a herbicide (V4 to V7) and/or in between (V8 to VT). Delaro can be applied by air, ground or by chemigation and can be mixed with adjuvants, herbicides, insecticides and micronutrients.
Before applying any fungicide, please read the entire label for the best possible results and to confirm that the product is effective on the disease you need to control. Not every product is suitable for every situation, and correct application technique will ensure the best results.