Integrated management of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) through host resistance and inorganic salts foliar sprays

Wheat stem rust disease is threatening the production of wheat in Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the integrated effects of wheat varieties and inorganic salt foliar sprays to manage wheat stem rust on three wheat varieties, one susceptible (Morocco), one moderately resistant (Tay) and one resistant variety (Hoggana) at Adet and Aneded in 2018 cropping season. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with a factorial arrangement in three replications. Wheat stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici was significantly (p < 0.05) controlled by the sprays of potassium carbonate at the rate of 15 g l(-1) concentration at both locations. The study results showed that the lowest rust severity, the area under the disease progress curve and slower disease progress rate occurred on the resistant and moderately resistant varieties sprayed with Tilt 250 EC and followed by potassium carbonate than on the susceptible variety with Tilt 250 EC, potassium carbonate and/or with potassium bicarbonate at both locations. Potassium carbonate reduced the disease severity without any significant difference to the recommended fungicide Tilt 250 EC at the rate of 1.5 l ha(-1) on Hoggana variety at Aneded, which showed us potassium carbonate can be used as an alternative option to manage stem rust in wheat. Potassium carbonate foliar spray reduced relative grain yield loss by 36.05 and 3.9% at Adet whereas 28.5 and 2.03% at Aneded on the Hoggana compared to the varieties Morocco and Tay, respectively, which is comparable to Tilt 250 EC. In conclusion, when growing moderately resistant wheat varieties, potassium carbonate may be used in place of commercially recommended fungicide Tilt 250 EC yielding comparable results.