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Effect of Irrigation with Sewage Wastewater, Cutting Management, and Genotype on Tawny Blotch of Reed Canarygrass¹

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of irrigation, cutting management, and genotype on severity of tawny blotch caused by Stagonospora foliicola (Bres.) Bubak in reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) used as a covercrop for land disposal of municipal sewage wastewater. Twelve clones were established in nonirrigated blocks and in blocks sprinkler-irrigated with 5 cm of wastewater weekly from late May to early September. In the year after establishment (1975), plots were harvested at an 8-cm height on 4 June and 3 October (twocut management); half of the plots were also harvested 31 July (three-cut management). Clones were rated for naturally-occurring disease prior to cutting on 31 July and 30 September.

Irrigated plots had significantly more tawny blotch (P <0.01) than nonirrigated plots on both rating dates. About 67% of the treatment effects on tawny blotch severity were attributed to irrigation with sewage wastewater. The lesser effects of date of rating, cutting management, and interactions of irrigation x date of rating, and cutting management )x date of rating were significant at P <0.01. The three-factor interaction of irrigation x cutting management )x date of rating was significant at P <0.05. The irrigation )x cutting management interaction was not significant. Clones varied from resistant to highly susceptible. Reactions of most clones were consistent between rating dates or cutting treatments.

This study showed that when reed canarygrass is grown on sites used for land disposal of sewage wastewater, a three-cut harvest system significantly reduced tawny blotch in most genotypes tested. The greenhouse ratings of clones were significantly correlated (r = 0.58 to 0.65) with field ratings except for two-cut irrigated plots on 30 September.

Key Words: Phalaris arundinacea L. • Stagonospora foliicola (Bres.) Bubak • Sewage effluent • Forage crop • Disease control • Disease resistance

² Research plant pathologists, U.S. Regional Pasture Research Laboratory, ARS, USDA, University Park, PA 16802.

Received for publication August 30, 1976.