For dryland winter wheat growers in the semi-arid portion of the Nebraska Panhandle, the recommended seeding rate to achieve good plant stand densities ranges from about 45 to 60 pounds per acre or a target of about 18 seeds per foot of row.
The seeding rate will be less in the western drier regions and higher in areas to the east with more moisture.
“The number of plants that establish can be quite variable, depending on the variety planted and the weather and growing conditions,” explains Dr. Drew Lyon, dryland cropping specialist with the Panhandle Research and Extension Center at the University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff. “In the spring, it can be difficult to count the individual winter wheat plants, so counting tillers is the best strategy.”
“In a 10-inch row spacing, which is common in this area, an average of 20 to 25 tillers per foot of row is required to get an estimated winter wheat yield of between 27 and 34 bushels per acre.”
In a winter wheat crop, look at plant density and seeding depth in the spring. “Late-planted crops, due to poor fall weather or other reasons, are often smaller in size,” explains Lyon. “This can make some fields more susceptible to wind erosion over the winter. Sometimes the ridges can blow or wash in, placing the crown of the plant deeper than it should be, which can weaken the plant. Smaller plants also make the crop less competitive to weed competition.”
Spring is also a good time to scout for winter annual grasses and weeds that emerged over the winter or weren’t noticed in the fall.
“Control those weeds as early as possible because once they start getting more growth they are more difficult to control, and they have already done a lot of damage,” explains Lyon. “For winter annual broadleaf weeds such as mustards, it is best to wait until late winter or early spring to treat them when the winter wheat is well tillered.”
Lyon says that sometimes people, thinking the winter wheat crop is in trouble, panic too early in the spring.
“The crop usually comes through quite well since it has several ways to make up yields by adjusting tiller numbers or head and grain size,” he says.
Lyon encourages growers to assess the field and weigh their options before deciding to remove a winter wheat crop early in the spring.
“We don’t recommend that growers try to thicken plant stand densities in the spring,” says Lyon. “Mixing in spring wheat will present a mixed-class problem at the elevator, and it won’t be accepted. Trying to seed more winter wheat will create uneven plant maturity, and this creates harvesting issues. Winter wheat seems to have many lives, so don’t be in a hurry to remove it if you don’t have to.”
Spring wheat densities
The recommended plant stand density for spring wheat crops in Western Canada is between 20 and 25 plants per square foot.
“In the drier areas of the Prairies, such as southwestern Saskatchewan, growers may target slightly less,” says Provincial Specialist, Blaine Recksiedler with Saskatchewan Agriculture Cereal Crops in Regina. “Recent research seems to indicate there may be a trend toward higher seeding densities. The goal is to get that plant up and growing as quickly as possible.”
The longer it takes for the seedling to emerge, the greater the risk of biotic or abiotic stresses affecting proper emergence. (Abiotic stress is the negative impact of non-living factors on the living organisms.)
When faced with poor or uneven plant stands, think weed control. “Bare patches, resulting from uneven emergence, make weed control even more important,” says Recksiedler. “Early weed removal is essential.”
Thicker plant stand densities with fewer tillers can create more uniform maturity and also improve kernel uniformity and quality. With a heavier, uniform plant stand, the window of flowering is smaller and this can help the wheat grower manage fungicide and insecticide applications. A more uniform maturity also makes operations such as straight cut harvesting much easier.
“Plant stand densities that are too thick can also cause problems,” says Recksiedler. “If there aren’t enough moisture and nutrients, the plants will start to compete with each other. Growth can be reduced, and issues with kernel uniformity and quality can result.”
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.
For dryland winter wheat growers in the semi-arid portion of the Nebraska Panhandle, the recommended seeding rate to achieve good plant stand densities ranges from about 45 to 60 pounds per acre or a target of about 18 seeds per foot of row.
The seeding rate will be less in the western drier regions and higher in areas to the east with more moisture.
“The number of plants that establish can be quite variable, depending on the variety planted and the weather and growing conditions,” explains Dr. Drew Lyon, dryland cropping specialist with the Panhandle Research and Extension Center at the University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff. “In the spring, it can be difficult to count the individual winter wheat plants, so counting tillers is the best strategy.”
“In a 10-inch row spacing, which is common in this area, an average of 20 to 25 tillers per foot of row is required to get an estimated winter wheat yield of between 27 and 34 bushels per acre.”
In a winter wheat crop, look at plant density and seeding depth in the spring. “Late-planted crops, due to poor fall weather or other reasons, are often smaller in size,” explains Lyon. “This can make some fields more susceptible to wind erosion over the winter. Sometimes the ridges can blow or wash in, placing the crown of the plant deeper than it should be, which can weaken the plant. Smaller plants also make the crop less competitive to weed competition.”
Spring is also a good time to scout for winter annual grasses and weeds that emerged over the winter or weren’t noticed in the fall.
“Control those weeds as early as possible because once they start getting more growth they are more difficult to control, and they have already done a lot of damage,” explains Lyon. “For winter annual broadleaf weeds such as mustards, it is best to wait until late winter or early spring to treat them when the winter wheat is well tillered.”
Lyon says that sometimes people, thinking the winter wheat crop is in trouble, panic too early in the spring.
“The crop usually comes through quite well since it has several ways to make up yields by adjusting tiller numbers or head and grain size,” he says.
Lyon encourages growers to assess the field and weigh their options before deciding to remove a winter wheat crop early in the spring.
“We don’t recommend that growers try to thicken plant stand densities in the spring,” says Lyon. “Mixing in spring wheat will present a mixed-class problem at the elevator, and it won’t be accepted. Trying to seed more winter wheat will create uneven plant maturity, and this creates harvesting issues. Winter wheat seems to have many lives, so don’t be in a hurry to remove it if you don’t have to.”
Spring wheat densities
The recommended plant stand density for spring wheat crops in Western Canada is between 20 and 25 plants per square foot.
“In the drier areas of the Prairies, such as southwestern Saskatchewan, growers may target slightly less,” says Provincial Specialist, Blaine Recksiedler with Saskatchewan Agriculture Cereal Crops in Regina. “Recent research seems to indicate there may be a trend toward higher seeding densities. The goal is to get that plant up and growing as quickly as possible.”
The longer it takes for the seedling to emerge, the greater the risk of biotic or abiotic stresses affecting proper emergence. (Abiotic stress is the negative impact of non-living factors on the living organisms.)
When faced with poor or uneven plant stands, think weed control. “Bare patches, resulting from uneven emergence, make weed control even more important,” says Recksiedler. “Early weed removal is essential.”
Thicker plant stand densities with fewer tillers can create more uniform maturity and also improve kernel uniformity and quality. With a heavier, uniform plant stand, the window of flowering is smaller and this can help the wheat grower manage fungicide and insecticide applications. A more uniform maturity also makes operations such as straight cut harvesting much easier.
“Plant stand densities that are too thick can also cause problems,” says Recksiedler. “If there aren’t enough moisture and nutrients, the plants will start to compete with each other. Growth can be reduced, and issues with kernel uniformity and quality can result.”
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.