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WHEAT PLANTING
Ron Meyer, Area
Extension Agent - Golden Plains Area
Date: 8/30/2011
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The first step to planning
for a wheat crop is observation of last year’s crop. Observing different
fields, attending wheat field days and reading about varieties will provide you
with information to look at the newer wheat’s and find varieties that fit
your farming operation.
As you plan ahead, there are several things you
can use as a guide that can affect your wheat yields: planting date; seeding
rate; and seed size.
* Planting date. Wheat has a wide window for
optimum planting dates across Colorado. In this part of the world, we like to
start planning early to mid-September with September 10 being optimum most
years.
Many producers favor early planting to ensure good stand
establishment. But early planting can also increase the risk of Hessian fly
infestations, wheat streak mosaic and barley yellow dwarf. Waiting until later
will greatly reduce these problems. Early planted wheat is also more likely to
have excessive fall growth that uses valuable soil moisture.
Wheat
planted too late may have a higher risk of winterkill and poor fall growth and
tillering, which can lead to increased wind erosion. Delaying planting dates
past the optimum time can reduce yields, too. Studies at Garden City, KS show a
22 percent reduction in yield by delaying the planting date from October 1 to
November 1, and another 18 percent by delaying to December 1.
As the
planting date is delayed past the optimum, the seeding rate should be increased
to compensate for the reduced tillering potential.
* Seeding rate.
Seeding rates vary across the state. For our dryland plantings 30 to 60 pounds
per acre is common, with most using 45 to 60 pounds per acre (500,000 seeds per
acre is optimum). Seeding rates in Colorado have been increasing the past 10
years, possibly because more semi-dwarf varieties are being
planted.
Wheat plants can adjust to low plant populations by increased
tillering. However, some varieties respond to increased seeding rates more than
others. For example, from a study in Western Kansas, Tam 107 responded to
higher seeding rates while Larned did not.
As planting dates are
delayed, seeding rates should be increased. In recent studies at Hutchinson and
in Northwest Kansas, high seeding rates were necessary to maximize yields when
wheat was planted late. Medium seeding rates (in the recommended range)
resulted in maximum yields at normal planting dates but not from later planting
dates. When planting later than October 1, increase seeding rates.
*
Seed size. Large seed has been noted to increase wheat grain yields in Kansas.
Large seed increases vigor, tillering and fall forage production compared to
small seed.
However, increased grain yields cannot be guaranteed every
year or with every variety with planting large seed. For example, there were no
differences in yield between light- and heavy-test weight seed of Karl, which
has excellent tillering capability. Varieties that tiller well can compensate
for small seed size.
In mid-fall weather, the effect of large seed may
be reduced because seedlings from small seed have more time to tiller and
become established. Also, when planting by volume (as many of us do), more
seeds per acre will be planted when using small seed, which my negate the
effect of large seed.
Although the large seed does not necessarily
result in higher grain yields every year, large seed is good insurance and may
show yield advantage under adverse growing conditions.
Source: KSU