Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is a market class of wheat subject to price discounts in the marketplace if quality standards are not met. This study was conducted in order to determine how certain agronomic practices might impact durum wheat quality. The effects of planting date (PD), cultivar, and seeding rate on agronomic and semolina quality traits were investigated in field trials conducted near Hettinger and Minot, ND in 2014 and 2015. The interaction of PD and cultivar was significant for many of the traits evaluated. There was a significant PD X cultivar interaction or PD and cultivar effect for yield in all environments. Planting date X cultivar interacted for test weight at all environments. In general, a delay in PD resulted in a significant decrease in yield and test weight for all cultivars. However, Carpio yielded more than other cultivars in high yielding environments while the yield and test weight of Joppa was more adversely affected by delays in PD. Seeding rate did not have a consistent effect on any agronomic or quality trait. Protein content, kernel yellow pigment content, falling number (FN), and vitreous kernels were more dependent on cultivar, regardless of PD and environment. Semolina extraction, gluten index (GI), and wet gluten (WG) values tended to decrease with a delay in PD. These data continue to support cultivar selection as a critical component for obtaining high-yielding, high-quality durum wheat. However, PD and environment can impact certain agronomic and end-use traits, regardless of cultivar grown.

Abstract:Field experiments at Oakes, ND, USA in 2010 and Carrington, ND, USA in 2011 were conducted to evaluate the potential for cover crops grown in the Northern Great Plains, USA in order to reduce weed emergence and density in irrigated potatoes. Treatments included five cover crop treatments and three cover crop termination treatments. Termination of cover crops was done with glyphosate, disk-till, and roto-till. Cover crop biomass accumulation was greatest for rye/canola and triticale at Oakes, and hairy vetch and hairy vetch/rye at Carrington. Cover crop and termination affected weed control 14, 29, and 51 days after planting (DAP) at Oakes. Weed control at Carrington was at least 90% for all cover crop and termination treatments at all three evaluation timings. Marketable yield at Oakes was greater when roto-till was used to terminate the cover crops compared with disk-till or herbicide, which is beneficial for organic systems where herbicides are not used. Marketable yield at Carrington was not affected by cover crop or termination treatments. Results suggest that cover crops can successfully be integrated into irrigated potato production for weed control with yields equal to no cover crop, and with attention to potential mechanical difficulties.

Seeding rate for maximum grain yield can differ for diverse hard red spring wheat (HRSW) (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and is derived from a yield response curve to seeding rates. Six groups of HRSW cultivars with combinations of Rht-B, Rht-D, and Ppd-D genes were planted at five seeding rates in 21 environments during 2013–2015 throughout Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, USA. Seeding rates ranged from 1.59 to 5.55 million seeds ha−1 and planting timings were optimal and delayed dates. An analysis of covariance predictive model with 13 predetermined training environments was built for yield and tillering, and validated with eight predetermined environments. Optimal seeding rates from the yield model were not predictive for yield, with latitude of the environment negatively skewing the predictions from observed values. A second yield model fit to only the six lowest-yielding environments (<4.8 Mg ha−1) was more predictive (R2 = 0.44), and revealed yield response to seeding rate was influenced by cultivar traits for photoperiod response (Ppd-D gene) and plant stature (semi-dwarfing gene Rht-D). The tillering model was also predictive for the validation environments, with a R2 of 0.71. Using regression predictions for yield and tillering from training and validation datasets with HRSW genetic and geographic predictors shows promise to help recommend seeding rates for future environments.

Background: Raised seedbeds may be a practice for reducing waterlogging in the rooting zone in soils of the Red River of the North Valley (RRNV). However, it was not known if there would be a negative yield effect of raised beds in drier environments. Aims / Method: The objectives of this research were to evaluate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] response to early season iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC), agronomic characteristics, and productivity when grown on raised seedbeds compared with flat seedbeds. Soybean grain yield on raised seedbeds, averaged across six drier environments in 2012, was similar to flat seedbeds. Although grain yield did not increase on raised seedbeds, grain yield was not reduced in a dry year. Across environments there were no differences in vigor, IDC, canopy closure, plant height, thousand kernel weights, seed protein or oil content, number of seeds or pods per plant, or grain yield comparing raised with flat seedbeds. At the Rothsay environment, there was more IDC with flat seedbeds compared with raised beds. Soybean cultivars significantly differed in their IDC response and in most yield components measured. Averaged across hour of day, soil temperature was significantly higher in the raised seedbed treatments at Fargo and Hitterdal by 0.4 and 0.8 °C, respectively. When averaged across two cultivars and environments, soybean root mass was 0.37 g root-system-1 higher on raised seedbeds. Result: Raised seedbeds may be a useful tool to manage IDC and improve soybean productivity in the RRNV, and do not reduce grain yield in environments with below average moisture.

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