Effect of seeding date, rate and depth on winter wheat grown on conventional fallow in S.W. Saskatchewan

Abstract

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeded on conventional fallow is considered to have a high risk of winterkill in the Brown soil zone of the Canadian Prairies, yet many producers in this area continue to use this approach. Although this system is subject to frequent winterkill, the alternative (seeding into standing stubble) is itself subject to frequent economic loss due to drought stress. A 4-yr study was carried out on a medium-textured, Orthic Brown Chernozem using Norstar winter wheat seeded into bare fallow land. Several seeding dates, depths and rates were tested to determine if alternate management strategies could be used to enhance the chances of overwinter survival thereby improving the incidence of successful production when this crop was grown on conventional fallow. Multiple regression was used to relate grain yields and plant counts (survival over winter) to the number of days before freeze-up when the crop was seeded and the other treatment factors. Results confirmed those reported in southern Alberta. For example, production was very variable and both plant survival and grain yields were mainly influenced by seeding date, with the optimum seeding period being the first 2 wk of September; yields decreased sharply on both sides of this period. However, seeding just prior to freeze-up gave higher yields than seeding 2 or 3 wk prior to freeze-up even though this latest seeded material did not geminate until spring. Depth of seeding influenced plant survival but had little influence on yield. The 5.0-cm depth was recommended as the best for fallow. Seeding rate influenced plant survival and yields more so than depth, but the influence was not large and none of the three treatments prevented severe winterkill when temperatures were extremely low. We recommended that a seeding rate of 60 kg ha−1 be chosen for fallow as is the case for stubble seeded wheat. Grain protein was not influenced by any treatment and was mainly a function of moisture deficit (year). In spite of the variability in production with this system of management, producers may still choose to grow winter wheat on conventional fallow since if winterkilling occurs they have the option of reseeding the area to spring wheat. Key words: Seeding date, seeding rate, seeding depth, yields, grain protein

Seeding depth, rate and row spacing for winter wheat grown on stubble and chemical fallow in the semiarid prairies

“…Grain QualitY ln 1986, the year of best growing season ptecipitatiorL grain test weight, lik" grui" yields, was highest for shallow-seeded long-term 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 Campbell et al (1991) coNcLUsloNs Of the three factors tested (i.e., seeding depth and rate and row spacing), seeding rate had the greatest impact on grain yields and plant density. Generally, the seeding rate recommended for spring wheat (i.e., 60 kg hrt) proved advantageous in the moist year, but in dry years, seeding rate rarely iffecteO yields.…”

“…Saskatchewan has been the same as for spring wheat (i.e., 60 kg ha-r) and Campbell et al (1991) fouirO tiis ro be optimal for winter wheat on conventional fallow conditions in southwestern Saskatchewan. Generally, as conditions for crop growth improve, there is an increase in grain yield with increased seeding rate.…”

Influence of Different Seed Rates on Yield Contributing Traits in Wheat Varieties

“…The yield per hectare in 2011-12 posted a negative growth of 4.2 percent as compared to 11 percent growth of last year [2]. With the existing semi-dwarf high yielding varieties, there is enormous potential of obtaining higher crop productivity by adopting production technology such as appropriate seed rates, sowing date, N and P rates [3]. Seed rate is considered as an important management factor for improved yield of wheat because it is under the farmer's control in most cropping systems [4].…”

Location, Seeding Date, and Variety Interactions on Winter Wheat Yield in Southeastern United States

“…Among the factors that can be controlled by the producer, seeding date is one of the most important because of its impact on productivity (Campbell et al, 1991;McLeod et al, 1992;Sun et al, 2007). Th e choice of seeding date and cultivar might reduce the risk of frost at anthesis, meet vernalization requirements, and favor the accumulation of temperature and precipitation by the plant throughout the growing season.…”