Wheat varieties differ in how they respond to higher seeding rates,
but research shows many respond well to increased seeding rates. The
goal of higher seeding rates is usually to achieve higher plant stand
densities, which can offer growers benefits and rewards. By
increasing seeding rates for hard red spring wheat, stand uniformity,
kernel size uniformity, maturity and quality can be improved.
“Achieving higher plant stand densities reduces tillering, which is very important for spring wheat,” explains CEO/President Steve Larocque of Beyond Agronomy at Three
Hills, Alberta. “The main stem contributes half of the wheat yield, and the other half comes from the next two tillers. The higher the number of tillers, the more maturity is delayed, and this increases risk of a fall frost.”
On average, it takes three or four days for a new leaf or tiller to emerge under average temperatures. This can extend to
five or eight days under cooler weather conditions. “The industry plant stand density target for hard red spring wheat in many areas of Western Canada is 24 plants per
square foot,” says Larocque. “However our research shows that many growers are successful at 30, and even up to 35, plants per square foot, or 180 pounds per acre seeding rate.”
At Larocque’s farm at Morrin, Alberta, hard red spring CDC Go has been planted with a target density of 30 plants per square foot or 145 pounds per acre. This is about 25 percent higher than average. In 2008, crop yields averaged 60 bushels per acre, followed by 51 bushels per acre in 2009. “We plan to continue using higher seeding rates to push yield, maturity and crop uniformity,” Larocque says. “Growers want to determine the best seed rate based on their seeding system, the variety and field selected as well as other factors.”
Research Director Kent McKay with Vision Research Park in Berthold, North Dakota, says that traditional seeding rates for hard red spring wheat in central and western North Dakota and eastern Montana are around 1 million to 1.2 million pure live seeds per acre or about 25 to 28 plants per square foot. “Some of our research showed that seeding rates of up to 1.5 to 1.8 million pure live seeds per acre or 30 to 35 plants per square foot show some advantages,” he says.
Although yields are similar between the 1.2 and 1.8 million pure live seeds rate, McKay says that test weights can be significantly higher. At higher rates, the number of tillers is reduced, making the main plant stem larger. This also increases the number of spikes per head and the kernel size.When determining seeding rates, be sure to take into account the seeding mortality rate.
"many industry proffesionals use a safe baseline of 20 percent mortaility in cereals and 50 percent mortality in canola. However in recent years, we have consistently found a 10 percent higher mortality rate when seeding wheat into wheat stubble. This is likely a result of seeding into cooler soils under heavier residue, higher disease pressure and seeding depth variability.”
Because each seeding system and crop is different, growers should count and measure actual plant stand densities to determine mortality rates. It may take a few growing seasons to fine-tune seeding rates and determine just how far they can be pushed in a grower’s system.
Increased uniformity of the plant stand is one of the biggest advantages of higher seeding rates and reduced tillering. “In areas with wheat midge, scab, fusarium head blight and maybe other pest problems, if the crop flowers or heads out at the same time the effectiveness of fungicide and insecticide applications increases,” says McKay.
With fewer tillers, the crop heads emerge within three days rather than over a five- to seven-day period. “In fields with lots of tillering, we often see an increase of disease or insects on the tillers," says McKay.
Because many growers in North Dakota and Montana are accustomed to spraying for disease and insects at heading time, increasing seeding rates has become a popular practice.
“The past dry year was a good test for us. Some areas received a total of four inches of rain over the growing season,” says Larocque. “Plant stand uniformity turned out to be a big plus. We seeded CDC Go at 145 pounds per acre and ended up with a 50 bushel per acre crop with excellent kernel plumpness and crop uniformity. Unlike many of our other crops, the even maturity meant we could straight cut without having to swath or desiccate – a savings of $12 per acre.”
McKay notes that the major drawback to higher seeding rates is the potential for lodging. When using higher seeding rates, growers are advised to select semi-dwarf and shorter-straw varieties or varieties with very strong straw strength. As seeding rates increase up to 35 to 40 plants per square foot or 1.8 million pure live seeds, growers can face more significant lodging potential, especially in a high-yield environment.
Even with a few cautions, higher plant stand densities that result from higher seeding rates can offer the benefits of greater stand uniformity, kernel size uniformity, maturity and quality.
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Wheat varieties differ in how they respond to higher seeding rates,
but research shows many respond well to increased seeding rates. The
goal of higher seeding rates is usually to achieve higher plant stand
densities, which can offer growers benefits and rewards. By
increasing seeding rates for hard red spring wheat, stand uniformity,
kernel size uniformity, maturity and quality can be improved.
“Achieving higher plant stand densities reduces tillering, which is very important for spring wheat,” explains CEO/President Steve Larocque of Beyond Agronomy at Three
Hills, Alberta. “The main stem contributes half of the wheat yield, and the other half comes from the next two tillers. The higher the number of tillers, the more maturity is delayed, and this increases risk of a fall frost.”
On average, it takes three or four days for a new leaf or tiller to emerge under average temperatures. This can extend to
five or eight days under cooler weather conditions. “The industry plant stand density target for hard red spring wheat in many areas of Western Canada is 24 plants per
square foot,” says Larocque. “However our research shows that many growers are successful at 30, and even up to 35, plants per square foot, or 180 pounds per acre seeding rate.”
At Larocque’s farm at Morrin, Alberta, hard red spring CDC Go has been planted with a target density of 30 plants per square foot or 145 pounds per acre. This is about 25 percent higher than average. In 2008, crop yields averaged 60 bushels per acre, followed by 51 bushels per acre in 2009. “We plan to continue using higher seeding rates to push yield, maturity and crop uniformity,” Larocque says. “Growers want to determine the best seed rate based on their seeding system, the variety and field selected as well as other factors.”
Research Director Kent McKay with Vision Research Park in Berthold, North Dakota, says that traditional seeding rates for hard red spring wheat in central and western North Dakota and eastern Montana are around 1 million to 1.2 million pure live seeds per acre or about 25 to 28 plants per square foot. “Some of our research showed that seeding rates of up to 1.5 to 1.8 million pure live seeds per acre or 30 to 35 plants per square foot show some advantages,” he says.
Although yields are similar between the 1.2 and 1.8 million pure live seeds rate, McKay says that test weights can be significantly higher. At higher rates, the number of tillers is reduced, making the main plant stem larger. This also increases the number of spikes per head and the kernel size.When determining seeding rates, be sure to take into account the seeding mortality rate.
"many industry proffesionals use a safe baseline of 20 percent mortaility in cereals and 50 percent mortality in canola. However in recent years, we have consistently found a 10 percent higher mortality rate when seeding wheat into wheat stubble. This is likely a result of seeding into cooler soils under heavier residue, higher disease pressure and seeding depth variability.”
Because each seeding system and crop is different, growers should count and measure actual plant stand densities to determine mortality rates. It may take a few growing seasons to fine-tune seeding rates and determine just how far they can be pushed in a grower’s system.
Increased uniformity of the plant stand is one of the biggest advantages of higher seeding rates and reduced tillering. “In areas with wheat midge, scab, fusarium head blight and maybe other pest problems, if the crop flowers or heads out at the same time the effectiveness of fungicide and insecticide applications increases,” says McKay.
With fewer tillers, the crop heads emerge within three days rather than over a five- to seven-day period. “In fields with lots of tillering, we often see an increase of disease or insects on the tillers," says McKay.
Because many growers in North Dakota and Montana are accustomed to spraying for disease and insects at heading time, increasing seeding rates has become a popular practice.
“The past dry year was a good test for us. Some areas received a total of four inches of rain over the growing season,” says Larocque. “Plant stand uniformity turned out to be a big plus. We seeded CDC Go at 145 pounds per acre and ended up with a 50 bushel per acre crop with excellent kernel plumpness and crop uniformity. Unlike many of our other crops, the even maturity meant we could straight cut without having to swath or desiccate – a savings of $12 per acre.”
McKay notes that the major drawback to higher seeding rates is the potential for lodging. When using higher seeding rates, growers are advised to select semi-dwarf and shorter-straw varieties or varieties with very strong straw strength. As seeding rates increase up to 35 to 40 plants per square foot or 1.8 million pure live seeds, growers can face more significant lodging potential, especially in a high-yield environment.
Even with a few cautions, higher plant stand densities that result from higher seeding rates can offer the benefits of greater stand uniformity, kernel size uniformity, maturity and quality.
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.