LIND SPRING WHEAT – 2005 WSU VARIETY TESTING DATA
- Spring wheat average yields from the WSU Variety Testing nursery at the Lind location (WSU Dryland Research Station) averaged about 27%-31% lower than the 3-year average yields. As with other locations in this type of rainfall region most of the yield reduction is associated with dry soil conditions and extremely dry conditions during March/April 2005. Spring emergence was slow and the nursery location missed many of the key rainstorms. An additional factor observed in 2005 was that spring cereals developed fairly limited root systems caused by living off the May/June surface precipitation and being somewhat ‘lazy’ and not sending roots deeper into the soil after moisture which normally occurs.
- PLANT HEIGHT indicators of poor crop development and growth are: Louise, SWH averaged 25 inches plant height in 2005 compared to 31.7 inches in the 2004 nursery; Otis HDWH averaged 28 inches in 2005 compared to 34.7 in 2004 and Scarlet HRS averaged 25 inches plant height in 2005 compared to 32 inches plant height in the 2004 nursery – all over 20% shorter in 2005.
- Environmental conditions played a major role in fairly low test weight values and high grain protein percent values. Total N on this nursery was 50#/acre and the nursery was planted on summer fallow. The high protein levels are indicative of early nitrogen accumulation during kernel development followed by decreased carbohydrate filling of the kernels caused by dry soil conditions during later stages of kernel fill.
- Average HEADING DATE was slightly later (2-3 days) than 2004 – not significantly different from normal.
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