Keys to Producing High Yielding Wheat

Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops
By Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops October 10, 2018 15:53

Keys to Producing High Yielding Wheat

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Wheat acreage across the Mid-South region has been historically low the last few years, but there appears to be some renewed interest as we approach planting time this season. Thankfully, planting conditions are much more favorable than in recent years, which may encourage more planting.

Regardless, wheat is a relatively consistent crop that does offer some benefits and diversity from being a “winter” crop. Wheat grown utilizing good management can produce 70 to over 100 bushels per acre in Mississippi. The primary environmental limitations to wheat productivity in Mississippi are high spring rainfall (particularly during April and May), late spring freezes, and abnormally warm temperatures during the winter.

This article will address several vital management practices to employ to mitigate environmental limitations and optimize wheat productivity.

  • Field selection is important: The wheat growing season occurs during the wettest months of the year, so good soil drainage is absolutely critical to high productivity. Avoid selecting fields with little grade, potential water ponding, or other drainage issues. Also, heavy clay soils usually retain water considerably longer than coarser soils, further compounding problems. Therefore soil and field properties which encourage drainage are vital because they promote aeration necessary for vigorous plant growth.
  • Yield potential is very dependent on fertility:  Wheat productivity is very responsive to fertility. Wheat is a shallow-rooted crop grown during the wet-season, so it is quite vulnerable if any nutrient shortcomings exist. Most fertility issues, with the exception of nitrogen and sulfur, should generally be addressed before planting. Furthermore, if you plan to double-crop behind the wheat, it is best to address both crops’ needs prior to planting wheat.
  • You must start clean at planting: It is absolutely essential to kill weeds before planting wheat. This can be done by applying a burndown herbicide or using tillage. Tillage may also be the most practical option to control volunteer Roundup Ready corn prior to planting wheat. Maintaining a weed-free environment during planting and stand establishment is essential because weeds are very competitive with young wheat plants, particularly if they emerge before or at the same time as the wheat crop.
  • Variety selection: Selecting a well-adapted wheat variety may be more important than any other crop grown in Mississippi, because there is considerable genetic diversity amongst varieties which can substantially affect performance in different regions of the state. Those varieties best adapted for south Mississippi are generally much earlier in maturity, compared to those best adapted to north Mississippi and the Delta. Therefore, don’t make the mistake of picking an early maturing variety exclusively to allow for earlier double-cropping in north Mississippi, because it is much more vulnerable to a spring freeze than well-adapted varieties for that region. Complete variety suggestions are available here: 2018 MSU Wheat Variety Suggestions
  • Early planting is very counter-productive: Contrary to most summer crops, early planting is usually very detrimental to high wheat grain yields. Early planting promotes excessive growth, particularly when temperatures are warm, which greatly increases the likelihood of spring freeze injury and numerous pest and disease problems. Our mild southern winters further intensify this issue, because the onset and degree of wheat dormancy may vary greatly from year to year. A rule of thumb is that wheat planting should coincide with the first frost date in the fall.
  • Use an appropriate rate for your seeding method: Wheat productivity is not generally very responsive to seeding rate, as long as you achieve a vigorous, healthy, stand. Our normal planting recommendation is to strive to establish 1.0 to 1.3 million wheat plants/acre or 23 to 30 plants/ft.2 The following table lists appropriate seeding rates for planting wheat with a drill. Higher seeding rates are required for broadcast seeding methods, dependent upon the anticipated emergence success of the specific method.

  • Weed control can’t always wait until spring: Most everyone appreciates the importance of weed control during early development for our primary crops, but relatively few employ this concept for wheat. Not only is weed control important with wheat, but it may be more even more difficult because there it is a very long time until spring for competition to occur, and weed control options are not generally as complete, compared to primary crops. Thus, using residual herbicides in the fall can greatly reduce weed competition, reduce issues with spring application timing, and may also help stifle development of weed resistance (which are developing in wheat). Furthermore, employing fall weed control can be less expensive than options during the spring.
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Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops
By Erick Larson, State Extension Specialist - Grain Crops October 10, 2018 15:53
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