2019 Off-Station Durum Variety Trials

Note: A PDF version of this report can be downloaded by clicking this link

North Central Montana Off-Station Durum Variety Trials

Principal Investigator:  PeggyLamb, Research Scientist, Havre  

Project Personnel:

Mike Giroux,Breeder/Geneticist, Durum, Bozeman
Andy Hogg, Research Associate, Durum, Bozeman
Kyla McNamara, Research Associate, Havre
Jesse Fullbright, Liberty County Extension
Marko Manoukian, Phillips County Extension
Julianne Snedigar, Blaine County Extension 

Cooperators:

Max Cederberg, Landowner, Turner
Pete Lumsden & John Flansaas, Landowners, Loring
Kurt Kammerzell, Landowner, Chester 

Objectives

Diverse cropping environments exist within the five‑county area most closely served by Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, durum and oat production together in the five counties (Blaine, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty and Phillips), represents just over 28 percent of the 2014-2018 statewide cereal production totals (42 percent for winter wheat and 27 percent for spring wheat).  Producers are keenly interested in variety performance data generated under local conditions.  It is our objective, within budget and other resource limitations, to evaluate small grain variety performance, over time, under conditions representative of specific areas of northern Montana, yet differing from that of the Research Center.  Growers are provided reliable, unbiased, up-to-date information to make comparisons among improved durum varieties.  This report provides producers in north central Montana the information necessary to select varieties best suited for their specific area and growing conditions.

Methods

Standard off‑station durum variety performance trials were conducted on chemical fallow or minimal tillage during 2019 in three northern Montana counties. 

Dryland Spring Durum Trials:

1. Cederberg Farm, Blaine County S13-T36N-R25E
2. Flansaas/Lumsden Farm, Phillips County S24-T35N-R29E
3. Kammerzell Farm, Liberty County S34-T32N-R05E

All three durum trials consisted of 24 entries and were seeded in replicated, 3‑row, 22‑foot plots on a 12‑inch row spacing, utilizing a self‑propelled cone seeder with Atom Jet paired row openers.  All rows of each plot were trimmed to a harvest length of approximately 17 feet with a three-point rototiller.  Plant height was measured from the soil surface to the top of the head, excluding awns, and percent sawfly cutting was visually estimated for each plot immediately prior to harvest.  A ‘Wintersteiger Classic’ plot combine, funded in part by Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, was used to harvest each 3-row plot.  Seed was cleaned prior to measuring plot weight.  Protein, test weight and moisture content were determined using a Foss Infratec 1241 near infrared analyzer.  Falling number was determined using a Perten FN1700 according to the FGIS Directive 9180.38.  Other variables specific to each individual trial are listed with the current year data tables.

Please note that research trial yield results recorded under wheat stem sawfly pressure are likely much higher than a producer should expect.  Small plot variety trials are managed to assess maximum yield potential and are harvested in such a way that all stems and heads are picked up by the combine, regardless of lodging or cutting due to sawfly.  Pickup guards coupled with an extremely slow ground speed and exceptionally low cutting height help researchers collect all heads in order to assess seed yield potential.  If you are a producer in a wheat stem sawfly environment, although hollow stemmed varieties may be high yielding in research trials in your area, we strongly recommend against growing those hollow stemmed varieties.  Please be aware that if you seed hollow stemmed varieties with sawfly present, you are only creating a breeding ground for future generations of sawfly in your area and not helping combat the pest population.

Results

Durum seed yields at Turner averaged just over 39 bu/ac (Table 1).  There was a mechanical issue at seeding which resulted in subpar stand establishment and reduced seed yields at this location. ‘Mountrail’ was the highest yielding entry at over 44 bu/ac.  ‘Divide’, ‘Grano’, ‘Grenora’ and ‘CDC Precision’ along with three Montana State University breeding lines produced seed yields equal to that of Mountrail.  Test weights averaged just over 59 lb/bu, while protein averaged 15.4 percent and sawfly cutting was minimal.  Plant height, yield, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly data for the 2019 Turner dryland durum trial are summarized in Table 1. 

Comparable averages are calculated using a standard check variety when not all entries are present in a specific trial for all years.  Variety means are adjusted by multiplying the actual check mean by the ratio of the individual variety mean compared to the check mean for the same years as tested.  All varieties are then directly comparable to each other when in the same nursery.  A minimum of three years of data is necessary to be included in the comparable average calculation.  Nine-year comparable averages (2010-2019) for durum seed yield and test weight at Turner are summarized in Table 2, while nine-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 3.

Loring spring durum yields averaged 52 bu/ac (Table 4).  Montana State University breeding line ‘MTD16007’ was the highest yielding entry at nearly 59 bu/ac with, ‘Alkabo’, Divide, ‘CDC Vivid’ and three additional breeding lines yielding the same, statistically.  ‘CDC Dynamic’ and ‘CDC Fortitude’ produced the highest protein at 14.9 and 14.5 percent, respectively.  Sawfly cutting was nearly nonexistent in the durum trial at Loring.  Plant height, yield, moisture, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data, for the 2019 Loring dryland spring durum trial, are summarized in Table 4.  Eight-year comparable averages for spring durum seed yield and test weight at Loring are summarized in Table 5, while eight-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 6. 

Durum seed yields at Chester averaged just under 52 bu/ac, while test weights averaged just over 57 lb/bu (Table 7).  ‘Alzada’ was the highest yielding entry at nearly 61 bu/ac.  Grenora was the only other entry to produce a seed yield statistically equal to that of Alzada.  Sawfly cutting in the small plot scenario was minimal in 2019, averaging 7.1 percent.  Plant height, yield, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data for the 2019 Chester dryland spring durum trial are summarized in Table 7.  Six-year comparable averages for spring durum seed yield and test weight at Chester are summarized in Table 8, while six-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 9. 

Summary

Cropping environments for 2019 started out with an abundance of fall rain and very good soil moisture recharge.  The spring growing season was cooler and dryer than average with many crops showing drought stress during early June.  Heavy rainfall was spotty during the latter part of June and into early July.  Precipitation coupled with prolonged cooler temperatures in July allowed for a longer period of grain fill, resulting in better than anticipated crop yields in several areas.  Both Turner and Loring received above average rainfall for June and July, resulting in above average spring crop yields.  The Turner site was seeded into a mechanical fallow field, as the producer is still dealing with soil drifts from a windstorm in 2017.  The Loring location was seeded into chemical fallow ground that had been minimally tilled to eliminate potential weed issues.  The Chester area started out with excellent recharge soil moisture and received early season precipitation, resulting in great durum stand establishment to set the trial up for high yield potential.  The Chester site was seeded into chemical fallow. 

This work has been strongly supported by producers near each of the off-station locations, and by the Northern Agricultural Research Center Advisory Council.  With budget and other resources allowing, it is planned to continue off‑station cereal variety investigations in the five‑county area.  The Loring location is entering its twenty-fifth year, and the cooperator and area producer interest and support has been outstanding.  The Turner location is only 32 miles from the Loring site, but growing conditions are quite different.  Cooperator and producer support in the Big Flat area has been outstanding through the years with 2019 marking 36 years at the present Turner site.  The Chester location was reestablished in 2014 following a prolonged absence of uniform off-station spring cereal testing in Liberty County.

Recognition

This research would not have been possible without the assistance of the following seasonal employees:

Tawnya Brown, Wylee Brown, Eleri Haney, Abbey Morse and Tracey Reed.

TABLE 1. Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at the Max Cederberg Farm, Turner.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019.  (Exp# 19-9851-DUR)

​TABLE 2. Nine-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Max Cederberg Farm, Turner. Northern Agricultural Research Center. Havre, Montana. 2010-2019.
(Exp# 9851-DUR)

TABLE 3. Nine-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Max Cederberg Farm, Turner.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2010-2019.  (Exp# 9851-DUR)

TABLE 4. Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at the Flansaas-Lumsden Farm, Loring.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019.  (Exp# 19-9855-DUR)      

TABLE 5. Eight-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Flansaas-Lumsden Farm, Loring.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2011-2019.
(Exp# 9855-DUR)  

TABLE 6. Eight-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Flansaas-Lumsden Farm, Loring.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2011-2019.  (Exp# 9855-DUR)  

TABLE 7. Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at the Kammerzell Farm, Chester.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019. (Exp# 19-9853-DUR)

TABLE 8. Six-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Kammerzell Farm, Chester.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2014-2019.
(Exp# 9853-DUR)  

TABLE 9. Six-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Durum Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Kammerzell Farm, Chester.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2014-2019.
(Exp# 9853-DUR)