2020 Durum Off-Station Variety Trials

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Northcentral Montana Off-Station Spring Durum Variety Performance Evaluations

Principal Investigator: Peggy Lamb, Research Scientist, Havre

Project Personnel:

Mike Giroux, Breeder/Geneticist, Durum, Bozeman

Andy Hogg, Research Associate, Durum, Bozeman

Kyla McNamara, Research Associate, Havre

Eleri Haney, Research Associate, Havre

Jesse Fulbright, 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 2015-2019 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 northcentral 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 2020 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. McKeever Farms, Chouteau County S28-T27N-R10E

All three durum trials consisted of 15 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 seed 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 43 bu/ac (Table 1).  ‘Alzada’ was the highest yielding entry at over 45 bu/ac.  ‘Carpio’, ‘CDC Fortitude’, ‘Grenora’, ‘Joppa’, ‘Mountrail’, ‘ND-Grano’ and ‘ND-Riveland’ along with two Montana State University breeding lines produced seed yields equal to that of Alzada.  Test weights averaged just over 58 lb/bu, while protein averaged 15.7 percent and sawfly cutting was minimal.  Plant height, yield, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly data for the 2020 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 (2011-2020) for durum seed yield and test weight at Turner are summarized in Table 2, while nine-year comparable averages for protein content and wheat stem sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 3.

Loring spring durum yields averaged 46 bu/ac (Table 4).  ND-Grano was the highest yielding entry at over 52 bu/ac with ND-Riveland and two Montana State University breeding lines yielding the same, statistically.  ‘CDC Dynamic’ and ‘CDC Fortitude’ produced the highest protein at 16.1 and 15.9 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 2020 Loring dryland spring durum trial, are summarized in Table 4.  Nine-year comparable averages for spring durum seed yield and test weight at Loring are summarized in Table 5, while nine-year comparable averages for protein content and wheat stem sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 6. 

Durum seed yields at Chester averaged just over 47 bu/ac, while test weights averaged under 56 lb/bu (Table 7).  Alzada was the highest yielding entry at over 52 bu/ac.  Grenora, Joppa and Mountrail along with one Montana State University breeding line all produced seed yields statistically equal to that of Alzada.  Sawfly cutting in the small plot scenario was minimal in 2020, averaging less than one percent.  Plant height, yield, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data for the 2020 Chester dryland spring durum trial are summarized in Table 7.  Seven-year comparable averages for spring durum seed yield and test weight at Chester are summarized in Table 8, while seven-year comparable averages for protein content and sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 9. 

Summary

Cropping environments for 2020 started out with very good soil moisture recharge.  The spring growing season was cooler and drier than average with many crops showing drought stress during early June.  Timely rainfall was spotty during the mid- to latter part of June and into early July having significant impact on localized yields.  Both Turner and Loring received near average rainfall for June, resulting in average spring crop yields.  The Chester area started out with excellent soil moisture, and timely spring precipitation resulted in a very good stand, however July was fairly dry and durum seed production was limited.  The Turner and Chester sites were seeded into chemical fallow.  The Loring location was seeded into chemical fallow ground that had been minimally tilled to eliminate potential weed issues.

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-sixth 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 2020 marking 37 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:

Peyton Brown, Jonathan Erickson, Daisen Fox, Faith Gasvoda, Isabella Lawless, Tracey Reed, Erin Taylor and Ivy Thomas.