Off-station spring wheat cultivar evaluations for the Western Golden Triangle area of Montana

Principal Investigator: Gadi V.P. Reddy, Professor of Entomology/Insect Ecology, Western Triangle Ag Research Center

Personnel: John H. Miller, Research Scientist, Julie Prewett, Research Assistant, WTARC, Conrad, MT, and Luther Talbert and Hwa-Young Heo, MSU PSPP Dept., Bozeman, MT.

Cooperators: Bradley Farms, North of Cut Bank, MT Brian Aklestad, North of Devon, MT Aaron Killion, East of Brady, MT Inbody Farms, Northeast of Choteau, MT

Objectives: There are diverse cropping environments within the area served by Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center. Each off station location has its own unique environment and soils. Producers in the various locations are interested in variety performance in the local area.

To this end the objective is to evaluate spring wheat varieties under the local conditions with respect to yield, test weight, plant height, and seed protein. The environmental conditions at the off station nurseries can vary greatly from those at WTARC. The research center strives to provide growers of the western triangle area unbiased information of various spring wheat varieties.

Methods: On station nursery is the Advance Yield Trial (AYT) with 64 entries replicated threetimes. Off station spring wheat nurseries consist of 20 entries replicated three times, seeded with a four row plot seeder on one foot spacing. All plots were planted on no-till chemical fallow. Plots were trimmed, measured for length, and then harvested with a Hege 140 or a Wintersteiger Classic plot combine. Spring wheat seed was cleaned prior to collecting data.

Wheat midge pheromone baited traps were also installed at each off station plot.

Results: Results are tabulated in Tables 1 thru 13. AYT is represented in Tables 1 and 2. The Irrigated off-station spring wheat nursery was mowed out by a well-intentioned farmhand. Table 3 is for the Choteau location, with multi-year data presented in Table 4. Tables 7 and 8 are for the Devon location, with Table 9 and 10 representing the ‘Knees’ location. The Cut Bank data are presented in Tables 5 and 6. Durum data are in Table 11 and 12. Table 13 is the soil test results from each location.

Overall, the crop year temperatures where much warmer than 31 year average at the research center, July was 4.9 degrees warmer than the average. But the overall average temperature for the year from September to August was 1 degree cooler than the 31 year average. The winter temperature was well below average, with the exception of November being about 7 degrees warmer than usual. December and January were 10 and 6 degrees colder than the 31 year average while May thru August were warmer than the 31 year average. July was 5 degrees warmer than the normal. Precipitation was generally above the average from September to April, then below normal from May to August. Overall, precipitation was average for the year.

The spring wheat plots were seeded into soil that had good soil moisture storage from the previous years’ fallow period. Overall, considering the lack of moisture and heat this past summer, the spring wheat did quite well.

The AYT yields ranged from 73.5 to 48.5 bu/ac, with an average of 60.3 bu/ac and 15.1 % seed protein. The 5 year yield and protein average for selected varieties in the AYT is 66.1 bu/ac and

13.9 % seed protein. Seed protein was 1 % higher this year when compared to the 5 year average for selected varieties. The top yielding varieties were all Montana State University experimental entries. They are MT 1509, MT 1621, and MT 1651 with Reeder being fourth on the list.

Top yielding varieties at Choteau were Duclair, Vida, and Montana State University line MT 1525. The yields of the top three varieties at Choteau were 52.7, 52.5, and 50.7 bu/ac, respectively (Table 1). Reeder was again the top yielder at Devon with WB Gunnison and Duclair the other high yielding varieties at, 41.7, 37.7, and 37.0 bu/ac (Table 5). The ‘Knees’ high yielders at 44.3, 44.3, and 43.0 bu/ac, were Duclair, Montana State University line MT 1525, and LCS Pro (Table 7). The best yielding varieties, at the Cut Bank location were Vida, Reeder, and Montana State University line MT 1525 (Table 3) Yields at Cut Bank were 60.8, 55.9, and 54.7 bu/ac (Table 3).

At Devon the 2017 yield was about the same as the five year average; with slightly higher grain protein and a half pound lower test weight (Tables 5 and 6). The ‘Knees’ location had higher yields by about 2 bu/ac, 1% higher grain protein and 2 lb/bu higher test weight when compared to the five year mean (Tables 7 and 8). When compared to the five year averages, yields at Cut Bank ranged from 53.4 to 37.7 bu/ac, with average protein for the year, with slightly higher test weights (Tables 3 and 4). When comparing the five year means at Choteau the yields were 3.7 bushels higher, seed protein was about one half percent lower and the test weights were about 2 lbs/bu lower. Spring wheat at Choteau had lodging in all varieties, with some being much worse than others. With the exception of Devon, there was some lodging at the other off station sites.

Durum yields ranged from 56.1 to 43.8 bu/acre (Table 11). With MTD16007, Divide, and MTD16010 being the top three yielding varieties at 56.1, 55.7, and 54.0 bu/ac. The 2017 yields were about 13 bu/ac lower than the five year average (Table 12). Test weights were 2.6 pounds per bushel lighter than the long term average.

Insignificant amount of adult wheat midge were found at the off station locations.

Summary: The data from the off station plots is supported by the local producers and advisory committee as well as the seed industry. It is planned to continue the off station variety plots at the same locations as the environmental conditions at each location are unique to the western triangle area. No insect incidence or damage was noticed in any of the varieties.

These data should be used for comparative purposes rather than using absolute numbers. Statistics are used to indicate that treatment or variety differences are really different and are not different due to chance or error. The Least Significant Difference (LSD) and Coefficient of Variability (CV) values are useful in comparing treatment or variety differences. The LSD value represents the smallest difference between two treatments at a given probability level. The LSD

at p=0.05 or 5 % probability level is usually the statistic reported, and it means that the odds are 19 to 1 that treatment differences by the amount of the LSD are truly different. The CV value measures the variability of the experiment or variety trial, and a CV greater than 15 % indicates a high degree of variability and less accuracy.

Funding Summary: Office of Special Projects will provide expenditure information. No other grants support this project.

MWBC FY2018 Grant Submission Plans: A similar project will be proposed for FY 2018. The continuation of on and off-station variety trials help to elucidate researchers and farmers which varieties are better suited for that particular region in Montana.

Table 1. 2017 Spring Wheat Advanced Yield Nursery, Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 1. Continued on next page

Table 1 Continued

Planted: 04/19/2017 on chemical fallow barley stubble and harvested on 08/14/2017.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac. of N-P-K: 11-22.5-0 applied with seed and a 208-0-20 blend of urea and potash was double shot at planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 70 bu/ac.

Herbicide: Sprayed with 11 oz/ac Huskie and 16.4 oz/ac Axial XL on 06/18/2017. Precipitation from seeding to harvest: 4.81 inches

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 2. 5-year Means, Advanced spring wheat varieties, Conrad, MT, 2013 - 2017.

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 3. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located north of Choteau, MT. Teton County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2017.

Cooperator and Location: Inbody Farms, Teton County.

Planted on 05/05/17 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 08/29/17.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 0-0-20 was applied through the opener while seeding. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: The plots were sprayed with Roundup RT3 at 40 oz/ac and Sharpen at 1 oz/ac on 05/06/2017

** = Solid stem sawfly-resistant (solid stem score of 19 or higher).

* = Less preferred by sawfly (behavioral preference) in small plots. CL = Clearfield

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 4. Five-year means, Spring Wheat varieties, Choteau, Teton County. 2013-2017.

Cooperator and Location: Inbody Farms, Teton County. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 5. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located at the Cut Bank, MT. Glacier County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2017.

Cooperator and Location: Bradley Farms, Glacier County.

Planted on 05/09/2017 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 08/06/2017.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22.5-0 applied with seed and 11-0-20 was applied through the double shoot openers while seeding. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: The plots were sprayed with Roundup RT3 at 32 oz/ac and Sharpen at 1 oz/ac on 05/08/17.

** = Solid stem sawfly-resistant (solid stem score of 19 or higher).

* = Less preferred by sawfly (behavioral preference) in small plots. CL = Clearfield

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 6. Five-year means, Spring Wheat varieties, Cut Bank, Glacier County. 2011-2016.

Table 7. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located north of Devon, MT. Toole County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2017.

Cooperator and Location: Brian Aklestad, Toole County.

Planted on 05/08/2017 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 08/22/17

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22.5-0 applied with seed and 11-0-20 was applied through the double shoot openers while seeding. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: The plots were sprayed with Roundup RT3 at 32 oz/ac and Sharpen at 1 oz/ac on 05/04/2017.

** = Solid stem sawfly-resistant (solid stem score of 19 or higher).

* = Less preferred by sawfly (behavioral preference) in small plots. CL = Clearfield

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 8. Five-year means, Spring Wheat varieties, Devon, Toole County. 2013-2017.

Table 9. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located at the Knees area, Chouteau County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2017.

Cooperator and Location: Aaron Killion, Chouteau County.

Planted on 05/05/2017 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 08/17/2017

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 26-0-20 was applied through the double shoot openers while seeding. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: The plots were sprayed with Roundup RT3 at 32oz/ac and Sharpen at 1 oz/ac on 05/06/2017

** = Solid stem sawfly-resistant (solid stem score of 19 or higher). * = Less preferred by sawfly (behavioral preference) in small plots. CL = Clearfield

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 10. Five-year means, Spring Wheat varieties, Knees area, Chouteau County. 2011-2017.

Cooperator and Location: Aaron Killion, Chouteau County.

1Yields were affected by stripe and tan rust for the 2016 crop year. All varieties had some level of infection.

Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 11. Durum Variety Trial located WTARC. Pondera County. Western Triangle Ag.

Research Center. 2017.

Cooperator and Location: WTARC Pondera County.

Planted 04/19/2017 on chem-fallow barley stubble. Harvested 08/14/2017.

Fertilizer, actual lbs/ac: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 208-0-20 broadcast while planting Herbicide: Sprayed with 11 oz/ac Huskie and 16.4 oz/ac Axial XL on 06/18/2017.

Precipitation: 4.81 inches

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture. Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 12. Five-year means, dryland Durum varieties. Western Triangle Ag. Research Center Conrad, MT, Pondera County, 2012 – 2015 and 2017.

1 Days from seeding to heading.

Table 13. Soil test values for off-station and on-station plots, 2017.

1Nitrogen soil samples were to a depth of four feet in one foot increments. All other soil tests were for zero to six inches in depth.

WTARC- Western Triangle Ag. Research Center