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

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

Personnel: John H. Miller, Research Scientist, Julie Prewett, Research Assistant, WTARC, Conrad, MT, 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 three times. 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 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 12. Results are tabulated in Table 1 for the advanced spring wheat nursery and Table 2 is five year averages for selected varieties in the advanced spring wheat nursery. Table 3 is for the off station irrigated spring wheat nursery, with multi-year data presented in Table 4. Tables 5 thru 10 are for the off station locations and Table 13 contains soil test data.

Overall, the crop year temperatures where cooler than the 32 year average at the research center. May, when we could have used some cooler temperatures, was 5.2 degrees warmer than the average. But the overall average temperature for the year from September to August was 3.8 degrees cooler than the 32 year average. The winter temperature, from September to March was well below average, with February being 15.5 degrees cooler than the 32 year average. March and April were 9.6 and 7.1 degrees cooler than the 32 year average. May was the only month that had a temperature that was above the average with a temperature 5.2 degrees. September through March were at or above the average precipitation for those months. Then May through August were drier than the 32 year average. Overall, precipitation was average for the year with respect to the 32 year average.

The spring wheat plots were seeded into soil that had good soil moisture storage from the late summer and fall moisture in 2017. Overall, the spring wheat did very well this year. Late seeding, a warmer and drier May and lack of summer moisture probably affected yield and seed protein.

The Annual Yield Trial for spring wheat yielded 7.8 bu/ac less than the five-year average. Test weight was 1.7 lbs/bu less for the 2018cropping season when compared to the five-year average. Seed protein was 0.8% higher than the five-year mean. The highest yielding varieties were Montana State University experimental varieties MT 1621, MT 1617 and MT 1770 at 85.9, 84.3, and 83.8 bu/ac (Tables 1 and 2).

Varieties with top yields for the off station irrigated spring wheat nursery were WB Gunnison, Lanning and Alum at 87.2, 86.2 and 85.2 bu/ac (Table 3). Top yielding varieties at Choteau were SY Ingmar, Brennan, and Montana State University line MT 1621. The yields of the top three varieties at Choteau were 41.8, 41.4, and 38.7 bu/ac, respectively (Table 5). Vida was the top yielder at Devon with SY Ingmar and MT 1673 the other high yielding varieties at, 45.3, 43.5 and 42.9 bu/ac (Table 9). The ‘Knees’ high yielders at 95.3, 87.2, and 86.7 bu/ac, were Vida, NS Presser CLP, and Montana State University line MT 1651 (Table 11). The yields at the ‘Knees’ were very high when compared to the five year average. The best yielding varieties, at the Cut Bank location were LCS Pro, Montana State University line MT 1525 and Vida were 56.1, 56.0 and 55.2 bu/ac (Table 7).

At Devon the 2018 yield was 3.6 bu/ac higher than the five year average; with 1/2 percent higher grain protein and a half pound higher test weight (Tables 9 and 10). The ‘Knees’ location had higher yields by 30 bu/ac, 1/2 percent higher grain protein and 3 lb/bu higher test weight when compared to the five year mean (Tables11 and 12). When compared to the five year averages, yields at Cut Bank were about 6 bu/ac higher in 2018, with 1/2 percent higher protein for the year, and 3.5 lb/bu higher test weights (Tables7 and 8). When comparing the five year means at Choteau, the yields were 8.3 bushels lower, seed protein was about 1 ½ percent higher and the test weights were about 0.8 lbs/bu higher (Table 5 and6).

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.

Table 1. 2018 Spring Wheat Advanced Yield Nursery, Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Planted: 5/4/2018 on chemical fallow spring wheat stubble and harvested on 8/23/2018. Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac. of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and a 200-0-20 blend of urea and potash was broadcast at planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 70 bu/ac.

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 40 oz per acre on May 3, 2018. Then sprayed with 11 oz/ac Huskie and 16.4 oz/ac Axial XL on June 13, 2018.

Precipitation for growing season: 4.38 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, 2014 - 2018.

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

Table 3. Off-station Irrigated Spring Wheat variety trial located, WTARC, MT. Pondera County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.

Cooperator and Location: WTARC, Pondera County.

Planted on 5/25/2018 on chemical fallow barley stubble. Harvested on 10/23/2018.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 250-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 80 bu/ac.

Herbicide: The plot area was pre-plant sprayed with 32 oz/ac RT3 5/13/2018. Sprayed with Huskie @

11.4 oz/ac and Axial XL @ 16.4 oz/ac on 7/10/2018.

Growing season precipitation: 6.17 inches. Irrigation: 9.9 inches

** = 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. 5-year means, off station irrigated spring wheat varieties, Conrad, MT, 2013-2018.

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

Table 5. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located north of Choteau, MT. Teton County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Inbody Farms, Teton County.

Planted on 5/30/2018 on chemical fallow durum stubble. Harvested on 9/12/2018. Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 80-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed on 5/15/2018 28 oz/ac RT3. The plots were sprayed on 6/28/2018 with Huskie at 11 oz/ac and Axial XL at 16.4 oz/ac.

** = 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, Inbody, Teton County. 2014-2018.

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

Table 7. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located at the Cut Bank, MT. Glacier County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Kevin and Don Bradley, Glacier County. Planted on 5/30/2018 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 10/20/2018.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 130-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: The plots were sprayed by the farmer on 5/17/2018.

** = 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, Cut Bank, Glacier County. 2014-2018.

Table 9. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located north of Devon, MT. Toole County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Brian Aklestad, Toole County.

Planted on 5/22/2018 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 9/4/2018.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 130-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed on 5/21/2018 with 28 oz/ac RT3. The plots were sprayed on 6/29/2018 with Huskie at 11 oz/ac and Axial XL at 16.4 oz/ac.

** = 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, Devon, Toole County. 2014-2018.

Table 11. Off-station spring wheat variety trial located at the Knees area, Chouteau County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Aaron and Jerry Killion, Chouteau County. Planted on 5/15/2018 on chemical fallow. Harvested on 8/30/2018.

Fertilizer: actual pounds/ac of N-P-K: 11-22-0 applied with seed and 115-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on a yield goal of 50 bu/ac.

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed on 5/15/2018 with 40 oz/ac RT3. The plots were sprayed on 6/28/2018 with Huskie at 11 oz/ac and Axial XL at 16.4 oz/ac.

** = 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 12. Five-year means, Spring Wheat varieties, Knees area, Chouteau County. 2014-2018.

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 13. Soil test values for off-station and on-station plots, 2018.

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