Early seeding has been suggested as a method of increasing the grain yield and grain yield stability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Northern Great Plains. The point at which early seeding results in a decrease in grain yield has not been clearly identified. Changes in climatic conditions have increased frost-free periods and increased temperatures during grain filling, which can either be taken advantage of or avoided by seeding earlier. Field trials were conducted in western Canada from 2015 to 2018 to evaluate an ultra-early wheat planting system based on soil temperature triggers as opposed to calendar dates. Planting began when soil temperatures at 5 cm depth reached 0°C and continued at 2°C intervals until 10°C, regardless of calendar date. Conventional commercial spring wheat genetics and newly identified cold tolerant spring wheat lines were evaluated to determine if ultra-early wheat seeding systems required further development of specialized varieties to maintain system stability. Ultra-early seeding resulted in no detrimental effect on grain yield. Grain yield increased at sites south of 51°latitude N, and was unaffected by ultraearly seeding at sites north of 51°latitude N. Grain protein content, kernel weight, and bulk density were not affected by ultra-early seeding. Optimal seeding time was identified between 2 and 6°C soil temperatures. A greater reduction in grain yield was observed from delaying planting until soils reached 10°C than from seeding into 0°C soils; this was despite extreme environmental conditions after initial seeding, including air temperatures as low as −10.2°C, and as many as 37 nights with air temperatures below 0°C. Wheat emergence ranged from 55 to 70%, and heads m −2 decreased with delayed seeding while heads plant −1 did not change. Cold tolerant wheat lines did not increase stability of the ultra-early wheat seeding system relative to the conventional spring wheat check, and are therefore not required for growers to adopt ultra-early seeding. The results of this study indicate that growers in western Canada can successfully begin seeding wheat earlier, with few changes to their current management practices, and endure less risk than delaying seeding until soil temperatures reach 10°C or greater.

Ultra-early seeding of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the northern Great Plains can increase grain yield and grain yield stability compared to current spring wheat planting systems. Field trials were conducted in western Canada from 2015 to 2018 to evaluate the impact of optimal agronomic management on grain yield, quality, and stability in ultra-early wheat seeding systems. Four planting times initiated by soil temperature triggers were evaluated. The earliest planting was triggered when soils reached 0–2.5 °C at a 5 cm depth, with the subsequent three plantings completed at 2.5 °C intervals up to soil temperatures of 10 °C. Two spring wheat lines were seeded at each planting date at two seeding depths (2.5 and 5 cm), and two seeding rates (200 and 400 seeds m−2). The greatest grain yield and stability occurred from combinations of the earliest seeding dates, high seeding rate, and shallow seeding depth; wheat line did not influence grain yield. Grain protein content was greater at later seeding dates; however, the greater grain yield at earlier seeding dates resulted in more protein production per unit area. Despite extreme ambient air temperatures below 0 °C after planting, plant survival was not reduced at the earliest seeding dates. Planting wheat as soon as feasible after soil temperatures reach 0 °C, and prior to soils reaching 7.5–10 °C, at an optimal seeding rate and shallow seeding depth increased grain yield and stability compared to current seeding practices. Adopting ultra-early wheat seeding systems on the northern Great Plains will lead to additional grain yield benefits as climate change continues to increase annual average growing season temperatures.

Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) is a minor cereal crop in Alberta which has recently garnered interest as a biofuel feedstock. Basic agronomic information is lacking for triticale cultivars released since 1990. Field experiments were initiated in 2010 and conducted for 2 yr at four sites in central and southern Alberta to compare the impact of cultivar selection, seeding date, and seeding rate on grain yield, grain quality, and other agronomic traits. Six triticale cultivars released between 1996 and 2011, and one Soft White Spring wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated over two seeding dates; one before and one after 15% of the total seasonal growing degree days (GDD; base = 0°C) had elapsed. The cultivars were evaluated at seeding rates of 250, 375, and 500 seeds m−2. Older triticale cultivars had higher grain yields but lower grain quality than cultivars released after 2000. The triticale cultivars produced more grain than Soft White Spring wheat in five of seven environments; however, Soft White Spring wheat exhibited better grain quality than the triticales. Yield generally increased linearly with seeding rate but the highest return on investment was observed at 375 seeds m−2. Provided there was not an early frost, triticale seeded after 15% of the seasonal GDD had elapsed could produce grain yield similar to the earlier‐seeded triticale. A sustainable management system for triticale includes modern cultivars, a seeding date that can accumulate 1750 GDD’s before frost, and a sowing density of at least 375 seeds m−2.

Ultra-early spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) planting systems based on soil temperature on the northern Great Plains have lower overall variability in grain yield, and can increase grain yield relative to current calendar date-based spring wheat planting systems used in the region. However, ultra-early planting when soils are cold (2 °C), and resulting early crop emergence, precludes most foliar pre-seeding weed control options. Field trials were conducted at three sites in western Canada from 2017 to 2019 to evaluate the crop safety, broadleaf weed efficacy, and growing system stability resulting from the inclusion of fall applications of soil-applied residual herbicides prior to planting wheat ultra-early the following spring. Flumioxazin (protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor; Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) group 14) and pyroxasulfone (very long chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitor; WSSA group 15) were applied alone and in combination at multiple rates in the late fall prior to ground freeze. The following spring, hexaploid spring wheat was planted ultra-early, based on a soil temperature trigger of 2 °C, and later, triggered by a soil temperature of 8 °C. When planting was completed ultra-early, grain yield was greater, and variability of grain yield was lower. Herbicide treatments increased broadleaf weed control, and in some environments further increased grain yield and reduced grain yield variability without resulting in phytotoxicity. The ability to safely incorporate fall-applied residual herbicides into ultra-early spring wheat planting systems provides an option for growers to adopt ultra-early planting without negatively impacting weed management on their farms.

Ultra-early wheat growing systems based on soil temperature triggers for planting instead of arbitrary calendar dates can increase grain yield and overall growing system stability of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the northern Great Plains. We conducted field trials at three sites in western Canada from 2017 to 2019 to evaluate the suitability of Canadian spring hexaploid wheat cultivars and market classes for use within ultra-early spring wheat growing systems. All cultivars and classes exhibited improved grain yield stability (lower adjusted coefficient of variation values) and optimal grain yield when planted ultra-early at 2°C soil temperature rather than delaying planting to 8°C.