Integrating multiple inputs for soft red and white winter wheat

Abstract

Michigan winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growers continue to adopt intensive management strategies. However, instead of broadscale implementation of an entire collection of inputs simultaneously, practitioners question which inputs may better contribute to improved production. Studies evaluated soft winter wheat plant growth, grain yield, and expected economic net return for multiple agronomic and nutrient inputsacross varying production intensities. Field trials established in Richville and Lansing, MI, during 2017 and 2018 evaluated six agronomic inputs including: seeding rate, fungicide, plant growth regulator (PGR), autumn starter fertilizer, weekly nitrogen (N) applications, and a high N rate. Autumn-applied starter fertilizer was the only individual input resulting in a consistent grain yield response. Removal of autumn starter fertilizer from high-input (HI) management decreased grain yield an average of 1.6 Mg ha -1 while increasing grain yield 1.1 Mg ha -1 on average when added to low-input (LI) management. Autumn starter fertilizer accounted for 71% of the grain yield difference between HI and LI. Although greater management intensity increased grain yield compared to LI management in 3 of 4 site-years, expected net return was greater when utilizing LI management. Results suggest producers consider current soil, plant, and climate conditions at the time of application and across variabilities through the field as weather factors may control much of the uncertainty growers encounter when deliberating between individual or multiple input adoption.

Modulation of Wheat Yield Components in Response to Management Intensification to Reduce Yield Gaps

“…The studies above provided insights into individual management practices to improve wheat grain yield. Others attempted to quantify wheat yield response to intensified management, combining the prophylactic use of a number of inputs to minimize yield gaps ( Mohamed et al, 1990 ; Jaenisch et al, 2019 ; Quinn and Steinke, 2019 ; de Oliveira Silva et al, 2020b ; Herrera et al, 2020 ; Roth et al, 2021 ; Steinke et al, 2021 ). However, with few exceptions ( de Oliveira Silva et al, 2020b , 2021 ), these efforts mostly overlooked the mechanisms behind the yield responses and simply quantified the magnitude of yield improvements.…”

Effect of traditional and intensive management on soft red winter wheat yield and profitability

“…Although recent research on S fertilization of wheat is lacking, one study in Kansas found that the addition of S fertilizer increased winter wheat's grain yield by 0.3 Mg ha −1 across 2 yr within a no‐tillage system (Jaenisch et al., 2019). In Michigan, starter fertilizer containing N, P, S, and Zn increased the yield of soft red and white winter wheat compared with an untreated control at all four site‐years of the study (Steinke et al., 2021). However, the individual effects of N, P, S, and Zn could not be separated, as the starter fertilizer contained all four elements.…”