Optimum seeding rate and stand assessment of soft red winter wheat

Abstract

Cultivar selection and seeding rate influence soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L) grain yield. Re-evaluating optimum seeding rate for crops is necessary as modern cultivars may show a greater yield advantage when planted at a higher plant population compared with older cultivars. Furthermore, the relationship between wheat stem population density and yield needs to be understood to help producers make informed estimates of yield potential. The objectives of this research were to determine: (a) the agronomic and economic optimum seeding rate (AOSR and EOSR, respectively) of soft red winter wheat, and (b) the relationship of wheat stem population density and grain yield. Trials were established during two growing seasons at two locations in Ohio with four wheat cultivars and four seeding rates ranging from 1.85 to 6.18 million seeds ha −1. Among the four cultivars, the quadratic plateau model resulted in an average AOSR of 4.20 million seeds ha −1 and an average EOSR of 3.13 million seeds ha −1. The AOSR was 10-33% greater than the previous recommendation of 2.96 to 3.95 million seeds ha −1. This increase may be due to modern wheat cultivars having a higher tolerance to increased plant density as the previous recommendation, which is over 30-yr old. Wheat stem number was linearly related to grain yield and explained 31% of the variability in yield. Planting the optimum number of wheat seeds followed by wheat stand evaluation in the spring should result in maximum economic return and informed decisions regarding wheat yield potential. 1 INTRODUCTION Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeding rate is a critical component of wheat management as it influences lodging, disease potential, and grain yield (Beuerlein, Oplinger,

Seeding Rate Effects on Hybrid Spring Wheat Yield, Yield Components, and Quality

“…However, H E had an AOSR that was 83% of the Valda yield, suggesting that highly productive hybrids may require a lower seeding rate than inbred cultivars, at least for those included in this trial. Our AOSR results are within the ranges of those for HRSW and winter wheat cultivars of 1.59 to 5.03 and 2.85 to 5.73 and million seeds ha −1 in the northern great plains and Ohio, USA, respectively [25,30]. In Italy, winter wheat hybrids can be planted at 33% of the seeding rate of a conventional cultivar while not losing significant amounts of yield [54].…”

“…The agronomic optimum seeding rate (AOSR) describes the point where the maximum yield is obtained, whereas the economic optimum seeding rate (EOSR) usually includes economic factors associated with the seeding rate and yield to find the point at which the maximum net profit is achieved. When the yield followed a quadratic response to seeding rate, the AOSR was found to be 5.43 million seeds ha −1 and the EOSR to be between 4.24 and 4.83 million seeds ha −1 for winter wheat in Ohio [30]. McKenzie et al [31] reported an EOSR to range from 2.00 to 2.40 million live seeds ha −1 for irrigated soft white spring wheat in southern Alberta, Canada.…”

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

“…Wheat N recommendations (in kg N ha –1 ) were calculated by multiplying the yield potential (in kg ha –1 ) by 0.0217 and subtracting 11.2, according to state guidelines (Culman et al., 2020). At WARS, the average yield for winter wheat, according to previously conducted trials, was 5.8 Mg ha −1 (Lindsey et al., 2020), resulting in an N rate of 116 kg N ha −1 for the TM system and 140 kg N ha −1 for the IM treatment. At NWARS, the average yield for winter wheat in previously conducted trials was 5.5 Mg ha −1 (Hankinson et al., 2019), resulting in an N rate of 106 kg N ha −1 for the TM system and 128 kg N ha −1 for the IM system.…”

“…Traditionally, the recommended seeding rate in Ohio has been 2.96 to 3.95 million seeds ha −1 when planting within 2 wk of the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor)-free date . Recently, Lindsey et al (2020) found that modern wheat cultivars responded favorably to increased seeding rates, with the agronomic optimum seeding rate (where grain yield is maximized) being 3.46 to 4.76 million seeds ha −1 with the economic optimum seeding rate (where economic return is maximized) being slightly lower at 2.38 to 3.04 million seeds ha −1 . Likewise, within a no-tillage system in Kansas, an increased seeding rate of 4.0 million seeds ha −1 improved grain yield by approximately 0.4 Mg ha −1 compared with the traditional seeding rate of 2.78 million seeds ha −1 but did not improve economic returns (Jaenisch et al, 2019).…”

Partial return calculator to compare monocrop, relay‐intercrop, and double crop production systems

“…Default seeding rates for the wheat MC, wheat (15‐inch row width) with soybean RI, MC soybean, and DC soybean were 1,800,000; 900,000 + 140,000; 140,000, and 200,000 seeds ac −1 , respectively. Seeding rate default values were based on state guidelines (Lindsey et al., 2017a, 2017b) and previously conducted research (Gaspar et al., 2020; Lindsey et al., 2020; Richer & Lindsey, 2016). To convert N fertilizer cost ($ N lb −1 ) to a $ ac −1 basis, N application rate (lb N ac −1 ) was multiplied by the N fertilizer cost.…”