D.M. Jordan and R.J. Minyo, Jr.
Supervisor and Research Assistant, Ohio Wheat Performance Test, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio, 44691.
Disease rating perfromed by P.E. Lipps, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, OARDC.
Flour and softness ratings performed by USDA, ARS Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory, P. Finney, Director.
Results of the Ohio Wheat Performance Test are published to provide a source of objective information from various locations in Ohio on the relative performance of wheat cultivars currently available to Ohio farmers. The information should benefit farmers in selecting varieties or blends for farm use. Cultivars differ in yield potential, winter hardiness, maturity, standability, disease and insect resistance, and other agronomic characteristics. Selection should be based on proven performance.
EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Producers of soft red winter wheat seed available to Ohio farmers for planting entered varieties or blends in the testing program. All cultivars were entered at four sites in Ohio. Each cultivar was replicated three or four times per site in a randomized complete block design. Plots consisted of 7 rows, 7 inches apart and approximately 50 feet long. Production practices are listed below Table 1. Producers selected a seeding rate for each of their cultivars. Cultivars are ranked in order of increasing heading date.
MEASUREMENTS AND RECORDS
YIELD. Plots were harvested with a self propelled plot harvester. Yields were calculated to reflect bushels per acre at 13.5 percent moisture.
SURVIVAL (SURV). Survival is the visual estimate of the percent of plants that survived the winter.
TEST WEIGHT (TW). Test weights were measured at the Northwest Branch using harvest grain moisture.
FLOUR (%). Flour is the percent flour yield of milled whole grain from samples collected at the Northwest Branch site.
SOFTNESS (%). Softness is the percent of fine granularity milled flour from samples collected at the Northwest Branch site. Values higher than approximately 50 indicate kernel textures that are appropriate for soft wheat. Generally, high values are better for milling and baking qualities.
PLANT HEIGHT (HGT). The plant height was determined by recording the average distance in inches from ground level to the top of the head.
HEADING DATE (HEAD). The heading date is the calendar day of the year in which 50 percent of the heads were completely emerged above the flag leaf.
STAGONSPORA (SEPTORIA) NODORUM LEAF BLOTCH (SNLB). Stagonspora was evaluated on a 0-10 scale (0=trace, 10=flag leaf with >15% leaf area covered) at Western Branch, Greenville, and Wooster.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Field conditions were favorable for timely planting in early October. Fall growth was excellent. Winterkill and heaving reduced stands of some cultivars. Much of Ohio experienced excessive rainfall and very low temperatures from April through early June. Most diseases were limited and inconsistent.
PRODUCTION PRACTICES
NORTHWEST WOOSTER GREENVILLE WESTERN
COUNTY WOOD WAYNE DARKE CLARK
SOIL TYPE HOYTVILLE CL CANFIELD SL KOKOMO SL CROSBY SL
PREVIOUS CROP SOYBEANS SOYBEANS SOYBEANS SOYBEANS
PLANT/HARV DATE OCT 3/JULY 29 OCT 2/JULY 25 OCT 8/JULY 28 OCT 4/JULY 28
FERTILIZER (NPK) 90-0-0 90-48-48 90-0-0 80-0-0
COOPERATOR PAUL HOUDASHELT LYNN AULT MONTY STUMP CLARENCE RENK
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
To many farmers, the most important factor in seed wheat selection is comparing the grain yield of available varieties and blends. When comparing two entries, a yield difference greater than the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P=.05 indicates that the odds are 19:1 that this is a real difference between the entries which is not due to chance variation (such as soil variation, etc.). Variable performance of a cultivar in different regions of Ohio is indicative of its reaction to different environments. Entries in tables 1 and 2 are arranged in order of increasing heading date. The presentation of data does not imply endorsement of any variety or blend by The Ohio State University.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868