Small Grain Variety Performance Trials

San Luis Valley Research Center

Center, Colorado, 2003

By Merlin A. Dillon, Area Extension Agent, Agronomy; in cooperation with

Dr. Scott Haley, Wheat Breeder, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, CSU Fort Collins, and

Dr. Jerry J. Johnson, Extension Specialist, Soil & Crop Sciences, CSU Fort Collins.

Summary

Each year small grain variety performance tests are conducted at the San Luis Valley Research Center to identify varieties that are productive and adapted for commercial production in the San Luis Valley. Irrigation wells were reworked and irrigation was not a problem this year.

             
The 2003 season can be characterized as warm and dry. Heading dates were 7-10 days earlier than for some years; however, nearly the same as 2001-02. Grain yields in the soft white spring (SWS) wheat trial were exceptionally high, averaging 8094 lbs/acre (134.9 bu/acre). Grain yields in the hard red spring (HRS) and durum wheat trial were almost as high, averaging 7938 lbs/acre (132.3 bu/acre). Grain yields in the barley trial were exceptional; ranging as high as 185.4 bu/acre (8899 lbs/acre) and averaging 7858 lbs/acre (163.7 bu/acre). The oat variety performance trial produced vigorous vegetative growth but grain yields were not taken because of excessive lodging.

Introduction and Objectives

Small grain trials include wheat, barley and oats which have been produced in the San Luis Valley for many years. Oat acreage has greatly declined from historically highs. Barley and wheat acreage vary from year to year, depending on the wheat price and now depending on water availability. Wheat acreage has generally ranged from 23,000 to 34,000; the acreage depending on price. Oats are often planted for hay, either planted with alfalfa or planted early for hay so alfalfa can be planted in late summer. Malt barley acreage is dominated by Coors contracts with a smaller acreage of other malt barley or feed barley varieties. Wheat types also vary with demand and grower preferences. Durum acreage is still small, with a variable acreage. SWS acreage varies with price; the dominant market being in Denver. HRS acreage also varies and the winter wheat acreage is still small. The objective of this research was to evaluate varieties and experimental lines for their performance under high-yield center pivot conditions in the San Luis Valley.

Materials and Methods

These field research studies were all conducted at the San Luis Valley Research Center this year. These trials were conducted as a randomized complete block design with four replications. Plots are planted to 35 foot lengths and trimmed at harvest to about 30 feet. Nine rows are planted in 8-inch rows which make a plot 6 feet wide. Unless the plots are severely lodged, only the middle 7 rows (4.7 feet) are harvested with the Hege combine. Yields are corrected to 12% moisture and for wheat 60 lbs/bushel. For barley, yields are corrected to 48 lbs/bushel and oats are corrected to 38 lbs/bushel. Wheat protein and hardness are determined by the wheat breeding program at Colorado State University. Malt barley protein and screening are tested at the Coors Office in Monte Vista.

Soft White Spring Wheat Performance Trial

Table 1.

Five entries, four named varieties and one advanced numbered line from University of Idaho, Aberdeen, Idaho, were compared in 2003. This trial was located on-station in our field of C14 malting barley. Two extra irrigations were provided for the wheat plots because of later maturity. The field was in potatoes in 2002. The soil is a deep sandy clay loam. The total nitrogen applied was 105 lbs per acre. This was adequate for vegetative growth and produced high yields. The nitrogen fertility and irrigation combined to produce vigorous vegetative growing conditions, but without the usual lodging. Yields were excellent; ranging as high as 145 bu/a and averaging 135 bu per acre.

             
This trial was more uniform than usual. Plants grew vigorously during vegetative growth; were tall, but yet there was no lodging this year. Yield differences were statistically significant. Yields ranged only from 126 to 145 bu/acre. The coefficient of variation was extremely low (CV = 2.3 %) and the LSD was very low. This means the trial provides a good comparison between varieties. The field trial was harvested with more grain moisture than normal; moisture as high as 15.1%. High moisture indicates later maturity. Centennial and IDO 563 had lower moisture and also headed earlier than other varieties.

             
Centennial was the high yielding variety this year; it out-yielded Blanca more than normal. Centennial also had better bushel weight, earlier heading, lower moisture, and shorter height compared to Blanca. IDO563 did not produce quite as high as Centennial this year. Two years ago, it out-yielded Centennial by 20+ bu/acre. IDO563 did produce a better bushel weight and earlier heading date, compared to Centennial. Both characteristics would be beneficial to SLV growers.

Table 1a. SWS Wheat 4-yr Averages

Although Centennial has dominated soft white wheat planting for 10 years already, nothing developed in Idaho has been able to supplant it. It is still the highest yielding, earliest maturity, shortest height and least lodging variety available.

Hard Red Spring and Durum Wheat Performance Trial

Table 2.           
 This trial was located adjacent to the SWS trial. Nitrogen fertility, irrigations, and herbicides were the same as for the SWS wheat trial. Included in the trial were 2 durum, 7 hard red spring (HRS), 2 hard white spring (HWS) varieties and Blanca (SWS) for comparison.

Table 2a. Spring Wheat 4-yr Averages

Centennial SWS out-yielded the hard spring wheats. Oslo is several days earlier maturing and the yield is fairly close to Centennial. Oslo tends to lodge less than Centennial. ID377s is a hard white noodle wheat. It produces good yield but is not resistant to lodging. Yecora Rojo is a very early, very short hard red variety. It does not lodge and produces high protein. WB881 is a high quality, low yield durum.

Barley Variety Performance Trial

Table 3.

This year this trial was located in a 30-acre field of Moravian 14 malt barley at the SLV Research Center. The trial included a total of 17 entries, including several experimental lines from Coors or ARS-Aberdeen. Vegetative growth was very excellent this year, producing good plant height. Lodging, however, was not a problem.

            
 Yields were very good and quite consistent, producing a low coefficient of variation (4.1 %) and a low LSD. Yields ranged from 146 to185 bu/acre; the average was 164 bu/acre. There were four Idaho lines or varieties that made the top yields this year. These were followed by Coors C 46. Creel yielded 185 bu/acre. It has been tested previously as Ab 688 and is a very promising, very early maturing feed barley variety. It has, however, produced high screening. Coors C46 yielded 170 bu/acre, but Coors has canceled it in favor of C 69. Coors plans to provide C 69 to their certified seed growers this year and to most malt barley growers next year. C 69 should prove to be deeper rooted, produce larger kernels (less screening problems) and produce higher yields than C 14.

Table 3a. Malt Barley 3-yr Average

Creel has produced the highest yield (176 bu/acre) followed by C46 (164 bu/acre) and then Moravian 14, Ab 8333, Ab 13449 and finally Garnet. Creel is an excellent feed barley; screening might be too high for malt. C46 was an excellent malting variety but has been dropped by Coors Brewing. Moravian 14 has been an excellent improvement over the old Moravian 3, but C69 is slated to replace it. Garnet is a malting variety grown under contract and produces a very excellent yield, good bushel weight, low protein and low screening.

Oat Variety Performance Trial

Table 4.

The oat trial was rained on after it lodged. It was not harvested for grain. Data was obtained for heading date, plant height, and lodging percentage. Maverick is late maturing but is short and resists lodging. Monico is earlier maturing but taller and lodges moderately. Both lodge much less than the standard variety, Monida.

Table 4a. Oat several year averages

Three new varieties released by Idaho, Montana and Colorado have yield advantage over other varieties. Monico, Maverick and Powell have higher yield than Monida. Maverick had good yield, good bushel weight, short height and great lodging resistance in these trials and in Idaho trials. Monico had just as good of yield, good bushel weight, early heading but is taller and lodged moderately. All four varieties produced good forage yield even though Maverick and Powell are shorter height.

Table 4b. Oat 5-yr averages

This table shows results of some additional varieties compared to Table 4a. Ab 406 yielded very well in these trials and is early heading; however, it lodged badly. Rio Grande is the earliest variety tested; however, other newer varieties yield more with less lodging. Ajay is probably the shortest variety ever tested in this program; it has never shown any lodging.

Acknowledgments

Appreciation is expressed to Stanley Price and Ron Price (SLV Research Center Staff) and to Bert Sutton (part-time hourly) for assistance with these trials.

Table 1. Soft white spring wheat variety performance trial in Center¹, 2003.

²Days after June 1.

Site Information:

Date Planted: April 14                                   Date Harvested: August 22

Irrigation: center pivot = ET                          Seed Rate: 120 lbs/acre in 8-inch row spacing

Herbicide: Bronate @ 1 pt/ac                        Nitrogen: 75 lbs/acre dry preplant + 30 lb/ac liquid sprinkler

Summary:

This trial provides a good comparison between varieties this year. Plants grew vigorously during vegetative growth without any lodging this year.

Centennial out yielded Blanca more than normal this year. Centennial also had better bushel weight, earlier heading, lower moisture, and shorter height compared to Blanca.

 IDO563 did not produce quite as high as Centennial this year. Two years ago, it out yielded Centennial by 20+ bu/acre. IDO563 did produce a better bushel weight and earlier heading date, compared to Centennial. Both characteristics would be beneficial to SLV growers.

Table 1a. Four (4) year averages (2000-2003), soft white spring  wheat variety performance trial in Center¹.

¹San Luis Valley Research Center, Center, CO. Yield based on 12% moisture and 60 lbs per bushel.

²Days after June 1.

Comments:

Although Centennial has dominated soft white wheat planting for 10+ years already, nothing developed in Idaho has been able to supplant it. It is still the highest yielding, earliest maturity, shortest height and lowest lodging variety available.

Table 2. Spring wheat variety performance trial at Center¹ in 2003.

¹San Luis Valley Research Center, Center, CO. Grain yield based on 60 lbs/bushel and 12% moisture.

²Wheat Types: SWS is soft white spring; HWS is hard white spring; HRS is hard red spring and D is durum wheat.

³Days after June 1.

Site Information:

Date Planted: April 14                                   Date Harvested: September 2

Irrigation: center pivot                                   Seed Rate: 120 lbs/acre in 8-inch row spacing

Herbicide: Bronate @ 1 pt/ac                        Nitrogen: 75 lbs/acre preplant + 30 lb/ac sprinkler

Both yield and uniformity were excellent this year. The yield average was 132 bushels per acre with a yield range from 113 to 145 bu/acre. Vegetative growth was excellent; producing tall, productive sized plants. There was no lodging this year; which helps uniformity. High yields combined with the nitrogen rate resulted in very low protein this year.

Centennial soft white spring wheat was included for comparison; it produced 145 bu/acre. Two Idaho experimental lines plus ID 377s produced the next highest yields. ID 377s is produced in Idaho specifically to export for Asian noodles. Jerome is a newly named variety from Idaho. It produced average yield, average bushel weight, average maturity, average height and average protein.

Oslo produces an excellent and consistent yield (137 bu/acre); average bushel weight; medium heading date, moisture and height.

Table 2a. Four Year averages (2000-2003), spring wheat variety performance trial at Center¹.

¹San Luis Valley Research Center, Center, CO. Grain yield based on 60 lbs/bushel and 12% moisture.

²Wheat Types: SWS is soft white spring; HWS is hard white spring; HRS is hard red spring.

³Days after June 1.

Comments:

Centennial SWS is included for comparison. Oslo has produced almost as high yield as Centennial. Oslo is several days earlier maturing which is beneficial. It is somewhat shorter with less lodging tendency (not shown). Oslo usually has only average or less protein content.

 ID377s is a hard white noodle wheat. It produces good yield; but is later maturing, very tall and lodges badly (not shown). Yecora Rojo is a very early, very short hard red variety. It resists lodging and produces a good grain with high protein. The yield, however, can be either great or very poor. WB881 is a high quality, low yielding durum.

Table 3. Irrigated spring malting barley variety performance trial at Center¹ in 2003.