2007 Wheat Agronomic Report
Influence of Row Spacing, Seeding Rate, and Raised Beds on
Production of Five Wheat Varieties on a Mississippi River Alluvial Soil
H.J. “Rick” Mascagni, Jr., Steve Harrison, and Bubba Bell
Introduction
Wheat acreage fluctuates widely from year to year, primarily due to grain prices
and weather patterns. Marketing of small grains in late spring provides much needed cash
flow. Statewide yields average 40-50 bu/acre, but vary greatly across locations and years
due to factors such as weather, disease pressure, and harvest conditions. Wheat is a
versatile crop that integrates well into multiple cropping systems. Wheat is commonly
harvested in early to mid-May, and a second crop can be planted after harvest.
This study is designed to look at the effects of planting wheat on wide raised beds
in response to increased use of wide beds for soybean production. Some Louisiana
soybean growers are using wide beds (72-80 inches) with 15-16 inches drilled rows for
soybean production. These wide beds work well for a variety of crops, including cotton,
soybean, and sugarcane. Wide beds offer significant advantages in soil moisture control,
both irrigation and drainage, and are amenable to narrow row spacing. A wide-bed
cropping system that included wheat in the winter would increase flexibility and offer
rotational advantages. Such a system must be easy and economical for the producer.
Wheat acreage in Louisiana is dependent on weather at planting because of our high
rainfall and heavy soils that often make it impossible to prepare land and plant. Wide
beds should dry quicker than non-bedded fields and therefore reduce the probability of
lost acreage.
Wider row spacing (15-16 inches) has been shown to reduce wheat yield slightly
in Ohio. However, wheat in Louisiana continues to grow and tiller all winter so this may
compensate for wider rows. An additional question to be answered is whether or not
seeding rates should be adjusted with wide rows. This study is designed to evaluate
wheat production on raised beds using wider drill spacing, and to compare this with
conventional wheat production.
1. Evaluate wheat production on wide beds compared to a traditional flat field.
2. Determine impact of wide versus narrow wheat rows on beds.
a. Do the wide rows negatively impact wheat yield?
b. Do the wide rows make soybean planting after wheat easier?
3. Evaluate interaction of seeding rate with wide wheat rows.
c. Does maintaining seed/acre by doubling seed/linear feet help compensate
on wide rows?
4. Determine whether or not there are varietal differences in response to rows
width on raised beds versus flat.
Please select the document below to review.
|
| Filename | Description | File Size |
|
SJWWideBedResRpt07.pdf
|
Influence of Row Spacing, Seeding Rate, and Raised Beds on Production of Five Wheat Varieties on a Mississippi River Alluvial Soil
|
30.53 KB
|
| Last Updated: 5/14/2009 7:28:59 AM |
|
Please click a number to rate this article:
|
Have a question or comment about the information on this page?
Click here to contact us. |
|
|
|