Evaluation of Spring Wheat Cultivar Performance Under Continuous-Crop and Crop-Crop-Fallow Systems in Central Montana (2012)

Abstract

This report evaluates the relative performance of spring wheat cultivars and development lines in central Montana crop environments. Twenty spring wheat entries were established on NTCC at Moccasin, Denton, Geraldine, and Ft. Benton. The 2012 growing season was warmer and dryer than the long term average. Geraldine had more optimal precipitation. Warm spring growing conditions were interrupted with of freezing temperatures. At CARC, it froze five consecutive nights May 24-29. The spring wheat showed less frost stress than barley. Hail on June 5 removed 10-15% of the spring wheat leaf tissue. Sawfly cutting was minimal to none. The 2012 spring wheat crop ripened 10-15d earlier than normal. Ft. Benton trial is the first there in ten years. 2012 was a drought year. However, the 2012 yields were not as far off the six year average as might have been expected.