2004 Evaluation of Soft Winter Wheat Variety Performance Under Fallow at the Central Agricultural Research Center, Near Moccasin

Abstract

This report evaluates the agronomic performance, particularly winter hardiness, of soft winter wheat varieties in crop-fallow environments in the central Montana. The soft white winter wheat was seeded into tilled fallow soil on 23-September 2003. Emergence was uniform. uniform. The 2003-04 winter was relatively mild as some spring wheat over wintered in stubble. However, two soft white winter wheat varieties, Lewjain and Stephens, had severe winterkill. two soft white winter wheat varieties, Lewjain and Stephens, had severe winterkill. Three soft white entries topped the yield, not significantly, of the hard red check variety Neeley. The soft white varieties evaluated do not have sufficient winter hardiness to be raised in areas which frequently have bare soils and windy conditions during the winter months.