2003 Evaluation of Winter Wheat Variety Performance on No-Till Recrop into Undisturbed Barley Stubble Near Moccasin

Abstract

Evaluate agronomic performance of winter wheat varieties in recrop or continuous crop environments in the southern triangle and central Montana. 2003 Winter wheat variety trial re-cropped no-till after barley was established at the Central Agricultural Research Center on land in its eighth year of continuous no-till annual cropping. Center on land in its eighth year of continuous no-till annual cropping (since 1996). The current rotation is: pulse – spring wheat – canola/mustard – barley – barley – winter wheat – pulse crop. Soil moisture conditions were fair to good at seeding. conditions were fair to good at seeding (soil moisture probe depth 10-12”). However, high post seeding temperatures and winds dried the soil late into the fall. Much above average April precipitation contributed to excellent yield potential. Return of severe drought conditions in early June resulted low test weights which deflated the yield levels. The droughty weather in combination with the variable shallow soils resulted in extremely variable yield results and low confidence results. No-Till recrop weather precipitation conditions were such that early maturity was favored. The later the maturity the greater the exposure to increased heat and reduced plant available moisture. The main factor missing was winter stress. The good performance of several numbered lines indicate the potential for improved varieties in the near future.