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Managing wheat yield reduction from wide rows
South Perth, Western Australia
February 26, 2004

Lower yields and higher screenings in wheat have been linked with wide row spacing but can be managed according to latest research by the Western Australia Department of Agriculture.

Speaking to growers at the Crop Updates in Narrogin yesterday, researcher Mohammad Amjad said the Department had developed a number of key agronomy options based on research over a three-year period at Salmon Gums.

The Crop Updates seminars are supported by the Department of Agriculture and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Dr Amjad said the desirability of increasing row spacing to assist stubble management and plant population for better competition against weeds, needed to be balanced against the potential for reduced yield and increased small grain screenings particularly in drier years.

“The Department conducted investigations on wide rows in 2000, 2001 and 2002 on an alkaline, grey sandy duplex soil using the long season variety Camm, mid-season variety Cascades and a short season variety Westonia,” Dr Amjad said.

“The research found that narrow row spacing (180 mm) consistently resulted in higher yield, lower protein and lower small grain screenings over three years at Salmon Gums. Increasing the row spacing increased the grain protein and screenings. “

Dr Amjad said yield reduction in wider rows could be related to the high concentration of seed and fertiliser in a narrow band causing fertiliser toxicity and resulting in reduced plant germination, reduced competition with weeds and ultimately more small grain screenings and less yield.

He said wider row spacings also generally changed grain size distribution with more small grain and less large grain in harvest grain samples during 2000.

“However, the research demonstrated that yield reduction at wide row spacing (360 mm) could be managed by increasing the row width (spread) up to 75 mm and was less significant in Camm - the long season variety,” Dr Amjad said.

“If the lower impact of wide rows on Camm also applies to other long season varieties, this could be used to reduce the negative impact on grain yield.

“A greater spread of seed within the row will also assist competition of the wheat crop with weeds.”

Dr Amjad said the research provided six agronomic management options that could be adopted both in existing and new farming systems for improving grain yield and quality on wide rows.

  • Select slow maturing, longer season wheat varieties.

  • Maintain the target plant population at 150 plants/m2.

  • Increase nitrogen rate for long season wheat varieties.

  • Early sowing (May) improves yield and weed competition in wide rows.

  • Deep place fertiliser away from seed.

  • Increase the lateral spread of seed within the rows to 50 to 75 mm.

“New technological developments in farming systems including ribbon seeding, paired rows, separate placement of fertiliser from seed, controlled traffic, deep ripping, liquid fertiliser and herbicide application, may also help to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs at wider row spacings,” Dr Amjad said.

“This research has demonstrated how to manage yield reduction at wide rows,

and farmers can now fully consider both the pros and cons of wider row spacing in their farming environment.”

The research was undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and the South East Premium Wheatgrowers Association, with funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

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