ultra-early spring wheat seeding systemsultra-early spring wheat seeding systems brian l....

Ultra-Early Spring Wheat Seeding SystemsBrian L. Beres1,2, Graham R.S. Collier2, Robert J. Graf1, and Dean M. Spaner2

1 AAFC – Lethbridge, Alberta 2 University of Alberta

[email protected]

Agronomy Update – January 8, 2020

mailto:[email protected]

Background

• What is the optimum soil temperature?

– Alberta Agriculture and Forestry indicates 20o C

(http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1203)

– Most studies and crop insurance refer to dates over soil temperature ie. By May 10th for cereals

– In recent years, there is opportunity to get on land earlier, a trend we expect to continue.

– Growing degree day requirements are increasing for wheat ie. Longer days to maturity for new higher yielding varieties

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1203

The effect of climate change on wheat in Canada:

The Potential of an Ultra-Early Seeding System

Wheat yield from 1981-2010 from the median yield of 30 modelling

systems. From Asseng et al. 2014.



Wheat yield from 1981-2010 from the median yield of 30

modelling systems with a 2oC temperature increase.From Asseng et al. 2014.



Wheat yield from 1981-2010 from the median yield of 30

modelling systems with a 4oC temperature increase. From Asseng et al. 2014.

Background Climate Change = Net Positive for Prairies

Potential changes (%) in national cereal yields to 2080 compared to 1990, under the HadCM3 SRES A1F1 with and

without CO2. Source: (Parry et al. 2004)

Adaptation to Climate Change

• Increase in atmospheric C02.

– Increases plant efficiency.

• Temperature increase creates potential for:

– Earlier planting windows to escape/mitigate:

• Warmer, drier summers

• Negative effects on grain filling period

• Mr. Don Boles, Three Hills, AB: ‘From when I started farming to my retirement last year, I could seed 6 weeks earlier’

Canadian Studies show similar results:

Lychuk et al. 2017 ran seven climate scenarios for Scott, SK.

4 of 7 indicated decreases in wheat yield.

Increased daily heat extremes.

Greater maximum temperatures.

The Importance of an Ultra-Early Seeding System

Several other studies have indicated the average planting window in Canada

and the Northern U.S. has moved earlier in the season. (Lanning et al. 2012, Lanning et al. 2010, He et al.

2012 & He et al. 2012a).

Recommendations from these studies have indicated moving seeding dates 7-

11 and 10-12 days earlier than conventional timing has no negative effects.

The Importance of an Ultra-Early Seeding System

EARLY SOWING SYSTEMS CAN ADAPT AUSTRALIAN

WHEAT PRODUCTION TO RAINFALL DECLINE

Dr James Hunt, Senior LecturerDepartment of Animal Plant and Soil Science

Phase I Project Description

• Hypothesis:

– Ultra-Early plantings of a cold tolerant variety + optimum agronomics = extended growing season to maintain or improve attainable spring wheat yield AND system stability.

• Currently, system stability is presumed to increase with plantings into warmer soils

Phase I - Objectives

1) Determine feasibility & risks associated with ultra-early plantings in cold soils.

2) Understand differential responses between cold tolerance trait vs. conv genetics + cultural practices ie. GxExM system responses.

3) Develop a breeding tool that improves the rapid deployment of qualitative genes in to winter wheat.

First Step: Evaluation/Selection of Cold Tolerant Lines

CT #1 CT #2 CT #3 AC Stettler

Seeded in Edmonton March 29, 2016

Photo: July 26, 2016

Project Description - MethodologyLocations: Dawson Creek, BC; Edmonton, Lethbridge, AB; Scott, SK

Objective 1/Experiment 1 Treatments:

• Factor 1: Cultivars (4):

1. LQ1282A

2. LQ1299A

3. LQ1315A

4. Check cultivar – Stettler

5. Check cultivar – Conquer VB – Only at Lethbridge

• Factor 2: Soil Temp Trigger (6):

1. When soil temp in top 5 cm = 0° C





6. When soil temp in top 5 cm = 10°C

Experiment #1 – Sowing Date Site Summary

Location Earliest seeding

date (based on

soil temperature

of 0oC)

Number of individual

days temperatures

were below 0oC after

first seeding

Lowest temperatures

experienced

Lethbridge 2015 March 6 37 -6.7 oC (10 nights below -3)

Edmonton 2015 April 9 12 -4.2 oC (1 night below -3)

Dawson Creek 2015 April 16 12 -5.0 oC (3 nights Below -3)

Swift Current 2015 April 10 23 -6.4 oC (6 nights below -3)

Lethbridge 2016 February 16 36 -10.2 oC (21 nights below -3)

Edmonton 2016 March 29 11 -3.6 oC (2 nights below -3)

Dawson Creek 2016 April 21 11 -6.1 oC (4 nights below -3)

Scott SK. 2016 April 2 21 -9.8 oC (12 nights below -3)

Preliminary Results

1282_6

1282_8

1282_0

1282_2

1282_4

1282_10

1299_6 1299_8

1299_0

1299_2 1299_4

1299_10

1315_6

1315_8

1315_01315_2

1315_4

1315_10

Stet_6Stet_8

Stet_0

Stet_2

Stet_4

Stet_10

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Group I Group II

Group IV Group III

Group I: High mean, low variabilityGroup II: High mean, high variabilityGroup III: Low mean, high variabilityGroup IV: Low mean, low variability

Gra

in Y

ield

(M

g h

a-1

)

CV (%)Label:

cultivar_soil temp

Stet: Stettler

Numbered line = cold tolerant

trait

Earlier Planting Without a Yield Penalty (all data from 2016-2018)

Proof of Concept?

http://clipartix.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Check-mark-tick-icon-danaspad-top-clip-art.png

Project Description - Methodology• Objective2/Experiment 2 Treatments:

• Factor 1: Seeding Rate (2):1. 200 seeds m-2

2. 400 seeds m-2

• Factor 2: Cultivar (2):1. LQ1315A

2. LQ1299A

• Factor 3: Seed Depth (2):1. 2.5cm depth

2. 5cm depth

• Factor 4: Soil Temp Trigger (4):1. When soil temp in top 5 cm = 0 – 3° C


3. When soil temp in top 5 cm = 7.5° C


Feb 16th 2016 – Ultra-Early Wheat Systems StudyG = Cold tolerant spring wheat linesE = Plantings in cold soils starting with 0o C, replicated in 3 soil zones over 3 Calendar years M= Sowing density x seed placement depth effects

Soil Temp in top 5cm = 0.3o C

lsrssd7.5

lsrssd5

lsrssd2

lsrssd10

lsrdsd7.5

lsrdsd5

lsrdsd2

lsrdsd10

hsrssd7.5hsrssd5

hsrssd2

hsrssd10

hsrdsd7.5

hsrdsd5

hsrdsd2

hsrdsd10

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

25 30 35 40 45 50

LQ1299A

Group I Group II

Group IV Group III

lsrssd7.5

lsrssd5lsrssd2

lsrssd10

lsrdsd7.5

lsrdsd5

lsrdsd10

hsrssd7.5hsrssd5

hsrssd2

hsrssd10

hsrdsd7.5 hsrdsd5

hsrdsd2

hsrdsd10

4.5

4.7

4.9

5.1

5.3

5.5

5.7

5.9

6.1

6.3

6.5

20 30 40 50

LQ1315A

Group I Group II

Group IV Group III

Results – Cold Tolerant Trait Only – Soil Temperature

Group I: High mean, low variabilityGroup II: High mean, high variabilityGroup III: Low mean, high variabilityGroup IV: Low mean, low variability

Gra

in Y

ield

(M

g h

a-1

)

CV (%)lsr = thin stand - 200 srate

hsr = optimal stand - 400 srate

ssd = shallow - 2.5 sdepth

dsd = deep - 5 sdepth

Results

Gra

in Y

ield

(M

g h

a-1

)

Soil Temp @ Planting (o C)

What Have We Learned?

• Cold tolerant lines and check cultivars have performed well relatively.

– Stettler performed as well as CT lines WRT soil temp responses. Relative yield differentials a function of wheat class only

• No yield penalty for seeding at 2oC, and in some environments, yield drag observed when soil temp > 6oC.

• Higher seeding rates have increased yield potential and stability.

– occurred more frequently with shallow seed depths of 2.5cm.

• Responses may also relate to seed treatments

Risks:

Loss of crop stand to freezing

Seed and labour input doubled

Compatibility of equipment with soil conditions

Benefits and Risks of Moving to an Ultra-Early Seeding System

Benefits:

Capture of early season moisture, snow melt and early rainfall.

Accumulation of early season growing degree days.

Early canopy closure – improved radiation use and weed competitive ability.

Longer vegetative growth periods, more leaf area on June 21.


Benefits:

Earlier, potentially longer grain filling.

Avoidance of temporally dependent pests

Wheat midge, Wheat stem sawfly, FHB.

Distribution of farm labour.


Phase II•Best management practices for implementation of an ultra-early wheat seeding system.

Seeded March 29, Edmonton, AB – Photo April 19

What information do growers need to succeed?

Experiment 3: Fall applied residual herbicides for early season weed

management.

Experiment 4: Nitrogen sources and application timings.

Experiment 5: Identification of conventional varieties suited to an ultra-early

wheat seeding system.

Experiments 3, 4, and 5 – Building a System

Mr. Graham Collier Ph.D. Candidate

Experiment 3: Fall applied residual herbicides for early season

weed management.

E. Collier 2016

Ultra-early seeding

precludes the use of a

pre-burn herbicide.

Weed competition

Resistance management

Herbicide efficacy

Experiment 3: Fall applied residual herbicides for early season

weed management.

E. Collier 2016

Evaluate 3 fall-applied residual

herbicides for efficacy and crop

safety at ultra-early and

conventional seeding times.

Is crop tolerance affected when

seeded ultra-early (2oC vs 8oC)?

Is a yield increase observed as a

result of reduced early season

weed competition?

Experiment 4: Nitrogen sources and application timings.

G. Collier 2017

Is a benefit recognized through

the use of conserved nitrogen

technologies in ultra-early

seeding systems?

3 Nitrogen sources, banded fall

and spring at ultra-early (2oC)

and conventional (8oC) seeding

dates.

Experiment 5: Identification of conventional varieties suited to an

ultra-early wheat seeding system.

Based on the performance of conventional and cold tolerant lines in

Experiment #1.

A method of selecting conventional spring varieties suited to ultra-

early seeding is required.

Vernalization (VRN) and Photoperiod Response (PPD).

****** Flex Wheat???



9 varieties selected based on variation of VRN and PPDVariety Class VRN-A1 Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1 Rht-D1 Rht-B1 % of 2016 Seeded Area

AC Stettler CWRS Vrn-A1a Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1b Rht-D1a Rht-B1a

CDC Stanley CWRS Vrn-A1a Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1a Ppd-D1a Rht-D1a Rht-B1a 17%

CDC Plentiful CWRS Vrn-A1a Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1a Rht-D1a Rht-B1a

AC Foremost CPS Vrn-A1 Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1a Rht-D1b Rht-B1a

5700PR CPS Vrn-A1a Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1a Rht-D1b Rht-B1a 53%

AC Conquer VB CPS Vrn-A1 Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1b Rht-D1b Rht-B1a

AC Andrew CWSWS Vrn-A1 Vrn-B1 - Ppd-D1a Rht-D1a Rht-B1b 91%

AC Sadash CWSWS Vrn-A1a Vrn-B1 Vrn-D1 Ppd-D1a Rht-D1a Rht-B1b

Pasteur WCGP TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

LQ1282A N/A TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD



Chen et al. 2016 Euphytica

AC Foremost



Ultra-early (2oC) Conventional (8oC)



Identifying combinations of VRN and PPD genes that perform equal or superior

at ultra-early seeding vs conventional seeding may provide the basis for variety

selection.

Can be applied to current and future varieties without requiring extensive field

testing.

Future Directions

Seeded March 29, Edmonton, AB – Photo April 19

Experiment 6 – Initiated in 2019 To Explore Opener Effects in an Ultra-Early Seeding System

• Factor 1: Opener Configuration (2):1. ConservaPak/John Deere narrow knife

2. Pillar-Laser disc-type opener

• Factor 2: Seed Treatment (2):1. Dual fungicide:insecticide seed treatment

2. None

• Factor 3: Soil Temp Trigger (5):1. When soil temp in top 5 cm = 0° C





2019 ResultsTable 3. Effect of opener type on test weight, kernel weight and seed yield in spring wheat grown at

Evergreen, AB, in 2019

Opener Type Test weight (Kg/hL) 1000 kernel weight (g ) grain yield

(Kg/ha) Knife opener 71.99 25.59 882.91

Disc Opener 72.51 27.40 755.90

Table 5 . Effect of planting date on test weight, kernel weight and seed yield in spring wheat grown at

Evergreen, AB, in 2019 in Spring wheat grown at Evergreen, AB, in 2019

Planting date Test weight

(Kg/hL)

1000 kernel weight

(g )

Grain yield

(Kg/ha)

March 15(Soil temp at 0 oC ) 71.1 25.9 831.4

April 7( Soil temp at 2.5 oC) 70.1 24.7 754.2

April 14 (Soil temp at 5 oC) 71.0 25.5 862.6

April 28 (Soil temp at 7.5 oC) 72.6 26.1 817.9

May 10 (Soil temp at 10 oC) 76.6 30.2 830.9

From @Jay Schultz

Experiments 1 and 2:

Experiments 3, 4 and 5:

Collaborators:

Thanks to Funding Agencies and Collaborators

ultra-early spring wheat seeding systemsultra-early spring wheat seeding systems brian l....

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