Early pointers for later sowing as cereal drilling dates slip
Cereal farmers facing the prospect of rain-induced planting delays after the wet harvest should check carefully the suitability of their varieties for later drilling, a technical cereal specialist is urging.
That is to ensure they can still maintain maximum yield as the autumn and winter growing period is effectively shortened, he points out.
According to Simon Phillips, head of cereal development for Syngenta Seeds, speed of plant growth could become a key issue in winter wheat after the washout start to the season.
While slow-growing varieties which won"e;t become too advanced over the winter might be fine for early drilling, as the year edges on, he says faster-growing varieties with the versatility to be drilled later start to come into their own.
"Varieties which are faster-developing and with a high tillering capacity should be well placed to still produce the optimum number of tillers and ears needed for yield," explains Mr Phillips, "because they have the ability to make up for going into the ground later.
"We know that optimum tiller number is crucial in winter wheat. Indeed, the relationship between wheat variety, yield and drilling date was demonstrated clearly in one of our trials in Cambridgeshire this summer – looking at the new fast-developing, high-tillering variety Duxford.
"Compared with other varieties in the trial – where in one case yield fell by more than 1 t/ha to 9.27 t/ha as drilling was delayed from mid October to mid December – Duxford still yielded 11.05 t/ha from mid December drilling. This was just 0.38 t/ha below the 11.43 t/ha it produced when drilled in mid October.
"If you"e;re a feed wheat grower, Duxford could be a good option this season. It is suitable for drilling from mid-September onwards in all parts of England, and Scotland.
"Clearly, seed rates may need adjusting as drilling gets later, and the more difficult the environment, the higher the seed rate should be. Example seed rates for Duxford are 220-275 seeds per square metre for mid-September to mid-October drillings, and 275-300 seeds per square metre from mid-October onwards." Seed rates for Scotland should be increased accordingly by 10-15%, he notes.
As well as speed of growth, Mr Phillips says a variety"e;s yield as a second wheat could also be very relevant with later drilling this season. This is because wheat planted after wheat is likely to be more affected by the delayed harvest, he says, than wheat planted after oilseed rape. "As well as a good first wheat yield, Duxford, when grown as a second or continuous wheat, has produced a treated yield equivalent to over 10 t/ha on the 2008/09 HGCA Recommended List."
Meanwhile, for growers facing delays with planting winter barley, Mr Phillips says the vigorous growth characteristics of hybrids can help.
"Their hybrid vigour not only aids root development but also helps with tillering. Provided conditions are suitable, hybrid barley should be suitable for drilling up to mid October in Scotland and the end of October in England.
"The important thing is that barley should be drilled in a firm, moist seedbed, rather than mauled in to wet seedbeds.
"For the new hybrid barley Volume, the optimum seed rate is around 200 seeds per square metre for September to mid October drillings in England, and around 220 seeds per square metre for mid October drilling onwards and in Scotland. By comparison, the hybrid Bronx should be sown at 200-210 seeds per square metre and the hybrid Boost should be sown at 250 seeds per square metre," he adds.
