As part of a new GRDC-funded “managing early sown wheat” project, trials of winter wheat varieties have been sown in the first 2017 trial at BCG research sites at Curyo and Longerenong.
The purpose of the project is to identify how to best manage new winter wheat varieties that will be available to growers in the coming years.
With the shift from less autumn to more summer rainfall, increased farm sizes and area sown to pulses and on-farm logistical challenges, more adaptable varieties to widen the sowing window are needed.
Research shows higher yields and profit, as well as greater weed competition, occur when wheat is sown earlier.
However, growers need access to varieties that are slower to develop and avoid potential risks such as heat stress and frost.
Vernalisation requirements mean that plants develop slowly until experiencing a period of cold temperatures between zero and 12 degrees, varieties like EGA Wedgetail.
EGA Wedgetail is a winter wheat variety trialed at Warmur in 2016, and achieved 4.4t/ha from a May 4 sowing date. The other winter wheat variety trialed in 2016 was the not yet released RAC2341, which achieved 4.2t/ha. While sown in the first week of May it is an adaptable variety to an earlier sowing time.
RAC2341 is a fast-maturing variety that is 70 per cent derived from mace. Photoperiod sensitive, the plant develops slowly until experiencing a certain duration of day length. Yitpi and Cutlass are wheat varieties with strong photoperiod requirements.
Some varieties are affected by thermal time. Compass is a barley variety example that speeds up its development as temperature increases.
These different requirements can extend sowing programs to sow within their optimal sowing window, spreading sufficient risk for the farm business.
Growers can also delay sowing until later in the season, with some varieties showing excellent results from a later sowing time where the season is conducive.
