North Dakota State University * Dickinson Research Extension Center
1089 State Avenue, Dickinson, ND 58601-4642 Voice: (701) 483-2348 FAX: (701) 483-2005

SMALL GRAIN CROPS IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA

P. Carr, Associate Agronomist, Dickinson Research Extension Center
G. Martin, Research Specialist, Dickinson Research Extension Center
B. Melchior, Ag Research Technician, Dickinson Research Extension Center
L. Tisor, Research Technician, Dickinson Research Extension Center
E. Elias, Associate Professor, Plant Sciences, NDSU, Fargo, ND
J. Franckowiak, Professor, Plant Sciences, NDSU, Fargo, ND
R. Frohberg, Professor, Plant Sciences, NDSU, Fargo, ND
R. Horsley, Associate Professor, Plant Sciences, NDSU, Fargo, ND
M. McMullen, Associate Professor, Plant Sciences, NDSU, Fargo, ND

SUMMARY

New crop cultivars and advanced experimentals from public and private agencies must be developed for the continued viability of crop and crop-livestock systems in southwestern North Dakota. The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station is obligated to provide unbiased data and interpretations which can be used by producers to choose cultivars for farm production. This project will collect and publish information on the comparative performance of small grain cultivars in southwestern North Dakota. This project will also provide grain for quality evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate genotypes of hard red spring wheat, hard red winter wheat, durum spring wheat, spring barley, and spring oat in southwestern North Dakota.

INTRODUCTION

Crop production is a significant income generator for southwestern farmers and ranchers. Cash receipts from crops accounted for 52% of total farm income in the South Central, Southwestern, and West Central Crop Reporting Districts in 1994 (Beard and Hamlin, 1996). When government payments were considered, over 57% of total farm income came directly from cash receipts for crops. This excludes the value of forages grown and fed directly to livestock on farms.

Wheat, barley, and oat are the major small grain crops grown in western North Dakota. The annual value of these cereal grains grown between 1990-94 was over $280,000,000 in the three southwestern crop reporting districts (Beard and Hamlin, 1996). Development of improved small grain cultivars is necessary to ensure that the farm income generated by grain crops, either directly by cash payment or indirectly through livestock, can be maintained or enhanced.

Cultivar comparison trials have been the foundation of yield, quality, and agronomic evaluation of crop cultivars in North Dakota. Early reports from the Agricultural Experiment Station contained data obtained from comparison trials (Hays, 1893a, 1893b). These trials still are important to obtain information for cultivar release and recommendations (Cox et al., 1988; Frohberg, 1991). Each year approximately 45 hard red spring wheat, 10 hard red winter wheat, 30 durum wheat, 30 oat, and 25 barley cultivars are evaluated in comparison studies at the Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC). These comparisons include both named cultivars and experimental lines from NDSU, and other public and private breeding programs in the U.S. and Canada. Evaluations are used to make cultivar recommendations.

Grain produced in plots from the comparison trials is used in quality evaluations by personnel of the Department of Cereal Chemistry and Food Technology at NDSU, Fargo, ND. Quality evaluations of experimental lines are compared to cultivars currently grown by producers. The quality and agronomic performance of an experimental line at various locations is one of the major bases for the recommended release of that line as a named cultivar or its removal from consideration for further testing.

Experimental lines from other state experiment stations and private plant breeding companies also are evaluated for quality. Although data from this project are not instrumental in the eventual release or rejection of lines from these sources, it does provide information on agronomic characteristics prior to release and does assist in cultivar recommendations.

Soils at the Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC) are representative of a large percentage of southwestern North Dakota soils. However, not all prominent soil types occurring in the southwestern portion of the state occur at the DREC. Moreover, local climatic differences between different areas in the region exist. For these reasons, cultivar comparison studies are conducted at sites besides the DREC to provide an area test of crop cultivar performance at several locations in southwestern North Dakota.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seed of cultivars evaluated in comparison trials generally were provided by plant breeders at North Dakota State University in Fargo, or from drill strips at the DREC. Cultivars developed from neighboring land-grant institutions and Canada, as well as private plant breeding companies were included.

Cultural practices including tillage and seeding, fertilization, herbicide application, and harvesting followed currently acceptable agronomic procedure in implementing and maintaining cultivar comparison trials. Cultivars and genotypes of each small grain crop (hard red spring wheat, hard red winter wheat, durum wheat, spring barley, and spring oat) were evaluated using a replicated randomized complete block design. Demonstration strips also were maintained for grower observation, crop field tours, and for a sufficient amount of seed for quality evaluations. Crop trials were conducted on both previously fallowed and continuously-cropped land. Experiments were located on both conventionally-tilled and no-tilled seedbeds.

Plant growth was monitored throughout the growing season. Variables that were measured on each plot at Dickinson included: days to heading, plant height, plant lodging at physiological maturity, grain yield, kernel weight, grain volume weight, and grain protein content. Ten random plants in each plot of three replicates within the hard red spring wheat comparison trial were evaluated for flag leaf spotting, using the system developed by McMullen and Francl (M. McMullen and L. Francl, per. comm., 1992).

Data collected at off-station sites included grain yield, grain volume weight, kernel weight, and grain protein content for wheat. Quality characteristics for product acceptance will be determined by the Department of Cereal Science and Food Technology at North Dakota State University from grain samples provided.

Data were analyzed using a computer statistical program.

RESULTS

Keene was the highest yielding conventional height cultivar among hard spring wheat cultivars evaluated in 1996 at Dickinson. Among conventional height cultivars, Amidon, Butte 86, Ernest, Keene, and Trenton have produced the most grain over the past three years. Among semidwarf cultivars, 2398, Lars, McNeal, Norm, and Verde have produced the most grain. Gross returns among wheat cultivars evaluated in the spring wheat cultivar trial were comparable except for those generated by the following cultivars (which were lower): Lars, Penewawa (white wheat), AC Domain, AC Eatonia, AC Majestic, and BacUp.

The hard red spring wheat cultivars 2375, 2398, Amidon, Hamer, and Kulm produced more grain at Glen Ullin than the other cultivars evaluated in 1996. Higher returns were generated by Kulm than by 2371, McNeal, and Russ. The other cultivars evaluated generated similar returns to those generated by Kulm.

A hard red winter wheat trial was successfully established in a no-tillage seedbed at Dickinson in 1996. Average yield among the 10 cultivars evaluated was 72.3 bu/acre; Abiline produced the most grain (79.3 bu/acre) and Agassiz the least amount (64.1 bu/acre). Highest returns were generated by Abiline, though comparable amounts were also generated by Arapahoe, CDC Kestrel, and Seward.

Average yield among the 16 commercial durum cultivars evaluated at Dickinson was 56.6 bu/acre in 1996. Ben, Lloyd, and Renville were the highest yielding cultivars. Highest returns were generated by Dressler, Lloyd, Plenty, Renville, Sceptre, and Ward.

At Glen Ullin, four of the five cultivars evaluated generated comparable returns (Ben, Munich, Renville, and Vic); returns were lower when Voss was grown.

Yield of the 15 commercial barley cultivars averaged 62.2 bu/acre at Dickinson in 1996. Over the past three years, Excel and Stander have been the leading six-rowed barley cultivars for yield. Among two-rowed cultivars, Logan has been the leading cultivar for yield.

Highest returns were generated by two, two-rowed cultivars (Logan and Conlon) among the barley cultivars evaluated at Dickinson in 1996. Among the cultivars evaluated at Glen Ullin, highest returns were generated by Foster and Stander.

Yield averaged 82.7 bu/acre among the 21 commercial oat cultivars evaluated at Dickinson in 1996. Derby and Calibre oat have produced the most grain over the past three years among oat cultivars compared. Derby, Calibre, and Troy generated the highest returns among oat cultivars considered in 1996 at Dickinson, while Whitestone produced highest returns at Glen Ullin.

LITERATURE CITED

Beard, L.W., and W.G. Hamlin. 1996. North Dakota agricultural statistics. Bull. No. 65. North Dak. State Univ. Agric. Expt. Stat. and U.S. Dept. Agric. Ag. Stat. Fed. Bldg., Fargo, ND.

Cox, D.J., B.L. D'Appolonia, and J.D. Miller. 1988. Registration of 'Seward' wheat. Crop Sci. 28:378-379.

Fowler, D.B. 1982. Date of seeding, fall growth, and winter survival of winter wheat and rye. Agron. J. 74:1060-1063.

Frohberg, R.C. 1991. Economic impact of plant breeding programs. p. 3-4. In G. Moran (ed.) North Dakota Farm Res. Bimonthly Bull. Vol. 48(4). Fargo, ND.

Hays, W.M. 1893a. p. 72. In Grain and forage crops. North Dak. Agric. Expt. Stat. Bull. No. 10.

Hays, W.M. 1893b. p. 32. In Grain and forage crops. North Dak. Agric. Expt. Stat. Bull. No. 11.

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