Getting it right - the first time!

(How to be a successful winter cereal grower)

David Struthers, Executive Manager

Winter Cereals Canada Inc., Yorkton, SK

Winter cereals are "systems" crops that have an excellent fit in direct seeding and zero tillage production systems. Producers who have learned to adapt their cropping systems to include winter cereals have noted the following benefits:

The earlier development and maturity of winter crops tends to reduce the risk of certain insect and disease infestations such as Orange wheat blossom midge and fusarium head blight (scab). In the spring, the competitive advantage winter cereals have over weeds often provides an opportunity for producers to eliminate the use of grassy weed herbicides. This makes winter cereals an excellent tool for managing herbicide rotations and reducing the risk of weed resistance.

As more producers adopt direct seeding and zero tillage production systems, the opportunity to successfully produce winter cereals will grow. However, to achieve this success producers must become familiar with the agronomic management practices that have been developed specifically for these crops.

The Keys to Success

The production of winter cereals is straightforward but requires different management practices than those used for spring seeded cereals. As with spring-sown crops, there are many factors to consider, such as fertility, weed management, insects and diseases, and harvest management. However, the most critical decisions are those that will ensure the crop gets off to a competitive start and enhance winter survival. Here are the key points:

  1. Pre-planning: There is no substitute for good planning. Many of the winter wheat failures of the past can be attributed to poor management practices that resulted from poor planning and decision making. Successful winter cereal growers all have one thing in common - they plan ahead!
  1. Field selection - The physical characteristics and previous management history of the field that you plan to seed can have an impact on the success of the crop. Is the topography suitable? Is drainage adequate or is the field prone to flooding? What is the field history in terms of weeds, insects, diseases, etc? Are there soil factors that may limit the potential for winter cereals?
  2. Selection of the spring crop - You want to have suitable stubble available for seeding by late August or early September so you need to consider the seeding date, days to maturity and management of your spring crop.
  3. Sourcing seed and fertilizer - It is a good idea to have your seed and fertilizer arrangements made by early summer, well ahead of fall planting time. Research the available varieties and find one that is adapted to your region. Winter cereal seeding usually occurs during breaks in the harvesting of spring crops. Having the seed and fertilizer ready on the farm means that you can make more efficient use of your time.
  4. Equipment and labour arrangements - Seeding and harvest are the two busiest operations during the year. It is critical to plan the logistics of equipment and labour. Who will spray the field prior to seeding? Who will do the seeding? Is the seeding equipment field ready? What equipment is available in terms of tractors and trucks for seed and fertilizer?
  5. Managing spring crop residues - Winter cereals, particularly winter wheat and winter triticale, require standing stubble that is capable of trapping snow to insulate the overwintering crown tissue. The spring crop should be cut as high as possible and the straw and chaff should be spread thoroughly to prevent seeding problems.
  1. Seeding Methods: Research has shown that winter cereals are most successful when grown in a direct seeding or zero tillage production system. These systems provide the snow trapping potential that is required to insulate the plants from harsh winter weather and enhance spring soil moisture conditions. Many different types of seeding equipment can be used as long as they are capable of seeding shallow, at a consistent depth, with minimal stubble disturbance.
  1. Seeding Date - In order for winter cereals to achieve maximum cold tolerance, healthy, vigorous plants must be established before freeze-up. A plant that has three or four true leaves and is starting to develop its first tiller would be ideal. By this stage, crown tissue has developed just below the soil surface. It is the crown tissue that survives the winter and regenerates roots and leaves in the spring when favourable growing conditions return. Fall soil temperatures influence optimal seeding dates. As a result, the optimal timing for seeding differs in each production region of the Northern Great Plains. Research has demonstrated that seeding during the period from late August to early September (approx. August 25th to September 10th) consistently produces the best crops in terms of both yield and quality. It is always better to seed early rather than late as late seeding often results in reduced winter hardiness.

  2. The stage of plant development prior to winter freeze-up also impacts the agronomic performance of the crop during the following growing season. Seeding too early often results in yield reduction and smaller seed size. Late seeding results in significant yield reduction, delayed heading, later maturity, lower bushel weights and increased problems with weeds and other crop pests such as insects and disease organisms. All this being said, there are several uncontrollable factors that impact the crop's potential. This includes soil temperature, moisture and weather conditions the following growing season. Responses to seeding date cannot always be determined simply by looking at a calendar!

  3. Seeding Depth - Under optimal conditions, winter cereals should be seeded less than 1" deep into a firm, moist seedbed. Deeper seeding delays emergence and results in weak, spindly plants that are more susceptible to winter injury. Research indicates that improper seed placement usually results in later maturity and reduced yield potential. One common mistake made by inexperienced growers is "seeding to moisture". In most stubble fields, soil moisture is often depleted, leaving a dry seedbed for winter cereals. Moisture conditions do not improve dramatically with depth, so there is no advantage to seeding deeper than the minimum depth required to provide good seed-to-soil contact. Moisture in the fall comes from rainfall. Shallow seeding allows the seeds to take advantage of small rainfall events. As little as 1/3 inch of rain is enough to successfully establish a winter cereal since they exhibit very little seed dormancy and are ready to germinate immediately after seeding.
  1. Fertility Management: As with all other crops, the fertility requirements for winter cereals should be based on a reliable soil test, used in conjunction with knowledge of past management practices and local cropping conditions. It must be noted that winter cereals have the potential to out-yield their spring counterparts by 20 to 25%. To achieve the higher yield potential, winter cereals require higher rates of fertilizer than spring cereals, particularly nitrogen. It has been suggested that insufficient nitrogen fertilization is the leading cause of lower than expected yields of winter cereals relative to spring types.
  1. Nitrogen - Winter cereals demonstrate strong responses to applied nitrogen due to their higher yield potential and the fact they are seeded into standing stubble fields that tend to be low in residual soil nitrogen. The traditional practice for winter cereals has been to broadcast 34-0-0 early in the spring. Research data shows that this method produces the most consistent yield and quality response. Urea (46-0-0) and urea ammonium nitrate (28-0-0) may also be used but are subject to losses in the spring through volatilization, reducing the efficiency of application by as much as 10 - 20% depending on soil moisture and rainfall. Sidebanding all the nitrogen requirements at seeding is becoming more popular with the development of double shoot sidebanding openers. However, the risk of fall leaching losses is high under this scenario. Conversion of applied nitrogen to nitrate is a factor due to the warm soil temperatures that prevail in late August and early September. If sufficient conversion takes place some of the nitrate will be subject to leaching.
  2. P, K and S - These nutrients are essential for successful winter cereal production. Phosphorus enhances winter survival by promoting early plant development as well as vigorous root and shoot growth. The phosphate requirements should be seed placed or side banded at seeding time. Winter cereals seeded into soils with low residual phosphate levels that do not receive sufficient seed placed phosphorus can be subject to significant reductions in winter hardiness. The risk of winter injury increases, and adequate insulation from snow cover becomes more critical. Potassium chloride (KCl) helps plants tolerate moisture stress conditions and improves lodging resistance. The chloride component has been linked to lower incidence of certain foliar and root diseases. Sulphur is often required on winter cereals, particularly when the crop is sown on canola stubble. Sulphur helps to increase the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus applications and plays an important role in end use quality parameters such as flour yield and loaf volume. Application rates for phosphorus, potassium and sulphur should be based on soil test recommendations.

These are just a few of the many management practices that are discussed in more detail in the Winter Wheat Production Manual, the comprehensive how-to guide for winter cereal growers developed by Dr. Brian Fowler, the winter wheat breeder at the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre. If you would like more information on winter cereal production, please write to Winter Cereals Canada at Box 22011, Yorkton, SK, S3N 4B2, or phone (306) 782-8188.