Monday, 7 November 2005 - 8:30 AM
30-1

Effect of Grazing on Red and White Hard Winter Wheat Variety Grain Yield and Quality.

Curtis R. Thompson, Ron L. Hale, Alan J. Schlegel, and Troy J. Dumler. K-State Southwest Area Extension, 4500 E. Mary St., Garden City, KS 67846-9132

Grazing of wheat prior to jointing is a common practice by wheat producers in Kansas. With the development of several white wheat varieties, producers are questing whether the white wheat varieties will tolerate grazing like the red wheat varieties grown. Six hard red (2137, Jagalene, Jagger, OK101, Stanton, and Thunderbolt) and six hard white (Burchett, Lakin, NuFrontier, NuHills, NuHorizon, and Trego) winter wheat varieties were planted in two southwest Kansas counties, Clark and Stanton, to evaluate the effect of beef cattle grazing on wheat variety grain yield and quality. A split-plot design was used with the main plots being grazed and not grazed and subplots being wheat variety. Treatments occurred in each of four blocks. Cattle were allowed to graze the wheat after it was well established and were removed prior to the jointing stage of growth. Grain was combine harvested from a 5 by 27 ft area of each plot. Grazing did not affect wheat grain yields in Stanton County. In Clark Co. the yield of Jagger, Lakin, NuHills, and Stanton were higher if graze than not grazed, while the yield of NuHorizon and NuFrontier were lower if grazed than not grazed. Test weight was not affected by grazing in Stanton Co; however, in Clark Co. 2137, Jagalene, Jagger, NuFrontier, NuHorizon, and OK 101 had lower test weights if grazed than not grazed. Averaged over varieties, grazing reduced crude protein content by 0.7% in Clark Co., but did not affect protein levels in Stanton Co. 2137, Burchett, Jagalene, NuHills, Stanton, and Trego had higher KSCS hardness index scores if graze than not grazed, while HuHorizon was the only variety with a lower hardness score if grazed than not grazed. Grazing did not affect color score of any variety at either location. White wheat varieties performed adequately when grazed.

Back to Extension Education In Cropping Systems
Back to A04 Extension Education

Back to The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)