Dennis Baker, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
To determine whether wheat yields increase as seeding rates increase.
| Cooperator: | Darke County Farm | Soil Test: | pH 7.3 |
| Nearest Town: | Greenville | P 30 ppm | |
| Major Soil Type: | Miami | K 148 ppm | |
| Drainage: | Tile | Fertilizer: | 100#/A 0-0-60 |
| Tillage: | No-till | 125 #/A 18-46-0 | |
| Previous Crop: | Soybeans | 165#/A 46-0-0 topdress | |
| Herbicides: | None | Planting Rate: | 90#, 120#, 150# lbs/A |
| Hybrid: | Shurgrow 1550 | (25, 33, 41 seeds/ ft. of row) |
A replicated study using three replicates in a randomized complete block design was planned to determine whether increasing seeding rates of wheat will increase yields. Shurgrow 1550 was seeded on October 9, 1997, using a John Deere no-till drill at three target seeding rates. Each test strip was 30' by 1,055' in size. The wheat overwintered well and was topdressed on March 20.
| Treatment | Yield (Bu/A) |
|---|---|
| 90# seeding rate | 63.50 |
| 120# seeding rate | 60.09 |
| 150# seeding rate | 62.18 |
| F = 1.41 No significant difference in yields among all treatments at P = 0.05, CV = 4.0% | |
There was no significant difference in yields among the different seeding rates. This is consistent with results of similar plots done on this farm the past 10 years. Thickness of straw is noticeably larger on lower seeding rates. Plants were counted in November in three-foot lengths of row in each of the three seeding rates and compared to number of heads produced in the spring. Lower seeding rates produce more tillers per plant than higher seeding rates.
For additional information, contact:
Dennis Baker
Ohio State University Extension, Darke County
700 Wayne St.
Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5215
baker.5@osu.edu