Steve Prochaska, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
To evaluate the effect of row width on wheat yield.
| Cooperator: | Ohio State University Extension | Soil Test: | pH 6.6, P 63 lb/A, K 245 lb/A |
| Unger Farm | Fertilizer: | 27-69-60 actual N-P-K per A | |
| County: | Crawford | (Fall); 28% (99 lb/A actual N) | |
| Nearest Town: | Bucyrus | on March 26 | |
| Soil Type: | Pewamo clay loam and | Variety: | Agra 962 |
| Blount silt loam | Planting Rate: | 120 lb/A | |
| Drainage: | Systematic | Row Width: | See Methods |
| Previous Crop: | Soybeans | Planting Date: | Wheat 10/4/00 |
| Tillage: | Disk | Harvest Date: | Wheat 7/12/01 |
Wheat yield is important to producers in wheat/soybean double-crop systems where wider wheat row systems might be used to facilitate soybean planting. A randomized complete block design having small plots (5.5 x 50 feet) was used to evaluate the effect of row width on wheat yield. Treatments were 7.5- and 15-inch-wide row wheat planted in six replications. Wheat was planted with a three-point hitch-mounted tool-bar planter equipped with sunflower openers. All wheat plots were harvested completely for yield data with a small plot combine. Yield was adjusted to moisture of 13.5%.
| Table 1. Wheat yield @ 13.5% moisture.1 | |
| Treatments | Wheat Yield1 |
| Row width (in) | (bu/A) |
| 7.5 | 86.7 a |
| 15 | 79.2 b |
| LSD (0.05) | 4.4 |
| F | 14.5 |
| CV (%) | 4.4 |
| 1 Means followed by the same letter are not statistically different. | |
Wheat yield differed significantly between 7.5- and 15-inch-wide rows. This yield difference of about 9% is consistent with work done by others working with wide-row wheat (article titled Effect of Acrylic Polymer Seed Coating on the Feasibility of Relay Intercropping in Indiana by S.M. McCoy, T.J. Vyn, and T.D. West of Purdue University). Therefore, wheat in 7.5-inch-wide rows usually out yields 15-inch-wide rows. Wheat seeding rates were the same across both row spacings; however, the seeds planted per acre in the 15-inch rows are still within Ohio State University Extension guidelines (Ohio Agronomy Guide, page 63) for wheat seeding.
For more information, contact:
Steve Prochaska
Ohio State University Extension Agent
Agriculture and Natural Resources
117 E. Mansfield St.
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820
prochaska.1@osu.edu