Chemical Desiccation Experiments with Hard Red Spring Wheat, Triticum aestivum L.1

Abstract

AbstractChemical treatments were applied to ripening spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars over a two year period to determine if plant maturity and harvesting could be hastened. Bromoxynil, dalapon, NH4NO3, diquat, ametryne, and amitrole plus ametryne were applied as one or more spray treatment rates at weekly intervals, starting four weeks after heading. Agronomic and quality data from the chemical treatments were then compared to similar data from swathing and check treatments.None of the chemical treatments reduced head moisture percentages significantly faster than that which occurred in the check. Also, diquat, ametryne, and swathing treatments at four weeks after heading significantly reduced test weight and grain yield.Compared to the check plot, chemical treatments did not adversely affect milling and baking traits. Swathing, particularly that at four weeks after heading, reduced wheat protein, loat volume, and grain and texture by significant amounts. Increases occurred in grain protein percentages from ametryne treatments, but these increases were related to lower grain yields from these treatments.It was concluded that these chemical treatments were ineffective as dessicants for spring wheat.