Hard Red Winter Wheat Cultivar Responses to a pH and Aluminum Concentration Gradient

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major yield‐limiting factor in winter wheat production in many parts of the world. The use of Al‐tolerant cultivars reduces the impact of this problem and is common to the southern Great Plains where wheat is managed as a dual‐purpose crop. However, no quantitative data exist on the Al tolerance ranking of winter wheat cultivars often grown in a dual‐purpose management system. This study was established to classify on a field scale the Al tolerance of common winter wheat cultivars (Ok101, Ok102, 2137, 2174, Jagger, Jagalene, Custer, and AP502CL). Fall forage yield of each cultivar was harvested by hand clipping. Soil samples were collected at the same time and analyzed for pH and Al saturation (Alsat). Grain was hand‐harvested in June of each year from the same rows harvested for forage. Cultivar differences (P < 0.1) were found in forage and grain yields for the Alsat > 30% range. Al tolerance based on grain yield ranked as follows: 2137 > Jagalene = Ok101 > Jagger = 2174 ≥ Ok102 > Custer = AP502CL. Al tolerance based on forage yield ranking was similar to that of grain: 2137 > Ok101 = Jagalene = Jagger > 2174 = Ok102 > Custer = AP502CL. Grain yield seemed to be less affected by Alsat than forage yields. The use of Al‐tolerant winter wheat cultivars may minimize producers' risk of crop loss; therefore, this ranking of Al tolerance should help winter wheat producers make informed decisions if they have acid soils with high Al content and no other remedies available.