Seeding Rate Effects on Hybrid Spring Wheat Yield, Yield Components, and Quality

Peder K Schmitz,Joel K Ransom

doi:10.3390/agronomy11061240

Abstract

Agronomic practices, such as planting date, seeding rate, and genotype, commonly influence hard red spring wheat (HRSW, Triticum aestivum L. emend. Thell.) production. Determining the agronomic optimum seeding rate (AOSR) of newly developed hybrids is needed as they respond to seeding rates differently from inbred cultivars. The objectives of this research were to determine the AOSR of new HRSW hybrids, how seeding rate alters their various yield components, and whether hybrids offer increased end-use quality, compared to conventional cultivars. The performance of two cultivars (inbreds) and five hybrids was evaluated in nine North Dakota environments at five seeding rates in 2019−2020. Responses to seeding rate for yield and protein yield differed among the genotypes. The AOSR ranged from 3.60 to 5.19 million seeds ha−1 and 2.22 to 3.89 million seeds ha−1 for yield and protein yield, respectively. The average AOSR for yield for the hybrids was similar to that of conventional cultivars. However, the maximum protein yield of the hybrids was achieved at 0.50 million seeds ha−1 less than that of the cultivars tested. The yield component that explained the greatest proportion of differences in yield as seeding rates varied was kernels spike−1 (r = 0.17 to 0.43). The end-use quality of the hybrids tested was not superior to that of the conventional cultivars, indicating that yield will likely be the determinant of the economic feasibility of any future released hybrids.

Highlights

Current global crop production needs to double to meet the projected global demand by the year 2050 with wheat yield gains needing to increase from 0.9 to 2.4% yr−1 [1]
The hybrids were generally unresponsive to seeding rate and should be seeded at relatively similar rates to conventional cultivars for maximum yield
The maximum protein yield can be achieved by Valda at a slightly lower seeding rate compared to the hybrids tested

Summary

Introduction

Current global crop production needs to double to meet the projected global demand by the year 2050 with wheat yield gains needing to increase from 0.9 to 2.4% yr−1 [1]. Yield is the primary factor affecting profitability when paired with the efficient use of crop production inputs, such as fertilizers and seed [3]. Livers and Heyne [19] found hybridized wheat genotypes yielding 30% more than the best performing inbred cultivar at the time. European winter wheat hybrids displayed a higher nitrogen-use efficiency, compared to inbred cultivars [21]. Blend hybrids [22], a mixture of male parent and hybrid seed, may be more cost-effective approaches to exploit the benefits of hybrids

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Conclusion