Like much of Montana, the areas surrounding the Western Triangle Ag Research Center are environmentally diverse, particularly in rainfall, temperature, and soil types. The WTARC sits at the western edge of the “Golden Triangle” where cereal grains are the predominant crops. Spring wheat production in the Golden Triangle was 22% of the total spring wheat production in the state in the 2021 field season. One of the most beneficial activities we can perform for producers is to evaluate crop cultivars in multiple off station locations which allows us to provide environmentally relevant cultivar data that will serve to help inform cultivar choice, planting, and management. The importance of these trials makes it a yearly primary objective of the WTARC to conduct as many evaluations as budgets and resources allow.
A variety trial assessing acidity tolerance in malt barley varieties was conducted at the following location:
The trial consisted of 25 entries that were triple replicated in randomized complete blocks. The entries were seeded using a four-row, pull behind hoe drill with 12-inch row spacing and plots were 12-feet long. Rows were trimmed to even ends and each plot length measured at the end of the season. Multiple parameters were measured throughout the season and after harvest. Heading date was measured as the day of the year that the plot reached 50% fully emerged heads from the boot. Plant height was taken as an average of two measurements from the middle of each plot by measuring the height from the soil surface to the top of the wheat spike (awns not considered). Soil pH was measured by taking three, 3-inch core samples using a manual 1-inch diameter push sampler. The 3 samples were brought back to the lab, and air-dried at ambient temperature (~68°F) for 5 days. pH was then assessed by adding a 1:1 ration of soil to water. The slurry was stirred, allowed to sit for 10 min, and then the pH was measured using a SOIL Stick pH probe and the average of the three samples was recorded as the pH for that plot. Grasshopper damage was assessed visually and recorded as % plot damage.
Grain was harvested using a ‘Wintersteiger Classic’ plot combine. The seeds where then brought back to the lab, cleaned, and weighed to determine plot yield. A Perten 9500 was used to assess all plots for protein, grain moisture, and test weight.
Many of the plots had very poor yields and the Perten 9500 was not able to determine a test weight therefore, yield is reported in g/ft2 and test weight is only reported on the lines that had enough seed.
Please note that these research results were recorded under acidic conditions with heavy grasshopper pressure and drought impacts
Plot acidity was measured using soil pH. The pH ranged from 5.0 to 7.3 (Figure 1). Grasshopper damage was moderate to severe at this site and ranged from 4.00 to 17.33 % plot damage. Average grasshopper damage was about 6.9% across all varieties. Plant height ranged from 15.33 inches (SY Ingmar) to 18.00 inches (Corbin) with an average height of 16.97 inches. Heading dates ranged from julian day 184 (Vida) to 186 (Brenan and Egan). The average heading date was julian day 185. Grain protein (excluding breeding lines) ranged from 14.93 (SY Soren) to 16.5% (SY Ingmar) and had an average of 15.84 across all varieties.
Test weights were not determinable due to extremely low yields. Spring wheat grain yield averaged just over 6 g/ft2 (Table 1). ‘Dagmar’ was the top yielding entry and produced nearly 9.40 g/ft2. ‘Alum’, ‘Corbin’’, and ‘Choteau’ had yields statistically equivalent to that of SY Ingmar. Egan had the lowest yield at 2.85 g/ft2.
The Floweree site saw high grasshopper pressure and was subjected to drought starting relatively early in the season. This insect and drought pressure significantly affected yields and thus yield was reported as g/sq ft because not enough grain was harvested to report accurately in bu/ac. Soil acidity varied widely at this location and although no strong association with yield was observed we believe there to be an effect from the pH that was masked by the grasshopper and drought pressure. This site was seeded into a chemical fallow field with no tillage. This site supports many farmers in the Great Falls area as they experience conditions and have soils that can vary greatly from those at the WTARC. This site also serves as a good testing site for acidity tolerance. We plan to have off-station trials in this general area again in 2022 assuming suitably acidic soil site can be aquired.
This work was not possible without local area producers, the Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center Advisory Council, and assistance of the following seasonal employees: Alysha Miller, Caden Huntsinger, Lakota Becker, Landon Omdahl, and Roper Mycke.