1995 KANSAS PERFORMANCE TESTS WITH
WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES
INTRODUCTION
------------
This publication presents results from the 1994-95 Kansas Winter
Wheat Performance Tests and other information related to winter
wheat variety performance. The information included in the
report is intended to assist wheat producers in the variety
selection process. The first section includes a summary of
statewide growing conditions and harvest information for the
entire 1995 Kansas wheat crop. The second section includes the
statewide acreage distribution of leading Kansas varieties and a
summary of important agronomic and quality traits for these
varieties. The third section presents procedures and results
for the 1995 Kansas Winter Wheat Performance Tests.
1995 CROP CONDITIONS
--------------------
Weather Conditions
The 1994-95 wheat season started out mild and slightly dry.
Most of the state reported below normal to near normal
precipitation during the period from July to September of 1994.
Temperatures during the period also ranged from much below
normal to slightly below normal.
This pattern changed during the winter, as wetter and relatively
warmer conditions prevailed. All parts of the state reported
greater than 100% of the normal precipitation during the October
through December period. The western third of the
state was the wettest, with the Northwest and the West Central
districts receiving greater than 150% of normal precipitation.
Mean temperatures ranged from 3 to 5 degrees above normal in
December, 1994.
This pattern changed during the late spring of 1995. In April,
much of the southwest, west central and central parts of the
state experienced a severe freeze. On April 27, temperatures at
Tribune fell to 25oF. Because of the relatively mild winter,
much of the wheat in this area was ahead of normal and
particularly vulnerable to freezing conditions. Cooler than
normal temperatures continued throughout the spring and early
summer. June temperatures ranged from 1 to 5 degrees below
normal. The coolest conditions were experienced in the south
central and southeast portions of the state.
May was particularly difficult for field work in general and the
wheat crop in particular. Precipitation ranged from 146% of
normal in the Southwest to 296% of normal in the Central
district. Statewide May precipitation averaged 227% of normal.
Flooding and standing water were common in many parts of the
state. This extremely wet May, coupled with below-normal
temperatures, resulted in delayed crop progress. Although not
as wet as May, June still had above to near normal precipitation
in much of the state.
There were several special weather events that particularly
impacted the wheat crop. The first was the late spring freeze
in southwestern and central Kansas. The second included the
flooding and standing water common in May. The third was the
large number of severe storms experienced in the late spring and
early summer. In preliminary storm reports during April, May,
and June, almost every county in the state had hail damage. In
May, 58 counties reported hail. Particularly active dates were
May 12 and May 22, 1995, when much of southwest, south central
and central Kansas experienced large hail and high winds.
(From Mary Knapp, KSU Extension Weather Data Library).
Crop Development
Early indications pointed to rapid development of the wheat crop
and an early harvest, but late-spring weather drastically
delayed everything. Emergence was near or ahead of
normal for most of the fall. The mild winter enabled jointing
to occur well ahead of normal. By late April and May, the
cooler temperatures were slowing the development of the crop.
Heading began near normal, but ended slightly behind normal.
The wheat turned color and ripened well behind the normal time
period, which delayed harvest.
The condition of the wheat crop changed dramatically during the
season. Soon after planting, none of the crop was in
excellent condition, but over 80% was considered fair to good.
The situation improved through the winter and early spring, when
80% of the crop was rated good to excellent. After the rains
started in mid-April, the crop deteriorated rapidly and
continued to do so until harvest, when less than 30% was
considered good-excellent.
Topsoil moisture reflected precipitation patterns during the
season. A fair portion of the acreage was short or
very short of topsoil moisture last fall, but that had improved
by early spring, when only 20% fell in those categories. From
mid-May through mid-June, a large portion of the acreage
experienced surplus topsoil moisture, which often damaged the
wheat. The topsoil did not begin to dry out until late June or
early July, when harvest finally got under way.
(From Crop-Weather reports, Kansas Agricultural Statistics,
Topeka).
Diseases
Last fall's weather conditions favored development of important
diseases. Dry weather in August encouraged wheat streak mosaic
on volunteer wheat and alternate hosts such as green foxtail.
Later in the fall, high winds dispersed wheat curl mites (vector
for wheat streak mosaic) across most of central and western
Kansas. September rains favored the buildup of leaf rust and
speckled leaf blotch, which reached higher than normal fall
levels in western Kansas.
Foliar diseases overwintered well. In early March, state plant
pathologists predicted a moderate to high risk of epidemic for
leaf rust and speckled leaf blotch. Soilborne mosaic virus and
wheat spindle streak virus expressed symptoms in much of western
Kansas, but wheat streak mosaic virus and tan spot predominated
in March.
The disease picture became more complex as the spring
progressed. Barley yellow dwarf and powdery mildew appeared in
central and eastern areas by early April. Tan spot, leaf rust,
and speckled leaf blotch began to move onto mid-canopy leaves.
Most diseases slowed somewhat during the unseasonably cold
periods in April.
Leaf rust took advantage of high rainfall and humidity and began
to move onto flag leaves in southern areas by early May. Rust
nearly defoliated many southeastern fields and appeared in most
south-central and southwestern fields by mid-May. Barley yellow
dwarf also became serious in several southern and eastern fields
during this time. Speckled leaf blotch and tan spot activity
also increased. Pathologists noted bacterial leaf blight, basal
glume rot, and stripe rust as relatively minor diseases during
May.
Disease development continued into the June grain filling
period. Speckled leaf blotch became quite serious. Scab became
evident in many fields. Tan spot moved onto the flag leaf in
areas where rust had not already destroyed it. Barley yellow
dwarf became widespread in the east. By the middle of June,
most of these diseases had moved north. Pathologists also found
leaf rust, tan spot, and barley yellow dwarf in many western
Kansas fields.
By late June, scab became severe in some fields in eastern
Kansas. Some stem rust appeared, but likely caused little
additional damage. Speckled leaf blotch continued to develop on
leaves that had not already succumbed to rust.
(From Plant Disease Survey Reports, Kansas State Board of
Agriculture).
Insects
Wheat insects generally caused little concern in the fall of
1994. Greenbugs occasionally reached high numbers in isolated
spots. Entomologists found very few Russian wheat aphids.
Winter grain mites caused some damage in the central corridor
and reached detectable levels in some eastern fields. Oat
birdcherry aphids were noted in January.
A similar insect picture emerged in early spring. Greenbugs
caused some damage in the west early in the spring and began
building to damaging levels in the southwest by late March and
early April. By mid-April, oat birdcherry aphids had been found
over most of the state and greenbugs were becoming serious in
some parts of south-central Kansas. Russian wheat aphids seldom
developed damaging populations throughout the season. Although
conditions favored army cutworms at different points during the
season, they seldom caused serious damage. Winter grain mites
and brown wheat mites caused some problems in a few fields, but
were generally not serious threats to the crop. Chinch bug
numbers generally stayed relatively low because of the cool, wet
conditions and the resulting thick, vigorous growth of the wheat.
(From Cooperative Economic Insect Survey Reports, Kansas State
Board of Agriculture).
Harvest Statistics
Although early estimates were much higher, the Kansas
Agricultural Statistics office's July 12 estimate of the 1995
crop was 302.4 million bushels harvested from 10.8 million
acres. This estimate was down 30% from the 1994 harvest. The
statewide yield average of 28 bushels per acre was down 10
bushels from last year. Yield-per-acre estimates were lower
than last year's in all but the Northwest crop reporting
district. Estimates of total production were lower in all
districts. Production was less than 50% of that for 1994 in the
Southwest district and only 55% in the Southeast district.
(From July 12, 1995 CROPS report, Kansas Agricultural
Statistics, Topeka).
WHEAT VARIETIES GROWN IN KANSAS
-------------------------------
Acreage Distribution
The leading wheat varieties planted in Kansas are reported in
the variety distribution map and in Table 1. The top 10
varieties occupied 86.2% of the state's seeded acreage.
The top 5 varieties for each crop reporting district are
presented in the variety distribution map. TAM 107 and Larned
predominated in western Kansas. Newton, Arapahoe, Karl/Karl 92,
AGSECO 7853 AgriPro Tomahawk, AgriPro Thunderbird, Scout/Scout 66,
and TAM 200 also occupied significant acreage in the west.
Karl/Karl 92 and 2163 were the most popular varieties in the
central and eastern districts. AgriPro Tomahawk was the third
most popular variety in these districts. Other popular varieties
in the central third of the state included AgriPro Victory, AGSECO
7853, TAM 107, and Larned. 2180 occupied a significant portion
of the acreage in the South Central district and a smaller
portion of the acreage in the Central district. Both 2163 and
2180 are attractive for the low pH soils found in these
districts.
Variety Distribution Map:
Leading wheat varieties in Kansas in 1995,
presented as percent of seeded acreage by crop reporting districts
for 1995 and 1994 (1994 in parentheses). From Wheat Variety Report,
Kansas Agricultural Statistics, Feb. 8, 1995.
______________________________________________________________________
| TAM 107 40(33) | Karl/Karl 92 24(20) |Karl/Karl 92 51(51)\_
| Larned 11(12) | 2163 21(21) |2163 24(20) \
| Newton 6(10) | Tomahawk 18(15) |Tomahawk 6(9) /
| Karl/Karl 92 6(5) | Victory 8(14) |TAM 107 3(1) \
| Arapahoe 5(5) | 7853 5(3) |Victory 3(2) \
|_________________________|________________________|_________________________\
| | | |
| TAM 107 58(51) | 2163 31(27) | Karl/Karl 92 60(57) |
| Larned 14(15) | Karl/Karl 92 22(23) | 2163 18(17) |
| Tomahawk 3(4) | Tomahawk 10(8) | Tomahawk 6(4) |
| 7853 3(2) | TAM 107 9(8) | Pecos 3(1) |
| Thunderbird 3(2) | 7853 6(4) | 7853 3(2) |
|_________________________|________________________|__________________________|
| | | |
| TAM 107 41(41) | 2163 33(23) | Karl/Karl 92 75(79) |
| Larned 20(23) | Karl/Karl 92 32(39) | 2163 10(7) |
| Scout(s) 4(4) | Tomahawk 8(6) | Tomahawk 2(1) |
| TAM 200 4(4) | 2180 4(5) | Triumph(s) 2(1) |
| Karl/Karl 92 4(2) | 7853 4(2) | Pecos 1(1) |
|_________________________|________________________|__________________________|
Relatively few varieties have predominated the statewide wheat
acreage from 1977 through 1995. These varieties occupied 88.6%
of the planted wheat acres in 1995. Scout/Scout 66,
Eagle, and Sage combined for nearly 60% of the statewide
acreage in the late 1970's. In the early 1980's, Newton and
Larned dominated, with over 50% of the acreage devoted to these
two varieties. Larned consistently has maintained nearly 10% of
the planted acreage since 1980. Newton has dropped from a high
of over 40% in 1982 to 1.6% in 1995. TAM 107 predominated in
the early 1990's. In 1993, Karl/Karl 92 displaced TAM 107 as
the leading variety. Karl/Karl 92, TAM 107, and 2163 together
made up 60.1% of the total wheat acreage in 1995. (From
February 8, 1995, Wheat Variety report, Kansas Agricultural
Statistics, Topeka).
Agronomic Characteristics
Comparative ratings for important agronomic traits, pest
resistance, and milling and baking quality are listed in Table
1. Varieties are included in this table if they appear in the
annual Wheat Variety survey report from Kansas Agricultural
Statistics. Ratings for a given trait in this table are
experts' best estimates of the relative performance of the
varieties based on information and observations over several
seasons and from numerous sources. The ratings are updated
annually to account for changes in performance that occur over
time and to adjust for the changes in ranking that arise with
the continued additions of new varieties.
New Variety Descriptions
General descriptions of new public entries in the Kansas Wheat
Performance Tests are included below. These descriptions are
abstracted from release notices or other material provided by
the releasing agencies.
AKRON hard red winter wheat was released by the Colorado
Agricultural Experiment Station in 1994. Akron is a semidwarf,
awned, white chaff wheat variety. It is slightly later and
taller than TAM 107 or Yuma. Grain yields for Akron in eastern
Colorado dryland trials have been similar to those of TAM 107,
Yuma, and TAM 200. When irrigated, Akron and TAM 200 have been
the highest yielding cultivars. Akron's test weight has been
similar to those of Yuma and TAM 107, and its maturity has been
similar to that of Yuma. Akron has been superior to TAM 107 for
leaf rust resistance and inferior in resistance to the wheat
curl mite. Grain quality has been superior to that for TAM 107
and has been similar to that for Lamar. (From release notice
for Akron hard red winter wheat, Colorado Agricultural
Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Colorado).
ALLIANCE hard red winter wheat was released by the Nebraska
Agricultural Experiment Station, the South Dakota Agricultural
Experiment Station, and the Northern Plains Area, Agricultural
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1994.
Alliance is a white chaff, awned, semidwarf wheat with medium
maturity and moderate straw strength. It has exhibited moderate
resistance to stem rust, but is susceptible to leaf rust and
soilborne mosaic virus. Alliance has a heterogeneous reaction
to the Great Plains biotype of Hessian fly. Test weight is
similar to that of Arapahoe. Nebraska researchers recommend
Alliance for dryland wheat production in the Nebraska Panhandle.
(From release notice for Alliance hard red winter wheat,
Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebraska).
CUSTER is a hard red winter wheat released by Oklahoma State
University in 1994. Custer is a medium early, awned, semidwarf
variety. Grain yields for 1992-1993 over 18 station years
averaged 24% higher than the averages of Karl, 2180, and
Chisholm. Test weight has been fairly good; similar to that for
Chisholm. Custer exhibits good resistance to leaf rust, tan
spot, and powdery mildew. Milling and baking characteristics
are satisfactory. Aluminum tolerance is similar to Karl's.
Custer is susceptible to soilborne mosaic virus. (From Oklahoma
Cooperative Extension Service "Production Technology; Crop" PT
94-13, vol. 6, No. 13, May 1994).
ERNIE is a soft red winter wheat released by the Missouri
Agricultural Experiment Station in 1994. It is a white chaff
cultivar with midlong tapering spikes. Ernie is relatively
short, is close to Clark in maturity, has straw strength equal
to Caldwell's, and winter hardiness similar to those of Cardinal
and Wakefield but less than that of Pioneer 2548. Yield
evaluations across 22 location years in Missouri show that Ernie
yielded more than Caldwell, similar to Cardinal and Wakefield,
and less than Pioneer 2548. Ernie's test weight averaged over
22 location years was similar to that for Pioneer 2548 and
greater than those for Caldwell, Cardinal, and Wakefield.
Evaluations by the USDA-ARS Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory in
Wooster, Ohio for 1989-1992 showed that Ernie has very good to
excellent milling and baking quality. Ernie is moderately
resistant to Septoria leaf blotch and powdery mildew. Ernie
appears to have some tolerance to scab and field resistance to
barley yellow dwarf virus. Ernie is susceptible to leaf rust
and is moderately susceptible to stem rust under Missouri field
conditions. Ernie is susceptible to Hessian fly. (From release
notice for Ernie soft red winter wheat, Missouri Agricultural
Experiment Station, Columbia, Missouri).
HALT is a hard red winter wheat released by the Colorado
Agricultural Experiment Station in 1994. Halt is a white chaff,
semidwarf wheat that has yielded well under dryland conditions.
Halt has excellent resistance to the Russian wheat aphid and is
the first such cultivar developed in the United States. Halt
has averaged about 5% lower in grain yield than Yuma and TAM 107
in Colorado trials. Its test weight, height, and straw strength
have been equal to those for Yuma and TAM 107. It has been
similar to TAM 107 in maturity. Leaf rust resistance has been
lower than those for many cultivars but higher than that for TAM
107. Milling and baking quality has been similar to Lamar's.
(From release notice for Halt hard red winter wheat, Colorado
Agricultural Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Colorado).
JACKSON soft red winter wheat was released by the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University and the Virginia
Agricultural Experiment Station in 1993. Jackson is an
awnletted, medium-maturity variety with moderate straw strength.
Jackson is moderately resistant to powdery mildew, is
moderately susceptible to mid-Atlantic leaf rust races, has some
resistance to stem rust, and is moderately susceptible to wheat
spindle streak virus. Jackson is susceptible to Hessian fly.
It has satisfactory milling and baking properties. Jackson has
yielded well in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Maryland, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas and
appears to be adapted to a wide geographic area. (From release
notice for Jackson soft red winter wheat, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University and the Virginia Agricultural
Experiment Station, Blacksburg, Virginia).
NIOBRARA hard red winter wheat was released by the Nebraska
Agricultural Research Station and the Northern Plains Area,
Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture in
1994. Niobrara is a white chaff, awned, winter hardy,
moderately early semidwarf wheat. It is susceptible to Hessian
fly and soilborne mosaic virus, is moderately susceptible to
leaf rust, and is moderately resistant to stem rust. Test
weight of Niobrara is lower than those of Arapahoe and
Siouxland. Yields of Niobrara have been superior to yields of
Vista, Redland, Siouxland, Arapahoe, and TAM 107 in Nebraska
tests. (From "Improving wheat varieties for Nebraska, 1994
state breeding and quality evaluation report; report to the
Nebraska Wheat Development, Utilization, and Marketing Board",
February 1995).
TONKAWA hard red winter wheat was released by Oklahoma State
University in 1994. Tonkawa is a medium early, awned, semidwarf
variety. Grain yields over 18 station years from 1992 and 1993
have averaged 15% higher than the average yields of Karl, 2180,
and Chisholm. Test weight for Tonkawa has been higher than
those for Karl, 2180, or Chisholm. Tonkawa has exhibited good
resistance to leaf rust, soilborne mosaic virus, and powdery
mildew. Aluminum tolerance of Tonkawa is similar to Chisholm's.
It also has satisfactory milling and baking characteristics.
Tonkawa is expected to perform best in north central Oklahoma
and also may be suitable for south central Kansas. (From
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service "Production Technology;
Crop" PT 94-14, vol. 6, No. 14, May 1994).
1995 PERFORMANCE TESTS
----------------------
Objectives
To help Kansas growers select wheat cultivars suited for their
area and conditions, the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station
annually compares both new and currently grown varieties and
hybrids in the state's major crop-producing areas. The
objective is to provide Kansas growers with unbiased performance
information on all varieties and hybrids likely to become
available in the state.
Varieties Included in Tests
Parentage and origin of public varieties included in the 1995
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station tests are given in Table
2. Public varieties are selected for inclusion in the tests
based on several criteria. Most represent new or established
varieties with potential for successful utilization by Kansas
wheat producers. Some are included as long-term checks for use
in environment or maturity comparisons. Others are entered at
the request of the originating institution.
Privately developed varieties are entered into the Kansas Wheat
Performance Tests by their originators or marketers. Entry is
voluntary. Entrants choose both the entries and test sites and
pay a fee for each entry-location to help defray test expenses.
The program is similar to those for corn, sorghum, soybeans, and
alfalfa.
The 1995 private entrants and entries are listed in Table 3.
Ten entrants provided a total of 36 varieties and hybrids for
testing at locations of their choice. Public and private
entries were grown together at random in the same tests.
Growers interested in more detailed descriptions of private
entries should contact the entrants directly (see addresses and
telephone numbers in Table 3 or consult the Kansas Crop
Improvement Certified Seed Directory).
Seed quality, including such factors as seed size, purity, and
germination, can be important in determining the performance of
a variety. Wheat seed used for public and private entries in
the Kansas Crop Performance Tests is prepared professionally and
usually meets or exceeds Kansas Crop Improvement Certification
standards (See Table 32). Relative performance of a given
variety or hybrid comparable to that obtained in these tests is
best assured under similar environmental conditions and cultural
practices and with the use of certified or professionally
prepared seed.
Environmental Factors Affecting Individual Tests
Locations of test sites are shown on the map in the table of contents.
None of the 17 tests had to be discarded in 1995, although
yields were extremely low and variability was high in some
tests. Environmental factors should be considered when
examining the results for a particular location. Site
descriptions and management practices for each site are
summarized in Table 4.
Performance test summary: The performance tests were subjected
to much the same regimen as described under the statewide
growing conditions. Disease notes from the 1995 performance
tests are listed in Table 31. The location codes listed in
parentheses after each location name are used as column headers
in the data tables.
EAST
Brown County (BR): Favorable fall moisture and mild winter
weather provided the potential for high yields. Very wet
conditions in April and May provided a favorable environment for
leaf diseases, which reduced test weights. Some scab was also
present.
Riley County (RL): Stand establishment was very good. A warm
winter allowed the wheat to grow continuously. Plant
development was excellent through Feekes 10.5, and disease
pressure was relatively light. After anthesis, continuous wet
weather and extremely heavey disease pressure followed by high
temperatures at Feekes 11.1-11.2 all interacted to completely
destroy yield potential. Those varieties that produced yields
above 20 bushels per acre had acceptable tolerance to speckled
glume blotch.
Franklin County (FR): Fall weather conditions favored stand
establishment and early development. The mild winter caused
little direct damage to the wheat. Relatively dry conditions in
the early spring changed to very wet conditions from mid-April
through mid-June. Leaf rust caused the most damage to varieties
in the test. Rust developed early and affected the flag leaf by
pollination time. Barley yellow dwarf also affected susceptible
varieties.
Labette County (LB): Good fall growing conditions enabled the
wheat to fill in and cover the soil before winter. The fairly
warm winter allowed the barley yellow dwarf virus to infest
susceptible varieties. Very wet spring weather damaged
surrounding fields, but good drainage spared the performance
test. Barley yellow dwarf symptoms were severe even in this
relatively late-planted wheat and were highly correlated with
yields. Very severe leaf rust started early and appeared on
some flag leaves shortly after flowering.
CENTRAL
Republic County (RP): Fall and winter conditions favored stand
establishment and early development. Very cool and wet weather
in April and May slowed spring growth. Some susceptible
varieties exhibited low levels of Hessian fly damage. Scab,
glume blotch, and tan spot were present at moderate to high
levels. Leaf rust moved in late in the growing season.
Harvey County (HV): Late summer drought preceded wheat
planting. Wheat was seeded into dry soil, but timely
mid-October rains resulted in rapid emergence. Fall growth was
good, as precipitation remained slightly above normal and
relatively mild temperatures continued. Coldest winter
temperatures in the single digits were recorded during the first
weeks of January and March. However, February and March had
periods of unusually warm days. Below-normal temperatures and
above-normal precipitation followed in April and May. Spindle
streak mosaic symptoms were noted in early May, with stunting
apparent in some susceptible varieties. Leaf rust also became
evident in early May and progressed in severity until senescence
in late May to early June. May rainfall was more than 6 inches
above normal. Excess moisture during the spring months
contributed to yield reduction and low test weights.
Reno County (RN): Relatively dry conditions prevailed during
the fall and winter. Warm soil temperatures throughout the
winter enabled the wheat to continue growing. In early spring,
the wheat was about 2 weeks ahead of normal, but late freezes
set it back. Wet spring and early summer conditions encouraged
foliar diseases. Leaf rust, tan spot, and powdery mildew all
contributed to lower, more variable yields.
Stafford County, dryland (SD): Preplant rains in early October
resulted in good stands. Relatively dry, mild conditions
characterized the winter months. Several late freezes combined
with cool nighttime temperatures caused some freeze damage to
the head and male sterility, although overall plant appearance
was good. Continued cool temperatures in April and May delayed
flowering and grain development. Hot weather from mid-June
until harvest hastened drydown and severely hampered grain fill.
Tan spot, spindle streak, barley yellow dwarf, speckled leaf
blotch, and leaf rust reached severe levels. The flag leaf was
essentially gone 3 to 4 weeks before harvest. Powdery mildew
and glume blotch also were noted. Greenbugs reached heavy
infestations in late winter and early spring.
Sumner County (SU): Stand establishment was excellent, and the
wheat grew all winter with no cold temperature stress. Aluminum
toxicity was severe, and varieties with tolerance generally were
the most productive. Tan spot and leaf rust were the most
important diseases.
WEST
Ellis County (EL): The test was seeded in a dry seedbed and did
not emerge until late October. Mild winter weather enabled the
test to develop at a rapid pace until cool weather and late
freezes in late April. Leaf rust defoliated most susceptible
varieties. However, cool weather allowed most varieties to fill
the grain. Barley yellow dwarf virus caused most of the test
variability.
Thomas County, dryland (TD): Timely rains in September and
October enabled the establishment of good stands. Mild winter
weather with snow cover during the coldest periods resulted in
no winter kill. Very cold temperatures from April 9 to 13 (18o
F for 2-5 hours and less than 24o F for 12 hours) caused minimal
damage. Only AGSECO 7853 and KS84HW196 seemed to sustain
significant damage. Above-normal precipitation and below-normal
temperatures from April through the first week in July delayed
maturity until very hot, windy conditions in the second week in
July caused all varieties to dry down very rapidly.
Greeley County, dryland (GD): Dry soil conditions at planting
resulted in uneven emergence. The mild winter favored continued
growth. Freeze injury on April 11 caused lodging in some
varieties and loss of tillers and some kernels. Leaf rust,
barley yellow dwarf, and wheat streak mosaic virus were all
present.
Finney County, dryland (FD): All varieties emerged well. Heavy
growth and abundant tillering occurred during the warm winter.
A hard freeze on April 10-11 caused stem damage and tiller loss.
Grain filling took place very late under cool conditions,
resulting in very low test weights. Leaf rust reached severe
levels.
IRRIGATED
Stafford County, irrigated (SI): See description for dryland
test at this location. Soilborne mosaic virus and wheat streak
mosaic virus were present in addition to those diseases listed
for the dryland test. Tan spot was much less severe in this
test.
Thomas County, irrigated (TI): See description for dryland test
at this location.
Greeley County, irrigated (GI): See description for dryland
test at this location.
Finney County, irrigated (FI): See description for dryland test
at this location. The freeze seemed to cause more damage to the
irrigated test.
Test Results and Variety Characterization
Results from Kansas tests are presented in Tables 5 through 30.
The information in these tables is derived from replicated
varietal comparisons at several sites representing various
wheat-producing areas of the state.
Characteristics of specific 1995 entries can best be determined
by examining Table 1 and data in Tables 5 through 30 for the
relative performance of new varieties or hybrids of interest
compared to those the grower is currently planting. Yields are
reported in Tables 5-8 as bushels per acre (60 pounds per
bushel) adjusted to a moisture content of 12.5%, where moistures
were reported at harvest. In Tables 9-12, bushel yields are
converted to yields as percentages of the test averages to speed
recognition of highest yielding entries (more than 100%, the
test average). The excellent performances of several of the
entries are highlighted in these tables.
Growers should examine Tables 13-16 to check the performance of
entries over several years at locations closest to their farms.
These tables present multi-year yields as percent of the test
average for the 4 past years and an average over the 4 years
calculated from the standardized yield data. One-year or
one-location results can be misleading because of the
possibility of unusual weather conditions, such as those
experienced this year.
Measurements of characteristics often contributing to yield
performance are shown in Tables 17-20 (test weights); Tables
21-24 (maturity differences); Tables 25-28 (heights); Tables
29-30 (lodging), Table 31 (disease notes); and Table 32 (planted
seed characteristics, coleoptile lengths, disease and insect
ratings, etc.).
At the bottom of each table is the L.S.D. (least significant
difference) for each column of replicated data. The use of the
L.S.D. is intended to reduce the chance of overemphasizing small
differences in yield or other characteristics. Small variations
in soil structure, fertility, water-holding characteristics, and
other test-site characteristics can cause considerable yield
variation among plots of the same variety grown only a short
distance apart.
Another statistical parameter is the coefficient of variation
(C.V.) shown at the bottom of most columns. This figure, if
properly interpreted, can be used to estimate the degree of
confidence one may have in the data presented. In this testing
program, C.V.'s below 10% generally indicate reliable, uniform
data, whereas C.V.'s from 11 to 15% usually indicate less
desirable but generally useful data for the rough performance
comparisons desired from these tests. This year, a few tests
had C.V.'s of over 20%. These were generally very low yielding
tests, which can contribute to a higher calculated C.V., but can
still provide useful yield comparisons provided the unusual
yield levels are considered.
Protein Content
Samples of grain from each variety harvested from Kansas Wheat
Performance Tests are submitted annually for protein content,
kernel hardness, kernel weight analysis, and other tests.
Screening for protein and other analyses are conducted by the
staff at the U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory in
Manhattan, Kansas. Because of the time requirement for
obtaining analyses, protein results included in this report are
for the previous year's tests. Results for the 1994 harvest are
presented in Tables 33, 34, 35, and 36.
Excerpts from the UNIVERSITY RESEARCH POLICY AGREEMENT WITH
COOPERATING SEED COMPANIES*
Permission is hereby given to Kansas State University to test
our varieties and/or hybrids designated on the attached entry
forms in the manner indicated on the test announcement. I
understand that all results from Kansas crop performance tests
belong to the University and to the public and shall be
controlled by the University so as to produce the greatest
benefit to the public. It is further agreed that the name of
the University shall not be used by the company in any
commercial advertising either in regard to this agreement or any
other related matter.
* This agreement must be signed by an authorized individual
before results involving the company's entries can be published
by the Experiment Station. Except for the limitation that the
name "KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY" cannot be used in advertising
(you may use something like "official state tests" or "state
yield trials"), this does not preclude the use of data for
advertising, if done in a fair manner.
CONTRIBUTORS
------------
MAIN STATION, MANHATTAN
Kraig Roozeboom, Associate Agronomist (Senior Author)
Rollin Sears, Wheat Breeder
RESEARCH CENTERS
Patrick Evans, Colby
James Long, Parsons
T.Joe Martin, Hays
Alan Schlegel, Tribune
Merle Witt, Garden City
EXPERIMENT FIELDS
Mark Claassen, Hesston
W. Barney Gordon, Scandia
William Heer, Hutchinson
Keith Janssen, Ottawa
Brian Marsh, Powhattan
Victor Martin, St. John
Others providing information for this report:
R.K. Bequette, Grain Science & Industry
W.W. Bockus, Plant Pathology
R.L. Bowden, Extension Plant Pathology
J.H. Hatchett, USDA Entomology
NOTE: Trade names are used to identify products.
No endorsement is intended, nor is any criticism
implied of similar products not named.