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Result Demonstration Report


2004-2005 Wheat Variety Test

Michael Palmer, Concho County Extension Agent and
Billy Warrick, Professor and Extension Agronomist

Millersview, Texas
Concho County
Precinct 4

Summary

Fourteen wheat varieties were planted by Millersview Community farmers on December 10, 2004 in Concho County (at Millersview, Texas). These varieties were raised using normal dryland wheat production practices. When reviewing the test results, producers should keep in mind that this is only one year's data. Year to year consistency should be a primary consideration in selecting varieties of wheat to be planted.

Problem

Over 49,000 acres of wheat are planted annually in Concho County. The average dryland wheat yield for the county is 19.39 bushels per acre (1989-2000). Several new varieties of wheat become available each year and when combined with the varieties already available makes planting seed selection increasingly difficult. Producers need local data to help in selecting consistently high yielding adapted varieties.

Objectives

Variety tests provide producers with the opportunity of comparing new varieties of wheat with varieties of wheat that have been successfully grown under varying weather conditions in Concho County. Utilization of new varieties, that are equal to or exceed currently available varieties, should increase production and income of county producers.

Materials and Methods

Cooperating County Producers: Millersview Community farmers
Location: Millersview, Texas
Planting Date: December 10, 2004
Seeding Rate: 70 pounds per acre
Drill Spacing 8 inches
Soil Moisture Condition at Planting: Adequate for germination
Fertilizer Applied: None
Herbicide Applied: 1/3 ounce of Amber

Results and Discussion:

Early in the growing season there was good soil moisture and temperatures that allowed for growth. Many producers in the area of the test plot received five to six inches of rain in late August through late September. The lack of rainfall through most of the critical developmental stage from bloom through grain fill reduced the grain yields on this test plot.

In each variety of wheat a hand harvested samples was collected to determine yield. The grain yields from these samples are reported in Table 1 on the next page.

Economic Analysis
The difference in yield between TAM 111 and TAM 110CL was 22.12 bushels. The difference in gross income between the highest and lowest varieties was $68.57 per acre using a selling price of $3.10 per bushel. In this test, the higher income of the top yielding variety was significant enough to justify its selection over TAM 110CL.

Conclusions

Fourteen wheat varieties were planted by Millersview Community farmers on December 10, 2004 in Concho County (at Millersview, Texas). These varieties were raised using normal dryland wheat production practices. When reviewing the test results, producers should keep in mind that this is only one year's data. Year to year consistency should be a primary consideration in selecting varieties of wheat to be planted.

Table 1. Agronomic Data from Millersview Wheat Test (Concho Co., 2005)
(Click on the underlined variety name to see a picture of the plot)





Variety

Yield
Per
Acre
(pounds)

Yield
Per
Acre
(bushels)
Gross
Return
Per
Acre
@$3.10/bu.

TAM 111

2905

48.41

150.08

Jagger

2760

46.00

142.59

Jagalene

2711

45.19

140.09

Coronado

2522

42.04

130.33

Sturdy 2K

2496

41.60

128.96

Cutter

2342

39.04

121.02

Weathermaster 135 (treated)

1995

33.25

103.08

WinMaster

1916

31.93

98.99

2174

1885

31.42

97.40

TAM 202

1881

31.35

97.18

Longhorn

1819

30.32

94.00

Abilene Ag #1

1723

28.71

89.00

2158

1723

28.71

89.00

TAM 110CL

1578

26.29

81.51

NOTE: Weathermaster 135 was treated with Gaucho XT at 221.7 ml/100 kg

Acknowledgments

Sincere appreciation is expressed to the Millersview Community farmers for establishing and managing the dryland wheat variety test. Also, a word of thanks to all the seed companies that donated seed for the test plot.

Trade names of commercial products used in this report are included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.