2006 Southwest Idaho Winter and Spring Small Grain Variety Performance
The 2006 season marked the 22nd season of the Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Extension Winter and Spring Small Grain Performance Trials. The trials, supported by the Idaho Wheat Commission and Idaho Barley Commission, enable the testing of public and private varieties and advanced lines under the irrigated and dryland conditions of the Treasure Valley. The season was characterized by a mild fall, and December rain on frozen soils. The soils thawed at the surface but remained frozen at lower depths causing several days of saturated soils. Initially wet winter conditions turned to drier conditions in late winter and early spring until water was available for irrigation Above normal rainfall was received in many areas of the Treasure Valley once the irrigation season had begun High temperatures during late June and early July may have limited grain fill and yields, especially of spring wheat and barley. Wheat Stripe Rust was not a significant factor in the 2006 trials. Consequently, varieties lacking stripe rust tolerance reflected more of their long term performance.
Winter Trials
Four irrigated and one dryland winter wheat trials were conducted during the 2006 season. Two of the trials were planted in October (Parma R &E Center on Oct 5 and Weiser on October 19) and two in November (Parma R& E Center November 10 and Grandview on November 15) to evaluate variety performance under both early and late planting conditions.
One dryland site was planted October 17 north of Emmett. Yields at all irrigated locations were average. Plant heights were considerably shorter at all irrigated locations due perhaps to moisture stress during stem extension.Spring Trials
Three irrigated spring trials were planted at Parma on March 1, Nampa on March 24, and Weiser on April 7. The trial at Weiser was the least productive of all sites likely due to the later planting date. It was also the highest in protein. Later plantings were particularly influenced by higher than normal temperatures during grain filling.
I would like to acknowledge our grower cooperators for their donation of field space for the off-station trials.
Lloyd Roberts, Weiser spring and winter nursery
Jim Little, Emmett dryland winter wheat nursery
Scott Bennett, Grandview winter nursery
Robert McKellip, Nampa spring wheat nursery.