J. M. Windes

Managing nitrogen fertility of irrigated soft white spring wheats for optimum quality

Irrigated wheat growers often choose to apply only part of the crop’s nitrogen fertilizer requirement at planting to avoid over-fertilizing the crop at early stages of growth. Later in the growing season, producers will apply additional nitrogen fertilizer as needed to optimize production. This study evaluated effects of top-dress nitrogen fertilizer application timing and rate on the milling and baking quality of two soft white spring wheat cultivars produced in an irrigated environment when the pre-plant fertility rates were insufficient for optimal crop yield. Top-dress N increased lactic acid solvent retention capacity (SRC), a measure of gluten strength, of the resulting flour by increasing flour protein concentration. Although lactic acid SRC response and the grain yield response to top-dress fertilizer were unaffected by application timing, other quality parameters, including break flour yield, flour ash, and, in the case of the cultivar Alturas, sugar snap cookie diameter, were affected by applica...

Influence of subsoiling on direct-seeded cereals in southeastern Idaho

The influence of shallow (20 cm deep) subsoil tillage on cereals planted with a no-till planter was investigated for 3 years at two locations in southeastern Idaho. Among Fusarium spp., F. culmorum was the primary fungus isolated from diffuse brown-black root lesions in the wetter location (Ririe), while F. semitectum, F. reticulatum, F. equiseti, and F. acuminatum were the dominant species isolated at the drier location (Arbon Valley). Increased yields resulting from methyl bromide fumigation indicated that biological factors were limiting the yield. However, subsoiling did not influence nematode populations or fungal root rots. The primary parasitic nematode found at both locations was Pratylenchus neglectus. Subsoiling had a tendency to increase soil moisture at depths between 61 and 90 cm, to increase organic matter, and to decrease nitrogen. Yield increased by 8% or more with subsoil tillage at both locations the first year. Yield increases were not significant in other years, when moisture was particularly limiting or abundant. Subsoiling may prove favorable for cereals planted in a soil-conservation tillage system, but the risk of fungal root rots may increase with such a practice. Additional study is warranted, as subsoil-tillage practices may increase yield and desirable soil parameters without compromising the benefits associated with cereal production in a soil-conservation tillage system.