2017
Evaluate the Effect of Early and Late Maturing Wheat Cultivars and Early High Moisture Wheat Harvest on Wheat and Double Crop Soybean Yield and Quality
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Robert Kratochvil, University of Maryland
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

This research evaluates the performance of double crop soybean planted after an earlier than normal wheat harvest date. Specifically, this research will first evaluate the influence on soybean performance of an early and a late maturing wheat variety harvested over a range of dates from mid-June to early July. Double crop soybean will be planted as soon as possible after each harvest date. Soybean varieties representing late MG 3 to late MG 4 will be planted immediately after each wheat harvest date. The soybean portion of the study will evaluate the influence that the plant dates and the representative maturity groups for the soybean varieties have on soybean performance.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Report detailing the effects of earlier wheat harvest on soybean crop yields in double-crop systems.

Final Project Results

Update:
First wheat harvest moisture content averaged 19% (2016) and 17% (2017). Average final harvest dates were July 16 and July 12, for the two years, respectively. Average yield for the three 2016 sites at first harvest date was 81 bu/acre, while for the first harvest date in 2017 it was 70 bu/acre. Wheat yield declined 39% during 2016 between first and last harvest dates. During 2017, wheat yield declined only 12% between those dates. Weather had a major influence on the change in yield over the harvest period during the two years; there was > 3 .5 inches rainfall (2016) while 2017 received <2.5 inches. There was nearly a 10% loss in yield between the first two harvest dates in 2016 while there was no change in yield until after the fourth harvest date in 2017. Test weight decline averaged 7 lb/bu (2016) and 6 lb/bu (2017) between first and last harvest dates with ~2 lb/bu of that loss occurring between the first two harvest dates.

Similar to responses observed for other maturity group research for double crop soybean, during 2016 yield was 9% greater for mid-late MG 4 varieties over early-mid MG 3 varieties. This yield improvement was even greater during 2017; 25% more yield for mid-late MG 4 varieties compared to early-mid MG 3 varieties.

Recommendations from this research for the wheat-double crop soybean, production system are quite simple. 1) To attain maximum yield and test weight for wheat, harvest as soon as possible at approximately 20% grain moisture. 2) To maximize double crop soybean production following wheat, plant a mid-late MG 4 soybean variety or varieties following early harvest of wheat.

View uploaded report PDF file

Recommendations from this research for the wheat-double crop soybean, production system are quite simple. 1) To attain maximum yield and test weight for wheat, harvest as soon as possible at approximately 20% grain moisture. 2) To maximize double crop soybean production following wheat, plant a mid-late MG 4 soybean variety or varieties following early harvest of wheat.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.