CANOPY DEVELOPMENT OF WHEAT

Authors: McMaster, Gregory; Wilhelm, Wallace

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2006
Publication Date: 3/20/2006
Citation: Mcmaster, G.S., Wilhelm, W.W. 2006. Canopy development of wheat. Book Chapter.

Interpretive Summary: Wheat is a major crop for Colorado, the U.S., and the world, but management and production practices vary greatly depending on location. The Colorado Wheat Agricultural Board requested a new edition for the 2000 Wheat Production Manual be produced for Colorado conditions and varieties with farmers the primary customer and extension agents, NRCS, and scientists secondary customers. This chapter in the Colorado Wheat Production Manual outlines the development and life cycle (or growth stages) of wheat varieties typically used in Colorado. This is critical information as management practices are increasingly being implemented based on the developmental stage and processes of the wheat canopy. This chapter also outlines the yield components involved in determining yield and shows how the number of heads per acre is the most important yield component. Management practices and variety selection must be evaluated on how they affect head number, and that understanding the developmental processes leading to head number is the key for farmers to maximize the efficacy of their management processes and improve their economic and environmental returns on their farm. Additional information is presented on accumulating thermal time from planting during the fall for Colorado and predicting crop growth stage for varying levels of water availability.

Technical Abstract: Wheat is a major crop for Colorado, the U.S., and the world, but management and production practices vary greatly depending on location. The Colorado Wheat Agricultural Board requested a new edition for the 2000 Wheat Production Manual be produced for Colorado conditions and varieties with farmers the primary customer and extension agents, NRCS, and scientists secondary customers. This chapter in the Colorado Wheat Production Manual outlines the development and life cycle (or growth stages) of wheat varieties typically used in Colorado. This is critical information as management practices are increasingly being implemented based on the developmental stage and processes of the wheat canopy. This chapter also outlines the yield components involved in determining yield and shows how the number of spikes per unit land area is normally the most important yield component. Management practices and variety selection must be evaluated on how they affect spike number, and that understanding the developmental processes leading to spike number is the key for farmers to maximize the efficacy of their management processes and improve their economic and environmental returns on their farm. Additional information is presented on accumulating thermal time from planting during the fall for Colorado and predicting crop growth stage for varying levels of water availability.