Second wheat are set to be firm fixture in most rotations next season despite the impending three-crop rule, escalating grassweed problems and weaker markets, according to a recent survey.

The study of more than 130 arable growers showed 85% are intending to plant second wheat this autumn, down slightly on the 87% with the crop in the ground but markedly up on the 80% growing it in the difficult 2012-13 season.

See also: Direct drilling boosts second wheat yields 

The closing gap in yields between first and second wheat is a key reason behind the popularity of second wheats with growers focusing on doing everything possible to maximise performance.

“The fact that 50% of growers now see a yield gap of less than 1t/ha between their first and second wheats – against less than 40% in 2009 – suggests management improvements have being paying dividends in recent years,” said study co-ordinator Susan Mintern of breeding and agrichemical group Monsanto.

She added that a quarter of growers recorded yield gaps of less than 0.5 t/ha these days compared to just 8% five years ago, and almost 10% find the performance of their second wheats is now on a par with their first wheats.

Concerns over grassweed – especially blackgrass – control have escalated in recent years so that it now ranks alongside take-all among the top three challenges facing second wheat growers, with foliar disease control in third place.

Selecting good second wheat varieties, using a take-all seed treatment and preparing better seed-beds stand out as the key management techniques growers are using to address these challenges.Applying earlier spring nitrogen and delaying drilling is also practised by 70% or more.