Hybrid wheats do well
Hybrid wheats do well
HYBRID wheats are doing better than conventional varieties in trials at Agrovistas Arable Technol-ogy Site near Saxham, Suffolk this winter.
Tiller counts are more stable, leaves bigger and vigour scores higher. "The hybrids are coping with the difficult conditions better than the conventional varieties," according to technical director Colin Myram.
Hybrids HynoEsta, HynoRista and HynoSeha drilled at similar seed rates to the conventional varieties on Oct 9 scored 98, 95 and 99 for vigour, while Consort, Rialto, Charger and Soissons scored 94, 95, 70 and 96.
"We would have hoped hybrid vigour would be showing now and that the hybrids will grow away faster in the spring," says Mr Myram.
At other sites where hybrids are being growing at reduced seed rates the extra vigour is expected to compensate for apparently thin-looking crops now, ensuring the extra cost of the seed is offset, he adds. *