Lodging lesson learned
Lodging lesson learned
LODGING can still be a problem even after nitrogen and plant growth regulator use are matched to variety. That is the lesson learnt by Cambridgeshire grower David Wakefield this season.
Despite careful management of his wheat crops, including a full pgr programme, some lodging still appeared.
Early indications that the seasons lodging risk was very low cut no ice with Mr Wakefield. He applied two growth regulator doses to his 358ha (885 acres) of winter wheat instead of the usual one.
Two treatments were needed to cope with generally uneven establishment and the possibility of a growth surge once rains came to speed nitrogen uptake, says Mr Wakefield, who manages 574 (1418 acres) of chalky boulder clay in the Bury/Ramsey area for Lindsay Mason.
Although all his Brigadier and Consort remained standing, about 5% of the Reaper, one of the weakest strawed varieties on NIABs recommended list, went down.
He blames root, not stem lodging. There was no sign of stem base disease and stems remained stiff, he says. But along old ditch lines and beneath trees the same loose seed-beds that caused very uneven crop emergence also caused root lodging, comments Mr Wakefield. Once the soil was softened by heavy June rain the accompanying wind pushed plants over.
Last seasons programme, tailored to cope with the unusual conditions, comprised Meteor (chlormequat + choline chloride + imazaquin) at 1.0l/ha on March 2 and 0.5l/ha plus 1.51 of 70% chlormequat on Mar 31, costing £5.10/ha and £5.14/ha respectively. Precise rates depended on variety and field fertility.
"The wheats uneven emergence made accurate timing difficult," recalls Mr Wakefield.
"The growth stage in the most variable crops ranged from GS18 to 28 when the first dose was applied. Its purpose, which we achieved, was to level up the plants and increase rooting depth as well as root mass.
"The main aim of the second dose was to strengthen the straw, and the effect was still very apparent when we applied the ear wash," he says. "Plants sprang back up behind the sprayer wheels like steel rods."
Inadequate seed-bed consolidation and soil softened by June downpours caused this Reapers root lodging, says Cambs grower David Wakefield (inset).
Inadequate seed-bed consolidation and soil softened by June downpours caused this Reapers root lodging, says Cambs grower David Wakefield (inset).