Plant breeder slams NIABlist trials system…
Plant breeder slams NIABlist trials system…
By Robert Harris
WHEAT growers who base crop choice on Recommended List trial results may not be growing the most suitable varieties on their farms.
A reassessment of the trialling system is needed for a more accurate guide to variety potential, John Blackman, technical director of Cambs-based plant breeder CPB Twyford, told the Association of Independent Crop Consultants conference in Buxton, Derbys.
National List trials, from which varieties are selected for Recommended List trialling after two years, at least reflect how varieties will perform in the east where the highest concentration of crop is grown, he said. Results from breeders trials based in eastern England are taken into account.
However, the east loses its advantage at the Recommended List stage, he believed. "There is a very broad scatter of 25 trials across the country."
The distribution takes no account of crop concentration, he added. "Ten of the trials in the north represent less than 10% of the wheat area, including two trials in Northern Ireland where only 6000ha of wheat is grown. Lincolnshire has the same number, but accounts for 213,000ha."
Regional recommendations away from the east are shaky, due to the small number of trials involved in any one area, he said.
Trial protocols do not necessarily reflect current farm practice, notably sowing date, he maintained.
"That has the biggest effect on yield and hence variety ranking." Disease control falls short, he added.
Improvements could be made by diverting money from other crop trials, Mr Blackman said.
ed. Winter barley is tested on 24 sites, yet accounts for about one-third of the total wheat area. Winter and spring oats are grown on 19 sites, but only 95,000ha are grown across the country. "Each oat trial represents 5000ha of crop, compared with 80,000ha for each wheat trial. That is a little extreme."
Current Recommended List variety trials could mislead growers on variety choice, says CPBTwyfords John Blackman (inset).
TRIALS TUSSLE
• Does cereal trials system give true yield potential?
• Demand for more trials sites where crops are grown most.
• One trial for every 5000ha of oats grown; but only one trial for each 80,000ha of wheat.
• NIAB says system dictated by budget and statistics.