Yields were above the 4 year mean in the Southland (the trials escaped most of the frost damage that occurred in commercial crops) and Manawatu trials. However, this season was a challenging one for Canterbury growers and trials. The very wet May and colder than average winter had a negative effect on crop establishment. Mean temperatures over November and December were up 15% plus on the long term mean. The high temperatures reduced the grain fill period and therefore also reduced yield potential. Also, crops were subjected to gale force winds in late December causing lodging in some trials. There was significant hessian fly infestation in the Chertsey trials, although assessment showed cultivars were infested equally.
Yields for the Canterbury autumn sown cereals trials were all down on the 4 year mean from 10% for the St. Andrews feed/biscuit wheat to 30% for the Methven milling wheat trials. In trials with significant lodging some of the cultivar rankings this season changed in comparison with the 4 year mean rankings. Cultivars more susceptible to lodging e.g. Savannah and Claire had lower relative yields. These trials are indicated below each yield table. The 4 year mean yield tables will balance out the extreme effects of this season.
This past season we introduced three March sown feed/biscuit wheat trials, two at Chertsey (irrigated and dryland) and one at St Andrews. These trials assess potential yield gains from earlier sowing and which cultivars perform best in the earlier time slot. At St Andrews the earlier March sowing resulted in an average additional 0.6 t/ha over the April sowing time for those cultivars in both trials. The increase ranged from 0.3 t/ha for Phoenix to 0.9 t/ha for Richmond. At the FAR Chertsey Arable Site, there was no yield advantage from the earlier sowing time this season.
The Cereal Performance Trials (CPT) were again a cooperative effort between FAR, several of the major seed companies and the Flour Millers Association. FAR manages CPT2 which is the second stage of cultivar testing where the commercial (and a few pre-commercial) cultivars are evaluated. With CPT1 there is collaboration between the seed companies for testing advanced breeders’ material from which the most favourable cultivars progress into CPT2.
FAR welcomes any queries or suggestions to further improve these booklets, or if you require any additional information that we have not included please contact us.
Rob Craigie
Project Manager