Frost seeding increases spring cereal yield

Abstract

Short growing season and mid-summer heat and drought are limiting factors for spring cereal production in Canada, suggesting that higher and more stable yields may be possible if the seeding date occurred earlier in the spring. Field trials were conducted in southern Ontario in 2003 and 2004 to compare development and yield potential of frost (early April) and conventional (late April–earlyMay) seeded hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and oat (Avena sativa L.) established using commercially available no-till planting equipment. Frost seeding had lower plant populations than conventional seeding, with pre-tillering plant population reductions for frost seeding averaging 44 plants m−2 (12%) for wheat and 27 plants m−2 (10%) for oats. In spite of lower plant population, frost seeding yields were higher than conventional seeding, with yield increases averaging 0.66 Mg ha−1 (24%) for wheat, 0.72 Mg ha−1 (20%) for oats, and 0.36 Mg ha−1 (11%, 2004 only) for barley. Frost seeded cereals had earlier occurrence of key phenological stages with average heading dates for frost seeded wheat and barley occurring 5 d earlier. Frost seeded cereals also had a longer vegetative period, which, along with earlier heading dates, contributed to increased yields for frost seeded cereals. Key words spring wheat, spring barley, oat, frost seeding, planting date.