Agronomic and Quality Response of Hard Red Spring Wheat Genotypes to Management Systems in South Dakota

Abstract

Intensive cereals management techniques such as multiple fungicide applications and in-season split N applications have been used to successfully improve wheat yields in Europe and in some winter wheat production areas of the USA. However, research on the effects of these management practices and their interaction with genotypes is limited in the hard red spring wheat (HRSW) production areas of the USA. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare management treatments and (ii) quantify any interaction effects between management and genotype on the agronomic characteristics and relevant flour and dough properties of locally-adapted HRSW genotypes. A randomized complete block design in a split plot arrangement was implemented with five management treatments as the main plot and sixteen HRSW genotypes as the subplots over four siteyears in South Dakota. While management strategies involving delayed N fertilizer application and fungicide application at anthesis seemed to have positive effects on grain yield and grain protein content, confounding environmental factors make these findings inconclusive. No predictable management by genotype interactions were observed for any of the agronomic traits. Differences between management treatments and genotypes alone were much more consistent than interaction effects between management system and genotype. Flour protein, flour yield, Mixograph envelope peak time, and Mixograph envelope peak value were also collected for two replications from each site-year. While management treatment seemed to have an effect on flour yield and flour protein content, effects were inconsistent. There were no management treatment effects on either of the mixing parameters. No management by genotype interaction was observed. Results from this study indicated that, for both agronomic characteristics and quality parameters (i) HRSW genotypes did not respond consistently to intensive management techniques in the rain-fed areas of central South Dakota, and (ii) any genotype by management interaction effects were minimal compared to the main effects of genotype and environment