This is the eighth publication of grain performance trials in the Tanana River Valley. The first, published
7 years ago, included the results of spring cereal-variety tests conducted at Fairbanks and Delta Junction
during the 1978 and 1979 growing seasons. Beginning in 1980, the variety-test results were annual publications.
This report, like last year’s, is a shorter version than the first 6 publications of the series. It reflects
continued budget constraints caused by Alaska’s sagging economy

Hanscom, J.T.

Van Veldhuizen, R.M.

Wooding, F.J.

English

ScholarWorks@UA

PERFORMANCE ofCEREAL CROPS in theTANANA RIVER VALLEYofALASKA 1986F.J. Wooding J.T. Hanscom R.M. Van VeldhuizenAgricultural and Forestry Experiment Station School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management University of AlaskaJames V. Drew, Dean and DirectorCircular 62 June 1987R A SM U SO N  LIB R A R YUNIVERSITY OF ALASKA-FAIRBAN KSCircu.1 <xr o f  Ata-s-La, Fa\^bcu-,W.s.^  f o p .e s + f t /  E ^ p a e i  r n e n t  3 t a . f i  o r T ) "ot-OtPerformance of Cereal Crops in the Tanana River Valley of Alaska 1986F .J . W oodingP ro fe sso r o f  A gronom yJ .T . H anscomA gronom y R esearch  A ideR .M . Van VeldhuizenA gro n o m y  R esearch  A ideA l k s k aA g ricu ltu ra l and  F o res try  E x p erim en t S tation School o f  A g ricu ltu re  and L and  R esources M anagem en t U n iversity  o f  A laskaHO. (o 2 ^Jam es V . D rew , D ean  and D irec to rC ircu la r  62ic u - ll  u -R a LJune 1987RASM USON l i b r a r yUNIVERSITY OF ALASKA-FAIRBANKSIntroductionThis is the eighth publication of grain performance trials in the Tanana River Valley. The first, published 7 years ago, included the results of spring cereal-variety tests conducted at Fairbanks and Delta Junction during the 1978 and 1979 growing seasons. Beginning in 1980, the variety-test results were annual publica­tions. This report, like last year’s, is a shorter version than the first 6 publications of the series. It reflects continued budget constraints caused by Alaska’s sagging economy.Tanana Valley Weather SummaryThe farming area near Delta Junction had a cool, dry growing season in 1986 (table 1). For the period May through September, the weather station reported 7.73 inches of precipitation compared to 9.04 inches for the long-term average. Precipitation for May, June, August, and September was below normal. July was the only wet month with 3.0 inches being recorded. M oisture deficits early in the growing season caused reduced tillering of grain seedlings and resulted in yields which were somewhat lower than long-term averages. However, rainfall from July to the end of the growing season was ade­quate for grain filling and maturation. Good test weights were recorded for most barley and oat varieties.Table 1. Climatic Data for Delta Junction during the 1986 Growing Season.1May June July August SeptemberTemp. (°F) daily max. daily min. daily mean53.5 ( - 3 . 6 ) 2 34.7 ( - 2 .2 )  44.1 ( - 2 .9 )68.3 (+ 1 .2 )  47.7 (+ 0 .6 )  58.0 (+ 0 .9 )68.9 ( - 0 .2 )51.0  (+ 0 .9 )60.0 (+ 0 .4 )61.5 ( - 2 .5 )45.3  ( - 0 .3 )53.4  ( - 1 .4 )53.5 (+ 1 .7 )  35.2 ( - 0 .1 )  44.4  (+ 0 .8 )Precip. (in.) 0.27 ( -0 .5 9 ) 1.63 ( -0 .6 3 ) 3.00 ( +  0.32) 1.67 ( -0 .3 3 ) 1.16 ( - 0 .0 8 )’W eather station is 14 miles from test site2Values in parentheses represent deviations from a 24-year average.The cool temperatures recorded in May caused grain crops to get off to a slow start in Delta Junc­tion. However, a warm June and near normal temperatures for July made it possible for barley and oats to mature on schedule. W heat, having a longer growing season requirement than barley or oats, was adversely effected by cooler than normal temperatures in August. The test weights recorded for most wheat varieties were well below the standard of 60 pounds per bushel.Total precipitation for the 1986 growing season, May through September, was slightly below average at the Fairbanks recording station (table 2). Fairbanks received 7.81 inches compared with 8.18 inches for the long-term average. However, moisture deficits occurred in 3 out of 5 months, with only July and August showing a surplus. Poor soil moisture at the start of the growing season, together with lower than normal rainfall in May and June, resulted in grain yields that were noticeably less than long-ter:;i averages.Table 2. Climatic Data for Fairbanks during the 1986 Growing Season.1May June July August SeptemberTemp (°F) daily max. daily min. daily mean Precip. (in.)58.7 ( —1.5)2 34.4 ( +  0.8) 46.6  ( - 0 .3 )  0.43 ( - 0 .3 7 )73.4 (+ 1 .7 )48.5 (+ 4 .4 )  61.0 ( +  3.1) 0.89 ( - 0 .5 9 )73.6 (+ 0 .9 )51.4 (+ 4 .6 )62.5 ( +  2.7) 2.85 (+ 0 .7 5 )64.3 ( - 3 .0 )43.3  (+ 0 .3 )  53.8 ( - 1 .4 )  2.90 (+ 0 .4 6 )55.2 ( - 0 .2 )  36.6 ( +  3.0) 45.9  (+ 1 .4 )  0.74 ( - 0 .6 2 )'W eather station is 400 yards from test site.2Values in parentheses represent deviations from a 34-year average.Daily maximum temperatures at Fairbanks for 1986 were cooler than norm al in May and August. Warm temperatures in June and July hastened the maturation of all grain crops. Most barley varieties were mature by the end of the first week of August. However, cool, wet conditions during August delayed drying in the field and caused some difficulties with harvest. M aturity dates for most grain crops were close to long-term averages.Standard VarietiesStandard varieties, as defined for this report, are varieties that have performed well consistently in tests conducted in at least two Tanana Valley locations over a period of several years. Standard varieties are used as a means for evaluating new entries in the variety trials each year. Comparisons are made with regard to yield, maturity, quality, and growth measurements. Table 3 shows the long-term perfor­mance of barley, oat, and wheat standard varieties grown at test sites located near Fairbanks and Delta Junction.Datal, Galt, Otal, Otra, Thual, and Weal are the standard barley varieties for the Tanana Valley. These are all 6-row barleys, and the grain is grown prim arily for use as animal feeds. Thual is a hulless barley which is currently being used as an ingredient in dog feeds. Weal is a hooded barley which can also be used as an annual forage crop. Otal matures the earliest of the standards, with Datal, Otra, Weal, Thual, and Galt maturing 1, 3, 7, 8, and 12 days later, respectively.Athabasca, Cascade, Nip, and Toral are the standard oat varieties. Nip is a black-hulled oat while the other three varieties are yellow in color. Nip and Athabasca mature at about the same time and are the earliest of the oat standards. Toral and Cascade mature 5 and 10 days later, respectively, than Nip and Athabasca.Chena, Gasser, Ingal, Nogal, and Park, are the standard wheat varieties. These are all hard red spring wheats, which is the only class of wheat having very early maturity, a characteristic that is essen­tial for successful wheat production in Alaska. Ingal matures the earliest of the standards, with Nogal, Gasser, Chena, and Park maturing 1, 6, 7, and 10 days later, respectively.Table 3. Long-Term Average and Range of Yields for Barley, Oat, and Wheat Standard______________Varieties Grown at Fairbanks and Delta Junction (bu/acre).CropVarietyFairbanks Delta JunctionAverageYieldRange of YieldsYears o f  TestingAverageYieldRange of YieldsYears of TestingBarleyDatal 74 47-97 8 75 33-105 8Galt 92 50-127 15 70 28-101 15Otal 68 40-95 8 77 39-97 8Otra 79 39-100 15 77 33-123 15Thual 60 40-77 4 57 21-79 4Weal 78 43-125 15 63 31-96 15OatAthabasca 121 87-149 7 132 58-172 8Cascade 140 114-172 6 145 49-203 6Nip 120 52-159 15 109 45-183 15Toral 131 67-204 15 120 52-197 15WheatChena 70 40-87 14 45 14-80 14Gasser 54 33-75 15 39 12-69 15Ingal 55 18-74 10 40 6-64 9Nogal 59 40-69 6 44 5-73 6Park 59 25-76 15 34 9-57 15MethodsThe Fairbanks test site was situated on a Tanana silt loam soil (pH 6.8) which had been cleared and in production for about 58 years. The land was planted to forage oats the previous year, and the stubble received a late summer tillage. The Delta Junction test site was situated on a Nenana silt loam soil (pH 5.8) which had been cleared for 6 years. The land was fallowed the previous summer. At both sites, fertilizers were applied in the spring with a gravity-flow broadcast spreader and tilled into the soil during seedbed preparation. Plant nutrients were supplied at a rate of 90 lbs N/acre, 60 lbs P205/acre, 60 lbs K20/acre, 10 lbs S/acre, and 0.5 lb B/acre.Prior to planting, barley and wheat seeds were treated with Vitavax fungicide. Oats received no seed treatment. All grains were planted in rows 7 inches wide, at a depth of 1.5 inches, with a V-belt seeder equipped with a press wheel. Barley was planted at a seeding rate of 72 lbs/acre, wheat at 90 lbs/acre, and oats at 100 lbs/acre. The Delta Junction trials were planted on May 14, and the Fairbanks trials were planted on May 9. Weeds were controlled with a postemergence application of Brominal.1985 Test Results and Variety DescriptionsTable 4 gives the results of barley, oat, and wheat variety trials conducted at Fairbanks and Delta Junction during the 1986 growing season. Jackson and Svendel were the new entries in the barley varie­ty trials that stimulated the most interest among grain growers. Jackson, a 6-row barley from Alberta, produced disappointing yields. At Delta Junction, the 50 bu/acre yield of Jackson was well below yields of all the standard varieties. However, the 49 lb/bu test weight, good resistance to lodging, and early maturity warrants continued testing of this variety. Svendel is a 6-row, early-maturing barley developed by a Delta Junction seed producer. At Delta Junction, Svendel out-performed Weal, Otra, and Thual, but was exceeded in yield by Otal, Datal, and Galt. At Fairbanks, Svendel produced a yield that was about equal to Otal, Otra, and Thual, but was less than Galt, Datal, and Weal. Testing of this variety will continue in 1987.H ankkija’s Eero , H ankkija’s Pokko, and Jo 1184 (Arra) are three barley varieties that have perform ­ed well in interior Alaka trials conducted over a 5-year period. In 1986, foundation seed for these barleys was purchased from Finland and initial seed increases were successfully grown at two Alaska locations. In 1987, registered seed of these varieties will be distributed to a select group of Alaska farmers for production of certified seed.At both test sites, oat yields were generally lower than long-term averages. Pol, a very early-maturing Swedish oat, produced the highest yield (106 bu/acre) at Delta Junction. The cooler than normal August temperatures at this location favored Pol over varieties requiring a longer growing season. For the se­cond year in a row, Calibre produced the highest oat yield (121 bu/acre) at Fairbanks. Calibre is a late maturing variety from Saskatchewan.Overall, 1986 wheat yields at Delta Junction can be described as mediocre when compared to long­term averages. ACA 2569 MS 57-8, an experimental line from Norway, produced the highest yield (50 bu/acre). The cool August temperatures were likely responsible for substandard test weights of wheat. No variety produced a test weight equal to or greater than the standard of 60 lbs/bu. Gasser and Park both had a test weight of 56 lbs/bu which was the highest recorded at this location. The wheat trials at Fairbanks had yields that were a little below long-term averages. However, most varieties had good test weights. The highest yield recorded at this test site was 59 bu/acre by Taipio, a late maturing Finnish variety.The origin and some selected characteristics of grain varieties included in the 1986 testing program are presented in Table 5. Appended to this report of results for the 1986 growing season are complete listings for all spring barley, oat, and wheat varieties tested since 1971 at Fairbanks and Delta Junction by the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (Appendix tables A-l, 2, and 3).Table 4. Grain Variety Trials Conducted at Delta Junction and FairbanksDuring the 1986 Growing Season.Variety or Experimental LineDelta Junction University Research FarmFairbanks University FarmYield Test weight2 Yield Test weight2(bu/acre) (lbs/bu) (bu/acre) (lbs/bu)BarleyACA 2563 H349-204 69 47 43 43ACA 2564 H349-220 61 45 45 44ACA 2566 H349-348 72 46 57 45Andre 57 49 50 48Bowman 54 48 33 47Datal1 69 46 47 45Galt' 75 46 50 47Hankkija’s Eero 90 46 49 40Hankkija’s Pokko 85 45 53 42Heartland 91 47 25 44Jackson 50 49 38 45Jokioinen 1184 (Arra) 77 46 43 43Klages 62 48 48 47Otal' 74 49 40 43Otra1 57 45 39 40Samson 41 42 45 43Svendel 63 47 40 44Thual (hulless)' 56 613 40 54Tupper (hulless) 44 583 40 53Weal' 56 40 52 34Average 65 463 44 443OatACA 2575-9063Voll/Selma 102 33 71 31Athabasca1 105 39 87 36Calibre 84 37 121 41Cascade' 99 39 115 37Fidler 96 33 87 36Jasper 88 38 99 36Nip' 91 36 77 32OT 736 99 36 98 34OT 745 102 40 112 38Pol 106 34 79 29Toral' 99 38 83 36Average 97 37 94 35WheatACA 2569 MS57-8 50 54 52 61ACA 2571 MS273-150 42 54 50 61Benito 30 50 46 62Canuck 36 51 53 62Chena' 39 54 40 56Gasser' 42 56 37 56Katepwa 32 51 50 62Nogal' 46 54 40 56Park' 33 56 42 60Taava 43 50 55 60Tapio 47 54 59 61Ulla 44 53 44 59Average 41 53 47 59'Standard variety.2The standard test weights for the above crops are as follows: barley, 48 lbs/bu; oats, 32 lbs/bu; and wheat, 60 lbs/bu. 3Test weights for hulless barleys were not included in the average.Table 5. Origin and Characteristics of Grain VarietiesTested in 1986.Crop variety OriginMaturityclassResistance to lodging DescriptionBarleyACA 2563 H349-204 Norway early fair 6-ro.wACA 2564 H349-220 Norway early excellent 6-rowACA 2566 H349-348 Norway early fair 6-rowAndre Washington late fair 2-rowBowman North Dakota late excellent 2-rowDatal Alaska very early fair 6-rowGalt Alberta medium good 6-rowHankkija’s Eero Finland early good 6-row, semi-dw.Hankkija’s Pokko Finland medium good 6-rowHeartland Manitoba late excellent 6-rowJackson Alberta early good 6-rowJokioinen 1184 (Arra) Finland very early fair 6-rowKlages Idaho late fair 2-rowOtal Alaska very early fair 6-rowOtra Finland very early fair 6-rowSamson Alberta late excellent 6-rowSvendel Alaska early good 6-rowThual Alaska medium fair 6-row, hullessTupper Saskatchewan medium good 6-row, hullessWeal Alaska early good 6-row, hoodedOatACA 2575-9063Voll/Selma Norway very early excellent yellow, shortAthabasca Alberta very early excellent yellow , shortCalibre Saskatchewan late excellent yellow, med. ht.Cascade Alberta medium excellent yellow, med. ht.Fidler Saskatchewan late excellent yellow, med. ht.Jasper Alberta early excellent yellow , med. ht.Nip Sweden very early good black, med. ht.OT 736 Alberta medium excellent yellow , med. ht.OT 745 Alberta medium excellent yellow , med. ht.Pol Sweden very early good yellow , shortToral Alaska early good yellow , med. ht.WheatACA 2569 MS57-8 Norway medium excellent shortACA 2571 M S273-150 Norway early excellent shortBenito Manitoba late excellent shortCanuck Manitoba late good med. ht.Chena Finland early fair med. ht.Gasser Alaska early poor med. ht.Ingal Alaska very early fair shortKatepwa Manitoba medium good shortNogal Alaska very early fair med. ht.Park Alberta early good med. ht.Taava Finland late excellent med. ht.Tapio Finland late excellent med. ht.Ulla Finland medium excellent med. ht.AppendixTable A -l. Barley Varieties Tested at Fairbanks and Delta Junction, 1971-1986.Variety or Experimental LineYears of testing Variety or Years of testingFairbanks Delta Junction Experimental Line Fairbanks Delta JunctionAbee 2 2 Jubilee 4 4AC A 2561 M 268 2 2 Karl 1 1ACA 2562 P 693 2 2 Klages 1 1ACA 2563 H 349-204 3 3 Klondike 1 2ACA 2564 H 349-220 3 3 Larker 1 1ACA 2565 H 349-347 2 2 Lidal 11 10ACA 2566 H 349-348 3 3 Leduc 1 1Advance 1 1 Lot EX1-N 1 1Amy 1 1 Lud 2 2Andre 1 1 Mari 2 2Argyl 1 1 Massey 1 1Balder 3 2 Melvin 4 5Beacon 1 1 Mingo 1 1Bedford 1 1 Moravian III 1 1Belle 1 1 Norbert 1 1Betzes 6 5 Nova 1 1Bode 1 1 NRGB 79-2 1 1Bonanza 3 3 Olli 7 6Bonus 2 3 Onda 1 1Bowman 1 1 Otis 2 0Brock 2 0 Otal 8 8Br 6505-5 2 0 Otra 12 14Br 6505-21 2 0 Paavo 7 8Br 6505-31-1 2 0 Palliser 4 2BT 334 (Johnston) 2 2 Paragon 2 0BT 521 (Samson) 3 3 Parkland 2 0Carlsberg II 1 1 Piroline 3 2Cathy 1 1 Poco 1 1Centennial 1 2 Polaris 4 4Conquest 2 0 Prilar 1 0Cree 1 1 Primus II 2 1Datal 8 8 Rovaniemi Sel. 70-B (Finnaska) 6 5Diamond 1 1 Scout hulless 2 2Dickson 1 0 Shabet 5 6Dolores 1 1 Stanka 3 1Early Carlsberg II 1 1 Steptoe 3 3Early Freja 1 1 Strom 1 1Early Hannchen 1 1 Summit 2 3Edda 8 7 Svendel 1 1Elrose 1 1 Thual hulless 4 4Empress 2 2 Tibet hulless 5 3Erbet 1 1 Trebi 1 0Ershabet 2 2 Triumph 3 3Etu 1 1 T rophy 1 0Exp HV No.9 1 1 Tupper hulless 2 2Exp HV No. 14 1 1 Unitan 1 0Fairfield 3 4 Vale 70 1 1Fergus 2 0 Weal 16 15Firlbecks III 2 1 Weal Selection 1 1Freja 1 1 Windsor 2 3Frontier 1 0 62 II-62-2-378-411 3 3Galt 16 15 66 11-62-1-209-204 1 1Gateway 63 5 5 66 11-62-2-174-191 3 3Hankkija’s 72802 2 2 66 11-62-3-9-9 2 2Hankkija 673 1 2 66 II-62-3-12-12 1 1Hankkija’s Aappo 1 1 67-38 1 1Hankkija’s Eero 8 9 67-488-999 3 3Hankkija’s Pokko 5 5 67-942-241 2 2Hannchen 1 1 68-3 1 1Harrington 1 1 70-1591-14-11 1 0Heartland 1 1 71-584-58 1 0Herta 1 0 71-991-63 1 0Hiland 1 0 71 11-67-18-1 1 0HV #52 1 1 71 11-67-19-91 1 0Hyproly 1 0 71 11-67-21-111 1 0Hyproly Normal 1 0 71 11-67-22-6 1 0Jackson 1 1 71 11-67-22-18 1 0Jokioinen 1103 4 4 71 11-67-22-125 1 0Jokioinen 1184 (Arra) 5 5 71 11-67-22-149 1 0Jokioinen 1315 4 4 74 Ab 4302 1 17A ppendixTable A-2. Oat Varieties Tested at Fairbanks and Delta Junction, 1971-1986.Variety or Experimental LineYears o f testing Fairbanks Delta JunctionVariety or Experimental LineYears o f testing Fairbanks Delta JunctionACA 2575-9063 Voll/Selma 3 3 Markton 1 0Astro 1 1 Nip 16 15Athabasca 7 8 OAC Woodstock 2 2Calibre 3 3 Ogle 1 1Cascade 6 6 Orbit 2 2Cavell 6 5 OT 736 1 1Cayuse 6 5 OT 745 1 1Ceal 6 5 Pendek 12 12Cherokee 1 0 Pol 5 5Chief 1 1 Puhti 1 1Clark 1 1 Random 6 5Cody II 1 0 Rapida 1 0Dumont 2 2 Rodney 13 12Eagle 3 3 Rovaniemi Sel. (Orion) 2 2Fidler 3 3 Russell 2 1Foothill 2 3 Sioux 4 3Frazer 5 5 Spear 1 1Garry 2 1 Terra 1 2Gemini 0 1 Toral 16 15Glen 5 4 Valko 1 1Golden Rain 3 2 Vicland 1 0Grizzly 4 4 Victory 5Harmon 6 5 Vouti 1 1Hinoat 0 1 61 II-55-21-25-8 1 1Hudson 4 3 61 11-55-21-58-14 1 1Jasper 1 1 61 11-55-21-15-5 5Kelsey 4 3 65 11-58-10-4-3 1 1Larry 1 1 65 X-58-26-3-2 1 1Laurent 2 2 65 X-58-33-2-2 1 18AppendixTable A-3. Wheat Varieties Tested at Fairbanks and Delta Junction, 1971-1986.Variety or Experimental LineYears o f testing Variety orYears o f testingFairbanks DeltaJunctionExperimental Line Fairbanks DeltaJunctionACA 2569 MS 57-8 3 3 MT 6728 (Isoline) 4 4ACA 2570 MS 57-144 2 2 Napayo 0 1ACA 2571 MS 273-150 3 3 Neepawa 4 5Anza 1 0 Nogal 6 6Arabian 1 1 Norana 1 1Benito 1 1 Opal 1 0Butte 1 1 Pac. Triple Dwarf 1 0Can thatch 6 4 Park 16 16Canuck 1 1 Peak 72 0 1Capa 1 0 Pitic 62 7 5Carpo 1 0 Polk 1 1Colano 2 1 Rovaniemi Se. 70-W (Chena) 14 14Columbus 1 1 Ruso 8 6Crim 2 0 Saunders 7 6Dundas 2 2 Selkrik 2 1ECM 316 1 0 Sheridan 2 0Fletcher 1 0 Siberian Bearded 3 2Fortuna 2 1 Siberian Beardless 3 2Garnet 1 0 Sinton 2 2Gasser 16 16 Sonora 64 1 0Glenlea 0 1 Springfield 0 1Idaed 1 0 Taava 5 5Ingal 10 10 Tapio 5 5Katepwa 1 1 Thatcher 7 6Kharkov (spr.) 2 1 Thatcher (insens.) 1 0Kitt 1 0 Ulla 5 5Leader 1 1 Vernon 2 2Lemhi 66 1 0 Wakooma 1 1Macoun 1 1 Wascana 1 1Manitou 4 2 WS 1502 1 0Mexipak 2 1 6WA 637 2MN 7083 1 0 6WA 666 1 0MN 70113 1 0 6WA 675 1 0MT 676 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 679 1 0MT 671 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 688 1 0MT 677 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 693 1 0MT 6711 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 699 1MT 6717 (Isoline) 1 1 6WA 701 1 0MT 6721 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 725 1 0MT 6722 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 735 2 1MT 6723 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 746 5 3MT 6725 (Isoline) 1 0 6WA 748 1 0MT 6727 (Isoline) 1 0 5560 II-53-1-45-2 4 49R ASM USON LIBRARYUNIVERSITY OF ALASKA-FAIRBANKSThe University o f Alaska-Fairbanks is an equal-opportunity educational institution and an affirmative-action employer.In order to simplify terminology, trade names of products or equipment may have been used in this publication. No endorsement o f products or firms mentioned is intended, nor is criticism implied of those not mentioned.Material appearing herein may be reprinted provided no endorsement of a commercial product is stated or im­plied. Please credit the researchers involved and the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

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