- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Editor: Mark Lundy
Long dry periods are not uncommon in the Sacramento Valley between January and February. Despite the early season downpours, rainfall for the 2021-22 water year is dropping back to below average (Figure 1), and there is no rain on the near-term horizon. As a result, wheat growers may be debating whether to irrigate. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Stress during the rapid growth phases can reduce wheat yield substantially
The amount of water needed to avoid plant stress at early vegetative growth stages is relatively little compared to later in the season (Table 1, see:
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
Join us from 9 a.m.- 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 29th for a short online demonstration/webinar on several powerful nitrogen management webtools that have been developed by UC researchers, including case studies from this year in the Sacramento Valley.
This webinar is free of charge and open to the public.
Click here for the full agenda and Zoom link
Please register by clicking the link below (required for CE units).
CE Units: CURES (1.0)
Other topics...
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Editor: Brad Hanson
- Editor: Mark Lundy
Summary Note
Mechanical cultivation is a useful tool in controlling herbicide-resistant Italian ryegrass individuals in a rainfed wheat system but is only about half as effective as Axial in reducing overall pressure from Italian ryegrass (expressed as a percentage of total groundcover). Growers should consider multiple approaches (chemical and mechanical) and integrate IPM strategies to reduce the spread of resistance among Italian ryegrass individuals.
Background
Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) has been shown to be a persistent weed for growers in rainfed winter grass systems. It is particularly problematic due to its...
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Co-author: Sarah Light
Wheat season is a few months away, but after a pathogen-friendly winter, growers may want to keep an eye out for fungal diseases in the coming season. Warmer temperatures and consistent rainfall last winter created an ideal environment for diseases of winter grasses in the southern Sacramento Valley. High disease rates last year meant some depressed yields in susceptible fields and, if conditions are right, could potentially lead to greater outbreaks next year due to higher inoculum loads.
Septoria leaf blotch (also known as septoria tritici blotch, STB) is caused by the fungal...
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
South Sacramento Valley Wheat and Barley Field Demonstration Day
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 8:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
23947 Road 13, Capay, CA
8:45 a.m. Registration, Coffee, and Donuts
9:00 a.m. Italian Ryegrass: Updates on Cultivation vs Herbicide Trials: resistance and methods for control
Konrad Mathesius, UCCE Agronomy Advisor, Yolo, Sacramento, and Solano
9:15 a.m. Herbicide Programs for Barley...