- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
The results of the 2017 UCCE Delta field corn variety trial, located on Tyler Island, are shown in Table 1 (below). Three replicate blocks of fifteen varieties were planted on May 9th by air planter. The trial was planted almost two weeks later than the 2016 trial, due to the wet winter and spring. The fifteen varieties included 14 varieties submitted by seed companies and one submitted by the grower. Glyphosate-tolerant and conventional varieties were tested; conventional varieties are indicated in Table 1 as (Conv.). Each plot consisted of four 30-inch beds on an average row length of 1218 feet. Seed was planted approximately two inches deep and six inches apart down the row. The soil is a Rindge mucky silt loam with approximately 20 percent organic matter in the top 15 inches of soil. The Rindge series is a mucky peat soil down to about 60 inches, and approximately 55,600 acres in the Delta are described by the Rindge classification. The previous crop in the field was corn. Subsurface irrigation by “spud ditch” was employed three times. Nitrogen was applied pre-plant (125 units/acre as NH3), and 34 gallons/acre of 8-24-6 with ½% of zinc (additional 31 units/acre of N) was knifed in at planting. Weed control was by cultivation and herbicide program (Laudis, Crosshair, Super Spread MSO, UAN 32%). Onager miticide was applied. The field was harvested on October 18th.
Stand counts were made approximately two weeks after planting, and bloom was assessed over the week of July 10th. While bloom occurred later this year due to the later planting, the number of days to bloom was less than in 2016. Across all varieties, the average number of days to bloom was 65, compared to 70 in 2016. This is likely due to warmer temperatures in 2017 compared to 2016. The average high temperature between planting and bloom was 86⁰F, and the average low temperature was 52⁰F. There were three days above 100⁰F during the time from planting to bloom, and a total of 11 days over 100⁰F for the season. Whereas, between planting and bloom in 2016, the average high temperature was 84⁰F, the average low temperature was 50⁰F, and there was one day above 100⁰F, (six total for the season). (Temperature data is from the neighboring Staten Island CIMIS station.)
We monitored disease incidence and plant lodging in late September. At that time, very little lodging was observed, as indicated by the data. Heavy winds occurred in early October, however, between rating lodging and harvesting the crop. At harvest, we observed more lodging but did not collect additional data. Based on observations, varieties MY 2D848, ES 7622VT3P, and DKC 63-07RIB experienced more lodging than other varieties from the early-October winds.
The table presents mean values for the three replicates. The statistical method used to compare the means is called Tukey's range test. Varieties were considered statistically different if their P value was less than 0.05, or 5 percent. What this means is that when differences between varieties exist, we are 95% certain that the two varieties are actually different; the results are not due to random chance. Differences between varieties are indicated by different letters following the mean. For example, a variety that has only the letter “a” after the mean yield value is different from a variety that is followed by only the letter “b”, but it is not different from a variety whose mean value is followed by both letters (“ab”). Similarly, a variety whose mean yield is followed by the letters “ab” is not different from a variety whose mean yield is followed by the letters “bc”. Twelve varieties have a letter “a” following their mean yield, which means that those twelve varieties all performed similarly in the trial. In other words, based on this research, we cannot attribute numerical differences to variety differences. Among varieties, there were also statistical differences in bloom date, ear height, grain moisture, and bushelweight. The CV, or coefficient of variation, is the standard deviation divided by the mean, or a measure of variability in relation to the mean. For the diseases, the variability among the three replicates was very high.
Special thanks go to the cooperating growers and seed companies. This report is available from my website.
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
- Contributor: Mark Lundy
- Contributor: Nicolas George
Fall has arrived, and for many crops, this means that it is harvest season. For small grains, however, the season starts anew. The UC Davis small grains variety evaluations are conducted across the state, including a site in the Delta. The results of last year's evaluations are now available, and we invite you to take a look as you prepare to plant your new crop.
To understand trends over time, we suggest reviewing the 3-year summaries, which are available from the link “Yield and Protein Summary” for common wheat and triticale. These summaries indicate which varieties performed consistently well over time. For these summaries, the Delta is grouped with other Sacramento Valley locations. The data indicated that the varieties performed similarly between the Sacramento Valley and the Delta, compared to the San Joaquin Valley and the Delta. This is probably due to similar climatic considerations, like rainfall and temperature. The 3-year summaries rank the varieties for both yield and protein. In the future, rather than tables, the research team will develop an online tool to assist with variety selection that will take both yield and protein into account. Stay tuned for more information on this tool.
Keep in mind that disease ratings are important considerations. Disease ratings are found here, where “S” indicates susceptible varieties and “R” indicates resistant ones. Additionally, some of these varieties are in initial stages of testing, so not all of them are commercially available. Look for whether the variety is “released”, which is indicated on the data tables.
Barley and durum wheat were also evaluated at certain locations but not in the Delta. We will continue trialing small grain varieties in the Delta in 2018.
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
The UC Cooperative Extension Delta Corn and Sorghum Field Meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, from 10:00am to noon, on Tyler Island in Sacramento County. The agenda is pasted below and attached. The attached version includes a map and directions to the field site. We have applied for CCA continuing education credits, and light refreshments will be provided. RSVP is not required. Hope to see you in the field!
Agenda:
10:00am Field corn variety evaluation – preliminary results, Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE, SJC/Delta
10:15am Variety traits for the Delta, Seed company representatives
10:30am Sorghum seeding rates for optimum productivity – preliminary results, Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE, SJC/Delta
10:45am Determining food availability for wintering waterfowl in Central Valley agricultural fields, Luke Matthews and John Eadie, UC Davis
11:00am Viewing of field plots
Meeting Agenda
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
The annual Alfalfa and Forage Field Day at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (9240 S. Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93648) will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Registration begins at 7:30am, and lunch is offered at the end of event. The event is free, and no registration is required.
Agenda
7:30 AM Registration
8:00 Tram leaves for field tour
- Alfalfa Varieties for Pest and Disease Management – Shannon Mueller, Agronomy Advisor and County Director, UCCE Fresno
- Remote Sensing in Sorghum to Phenotype Drought Stress – Jeffery Dahlberg, Director, Kearney Agriculture Research & Extension Center
- Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation Alfalfa Management – Daniel Putnam, CE Agronomy & Forage Specialist, UC Davis
9:15 Tram Returns
9:20 Managing Weeds in Agronomic Crop Rotations – Kurt Hembree, Weed Management Advisor, UCCE Fresno
9:40 Alfalfa Weevil Management – Rachael Long, Agronomy & Pest Management Advisor, UCCE Sacramento, Solano, & Yolo Counties
10:00 Managing Sugarcane Aphid in Forage Sorghum – Nicholas Clark, Agronomic Cropping Systems & Nutrient Management Advisor, UCCE Kings, Tulare, & Fresno Counties
10:20 Irrigation & Nitrogen Fertility Management in Forage Sorghum & Corn – Robert Hutmacher,CE Specialist, UC Davis, & Director of West Side Research & ExtensionCenter
10:40 Break
11:00 Irrigation Systems and Salinity Management in Forage Production– Daniel Munk, Agronomy & Irrigation Advisor, UCCE Fresno
11:20 Low Lignin Alfalfa & GMO vs. Conventional Varieties for Export – Dan Putnam, UC Davis
11:40 Optimizing Surface Irrigation in High Flow Systems – Marsha Campbell-Matthews, Agronomy Advisor Emeritus, UCCE Stanislaus
12:00 PM Lunch
Continuing Education Requested: DPR 1.5 hours of Other
For more information, contact Nicholas Clark at (559) 852-2788 or neclark@ucanr.edu.
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
Here are a few articles, written by UC Cooperative Extension colleagues, that may be of interest to readers of this blog:
From the UC Rice Blog:
Armyworm vs. High Temperature Blanking - by Luis Espino, Farm Advisor, Colusa County
From the UC Dry Bean Blog:
UC Davis Dry Bean Field Day Announcement - by Rachael Long, Farm Advisor, southern Sacramento Valley
From the UC Small Grains Blog:
Start Planning Your Nitrogen Management Strategy for Fall-Planted Wheat Now - by Mark Lundy, Small Grains Specialist, UC Davis and Konrad Mathesius, Farm Advisor, southern Sacramento Valley