New winter wheat varieties could offer growers in Southern NSW options to improve yield stability from a range of sowing dates.
NSW DPI research scientist Felicity Harris has led a three-year project as part of the Grains Agronomy and Pathology Partnership (GAPP), a co-investment between GRDC and NSW DPI, to determine the optimal variety and sowing-time combinations for growers in the northern grains region.
"This trial is being completed at eight locations across New South Wales and Queensland, from Wagga Wagga up to Emerald," Dr Harris said.
"Variety choice and sowing time are two of the biggest levers growers have, and it is important to consider variety phenology to ensure flowering occurs at a time when risk of frost, heat and moisture stress are minimised for high grain yields."
There has been a recent push towards earlier sowing, which has resulted in a broad sowing window and growers need options to enable sowing from April to June.
"We have been evaluating a range of varieties, including slower developing winter types," Dr Harris said.
"In southern NSW, these are able to be sown earlier, remain vegetative until a cold temperature requirement is satisfied, and still flower at the optimal time.
"Our research has demonstrated that winter wheats sown early, are capable of similar yields to elite spring varieties sown in mid-May and offer growers options to achieve stable yields across a wide sowing window."
She said the last couple of years had seen the release of several new winter wheat varieties suitable for southern NSW following a long break since the release of EGA Wedgetail in 2002.
"It's exciting, as these new varieties have quite different phenology responses and offers some new options for growers," Dr Harris said.
"We now have some slower developing winter types, for example, DS Bennett, which has an extended vegetative phase and has shown high yield potential, particularly in frost-prone environments.
"In contrast, Longsword, a fast winter variety, now provides an early sowing option for growers in lower rainfall areas, which typically have a shorter growing season, and where traditionally winter wheats were too slow."
Dr Harris said winter types have shown relatively stable yields in some quite variable seasons.
"Around Wagga Wagga in 2019, we've experienced a warm autumn and mild July temperatures, which has resulted in some crops tracking up to 10 days faster this year," she said.
"This seasonal variability just highlights the need to for growers to consider varietal phenology when making sowing decisions".
