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

• Main Author: Kleinjan, Jonathan
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Agronomy; Physiology; Plant sciences
• ISBN: 9781392119402; 1392119405

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 hard red spring wheat (HRSW) production areas. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare management strategies and (ii) quantify any interaction effects with genotype on agronomic characteristics and relevant flour and dough properties. 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 site-years 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 interaction was observed for any of the measured agronomic or quality traits. 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.