October 24, 2002
AMES, Iowa — Results of the 2002 Iowa Crop Performance Test for winter and spring small grains now are available on the Internet. Published bulletins will be available in November and can be requested by contacting Iowa Crop Improvement Association at (515) 294-6921.
The winter test included wheat and triticale. Triticale is a grain derived from crossing wheat with rye. It is grown primarily for animal feed as either a grain or forage crop.
The wheat test analyzed 13 hard red winter, six soft red winter and two hard white winter varieties, plus four experimental lines planted at Ames, Crawfordsville and Lewis. The winter triticale test studied 11 named varieties and 25 experimental lines planted at Ames, Calumet, Crawfordsville, Lewis and Nashua.
The triticale performed well and had slightly higher yields than the wheat trials. Average variety yields were 83 bushels per acre for wheat and 87 bushels per acre for triticale. The top experimental triticale lines averaged 107 bushels per acre. The performance data reported includes grain and straw yield, test weight, heading date, plant height and winter survival.
The spring test included barley and oat. The barley test evaluated 16 named varieties conducted at Ames, Calumet and Nashua. Average yields were 89 bushels pre acre and test weights were 49 pounds per bushel.
The oat test included 32 named varieties and eight experimental lines planted at Ames, Calumet, Crawfordsville, Lewis and Nashua. Average yields were 121 bushels per acre and test weights were 33 pounds per bushel. Performance data for the barley and oat test includes grain and straw yield, test weight, heading date, plant height, groat percentage, lodging and disease reactions.
The small grain performance is coordinated by the Iowa Crop Improvement Association (ICIA), headquartered in Iowa State University's Department of Agronomy. The ICIA's crop performance testing program is a cooperative effort with the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station at ISU and ISU Extension. The program offers unbiased, third-party information to Iowa growers on commercial seed they can purchase. Information on the adaptation and performance of hybrids and varieties is offered for alfalfa, barley, corn, oat, soybean, triticale and wheat.