Any thoughts on these patches?

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

Had some randomised patches form on several fields,patch on this picture has been noticeable for last three seasons, currently a crop of Graham WW.

Poor germination and soil almost seems to be lacking in structure and moisture compared with the rest of the field.

Soil sampling is carried out across the whole farm.

Ground is sandy loam, I am aware that, typically, sandy ground doesn’t have the best structure but does have FYM or poultry litter prior to ploughing.

Has anybody got any ideas?

A.R. · May 8, 2019

Soil borne wheat mosaic virus ? Need a closer picture.

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

A.R. said:
Soil borne wheat mosaic virus ? Need a closer picture.

Will get another shortly

Badshot · May 8, 2019

It's the darker patch you're concerned with?

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

Badshot said:
It's the darker patch you're concerned with?

Yes, it’s not overly clear on that picture but the darker patch is roughly 3-4” shorter, I put some more fert on this last Sunday, most fields are a bit cold and stressed in general

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

A.R. said:
Soil borne wheat mosaic virus ? Need a closer picture.

Clear difference in germination back in the autumn

John Slejpner · May 8, 2019

If you were a direct driller i would wonder about a localised area of low surface pH.

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

John Slejpner said:
If you were a direct driller i would wonder about a localised area of low surface pH.

Potentially, though fields were limed prior to ploughing in the autumn

snarling bee · May 8, 2019

I guess we all have a few patches like that. Does it happen every year.
I did some comprehensive soil testing in poor patches, comparing the best bits in those fields. The results came back almost identical.

Deeper problems I guess.

Exfarmer · May 8, 2019

take all?

solo · May 8, 2019

It would be worth testing two soil samples for nematodes. A good area vs a bad one. Nematodes can stunt the roots which limits uptake of nutrients.

FarmerBruce · May 8, 2019

snarling bee said:
I guess we all have a few patches like that. Does it happen every year.
I did some comprehensive soil testing in poor patches, comparing the best bits in those fields. The results came back almost identical.
Deeper problems I guess.

The same happened here!!

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

Have taken some samples this morning, soil and tissue from affected and non affected area. Be interesting to see results

shakerator · May 8, 2019

It looks very mild

I wondered about rhizoctonia , I get patches on no till second or third cereals on light ground

Unlikely with ploughing though ..

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

It’s first wheat, there’s were patches on OSR last season and WW before that. It is minimal but seem to be getting more prevalent over the farm, if it’s something that can be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later then all the better, as the yields are lower in them areas according to contractors yield map

Interesting that you mention rhizoctonia though as a couple of friends near by believe they had patches in spuds last year potentially

Jon 3085 · May 8, 2019

Could it be a potash? I’ve had similar this year on sandy loam where I took a pk holiday.

tissue test results

cliffy 87 · May 8, 2019

Normal K index but low uptake into the plant. There’s every possibility I guess? High P having an effect? We do have very high P indexes here though K levels are kept normal by poultry litter and FYM with a bit of maintenance early spring. A tissue sample is only way to see what’s happening though

Brisel · May 8, 2019

Take tissue samples from the patches and a few from the better bits of the field as a comparison. Do the same for soil samples. Are there any weeds in the bad bits not in the good ones? What species? Can you dig up some of the plants in the bad patch, wash the soil from the roots and post some pictures please? A couple of healthy ones as a comparison too.

I suspect an underground disorder of some sort - pest, disease or virus but I'm not ruling out nutrition and/or pH either.

Exfarmer · May 8, 2019

cliffy 87 said:
It’s first wheat, there’s were patches on OSR last season and WW before that. It is minimal but seem to be getting more prevalent over the farm, if it’s something that can be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later then all the better, as the yields are lower in them areas according to contractors yield map

Interesting that you mention rhizoctonia though as a couple of friends near by believe they had patches in spuds last year potentially

First ww after OSR after ww . Take all

cliffy 87 · Oct 16, 2019

Its been a while since i last discussed this topic, the crop of wheat in question did not yield too bad in the affected area according to the yield map around 7.75Tonne/ha as opposed to the avg of 10.6T/ha across the whole 23ha field.

I have included some new attachments of pictures and soil analysis samples from another field just gone into OSR this time from WW. Ploughed 31st Aug, 150l of Chafer 32N + 9.4SO3 applied on top of furrows left for 72hrs and drilled with Wembly OSR at 3.4Kg/Ha on 3rd September. pre em of 0.758L/Ha Topkat and 0.158L/Ha of Clomate applied @200lts/Ha within 24hrs.

This patch had an issue with poor wheat germination and growth last season yielded about 7T/Ha.

Poor germination and growth clearly seen on the patch.

There's a lot of info to read but he parts of the analysis that stand out to me in terms of difference between a good sample are Phosphorus Index , Zinc and Manganese.

Has anyone ever heard of any issues where there could be a potential issue with High P affecting Zn levels and resulting in a poor germination?

Maybe i'm clutching at straws here but there's clearly an issue.

Keen to hear any opinions TIA

Any thoughts on these patches?

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