What’s causes winter wheat crop plants to loose grain sites in the ear?

[Pilatus]

I ask as I wonder if that is the reason that wheat yields seem to be very poor in many areas even though the crops have had usual fertiliser and fungicide program, and ample moisture. Was the lack of sunshine during grain fill a major factor?

 

[teslacoils]

Crap roots.

 

[Flat 10]

I ask as I wonder if that is the reason that wheat yields seem to be very poor in many areas even though the crops have had usual fertiliser and fungicide program, and ample moisture. Was the lack of sunshine during grain fill a major factor?

Yes. See winter barley. Later wheats better here

 

[Bigjon44]

Under water for 6 months

 

[Flatlander]

Heavy rain and prolonged wet during pollination will lower seed count in heads. Usually easier to detect on barley as it easier to see.

 

[DrWazzock]

I’ve often thought if every seed site reached potential I’d be bragging about 20t/ha.
Often 50% here are either non existent or shrivelled crap due to :-
Rain at flowering or
Lack of moisture from June onwards which can be aggravated by poor rooting due to a wet seedbed. Had most of those this year but not so much rain at flowering which at least meant no pink grains etc.

 

[Spencer]

Crap roots.

How come the single ear I found growing in a crack in concrete in yard had full sites and the biggest pickles I’ve seen? Contrary to crops in field that have been given everything

 

[teslacoils]

How come the single ear I found growing in a crack in concrete in yard had full sites and the biggest pickles I’ve seen? Contrary to crops in field that have been given everything

Maybe it's roots have gone down quite a way, and it has little competition for sunlight etc?

 

[PSQ]

How come the single ear I found growing in a crack in concrete in yard had full sites and the biggest pickles I’ve seen? Contrary to crops in field that have been given everything

No shading so full light interception, no rain splash so no septoria (etc), virgin wheat 'ground' so no soil pathogens, and no herbicides to frazzle tillers in spring.

 

[Spencer]

Maybe it's roots have gone down quite a way, and it has little competition for sunlight etc?

Definitely no competition.. they always do best on their own!

 

[Spencer]

No shading so full light interception, no rain splash so no septoria (etc), virgin wheat 'ground' so no soil pathogens, and no herbicides to frazzle tillers in spring.

It had septoria

 

[Northern territory]

Ask Tim Lamyman?

 

[richard hammond]

I ask as I wonder if that is the reason that wheat yields seem to be very poor in many areas even though the crops have had usual fertiliser and fungicide program, and ample moisture. Was the lack of sunshine during grain fill a major factor?

Some element they do not like switches on the survival mode, that element could be one or a combination of factors, wet, dry, cold, hot, poor roots, etc, etc, etc.

 

[RushesToo]

Each plant did it's best - any stress and it responds by only producing what it can.

Too dry / wet
Too much disease / insect challenge
Minerals - too much / little
Sun too little [less so too much - but see dry...]

It did the best it could, just too much against it being ideal conditions.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

How come the single ear I found growing in a crack in concrete in yard had full sites and the biggest pickles I’ve seen? Contrary to crops in field that have been given everything

I think I've got 2 wheat plants growing in a pot in the garden. They are well above the plants that are supposed to be there. Definitely not oats or barley so they have to be wheat? You can tell I'm a grass farmer! I intend to thrash out each individual ear, and count the grains. The upper ears are bending over and looking grey and the 2 lowest ones are still green. Next sunny day I'll start on the upper ones. The stress of harvest!

 

[Woody j]

I ask as I wonder if that is the reason that wheat yields seem to be very poor in many areas even though the crops have had usual fertiliser and fungicide program, and ample moisture. Was the lack of sunshine during grain fill a major factor?

Bydv seems to be the biggest problem around here lots of black heads with nothing in them, the rest of the wheat is ok . Bushel wt average 76-77 which is above average , yields below average!!