Wheat growth metrics

[Farmer Fin]

What are people doing to monitor wheat as it is growing? Plant counts / tiller counts / ears etc? Brix?

I want to put a few more things in place to monitor the crop as it’s growing and I’m trying to work out what is worth while and what’s not.

I do some tissue and grain analysis already. My agronomist shows me the NDVI images but they don’t seem to show anything of use.

What is everyone else doing?

 

[teslacoils]

I walk over mine and have a look. I prefer it too thick than too thin. I use the hgca wheat guide as rough benchmarks.

 

[Brisel]

Plant, tiller and ear counts give an idea, but I just judge the potential by eye really. I'll use an N Sensor to try and manage the canopy in spring but otherwise it's a combination of how it looks, what problems I see and what varietal weaknesses or strengths it has to decide the level of inputs. I've had no yield response to NDVI in the past despite years of trialling it though that was on low potential yield crops (mostly drought prone).

 

[teslacoils]

It usually sorts itself out. When using urea and digestate, it's not like we can fine tune be much anyway. Even stand, no weeds, keep it fed, keep it stood.

 

[Chalky]

Thick enough, clear of detrimental species, not wanting anything nutritionally & stood up. Sounds like that new-fangled Schleswig Holstein system....

 

[PSQ]

Don't dismiss NDVI's. They wont tell you much in isolation, but they are a fantastic litmus test for highlighting areas that need further investigation.

 

[moretimeforgolf]

On this subject, can anyone recommend a simple to use instrument to measure brix levels. Is it worth spending more on a digital version?

 

[snarling bee]

Unless you can accurately forecast the weather for the whole growing season its pointless being too precise.