Winter Wheat after Winter barley

[Gong Farmer]

We did a long HGCA funded project on cultivations which included mustard between continuous wheat crops. Link below, no take-all data that I can find but yield responses were seen, though related to cultivation technique (e.g. direct drilling didn't cope with the biomass so less benefit).

https://ahdb.org.uk/influence-of-gr...rotations-under-different-cultivation-systems

Last para of abstract most relevant to this discussion.

 

[yellow belly]

the ahdb trial had a flaw as setaside is not a proper break they needed a clean break option in the trial
osr is the best break as the growing of osr eliminates cereal volunteers early in the autumn
early autumn ploughing also does that
a vigorous cover that reduces volunteer growth is also better than setaside

 

[Cowcorn]

You can get half decent WW yields after a first spring barley as takeall doesn't build up much. Depends if your barley is a first or later cereal.

Heading on a half century under the plough, last break crop was maize i 14 wheat 15 ,16 and 17 fallow 18 as it stayed wet till late may and wheat last year . Should be ok and even though there is a half decent crop of barley in it this year its definitely not spring barley land only for working it fast behind the plough with a power harrow ahead of the combi and rain at the right time it would not be a pretty sight .
Also too much rain and it would turn yellow and stunt . The joys of heavy land !!!

 

[westwood]

Past rotation

2016 WOSR
2017 WW
2018 SB
2019 SB
2020 WB

Field has had FYM in the past and fertile for the downs!! Straw removed. Min till / direct drill techniques.

 

[teslacoils]

My best ever wheat was after winter barley.

 

[Brisel]

Past rotation

2016 WOSR
2017 WW
2018 SB
2019 SB
2020 WB

Field has had FYM in the past and fertile for the downs!! Straw removed. Min till / direct drill techniques.

You're looking at a 5th cereal though barley is more tolerant so will slow the take all decline. I'd say the risk was lower for you given the above but I'd still take precautions like removing cereal volunteers and drilling mid October onwards at higher seed rates and with 60+ kg N early N in spring to build the root mass sooner. I wouldn't sow wheat because I'd have a break crop instead for grass weed control and better soils but I appreciate that this isn't part of your original question.

 

[Brisel]

What would you suggest would be a good cover crop for 2 months?

A quick growing mix. Buckwheat, vetch, mustard/radish, phacelia, rye depending on rotational restrictions and the drill's ability to cope with residues later on. I'd keep it cheap for a summer cover. Many of those ingredients are cheap as straights if you home mix.

 

[ajd132]

A quick growing mix. Buckwheat, vetch, mustard/radish, phacelia, rye depending on rotational restrictions and the drill's ability to cope with residues later on. I'd keep it cheap for a summer cover. Many of those ingredients are cheap as straights if you home mix.

Linseed buckwheat and sunflower here. £8/ha home mixing

 

[Chae1]

A quick growing mix. Buckwheat, vetch, mustard/radish, phacelia, rye depending on rotational restrictions and the drill's ability to cope with residues later on. I'd keep it cheap for a summer cover. Many of those ingredients are cheap as straights if you home mix.

I'll probably put cattle on it to destroy it/eat it. Will be ploughed in. I'm bad I know.

Will be winter barley followed by winter barley.

 

[westwood]

Was even thinking of letting dry cows or bulling heifers have a graze before drilling?

 

[Brisel]

Phacelia isn't great for grazing, nor is linseed. I'd be inclined to go down the vetch and rye route but this ramps the cost up. There will be a fair bit of free fodder from the barley volunteers.

 

[chester]

Won't the wheat be full of volunteer barley and contaminate the sample?

 

[Chemical nick]

KWS Zyatt sown 21st Oct into 9 way catch crop mixture. Previous crop winter barley harvested 13th July. Looked very green and healthy all winter.

 

[Bignor Farmer]

Remove straw, apply muck, sow late and use Latitude to mitigate some of the risk.

Roll the dice, far from the perfect textbook thing to do but 3t late sown wheat is better than 0.5t/ac OSR! (and I think you’d do better than 3t)

Personally wouldn’t bother with the cover crop for a take-all break but might be worth doing for general soil health if plenty of moisture at sowing.

 

[snarling bee]

If you want a proper take all break then it needs to be a season I would have thought. I would want to keep the take all decline going. A 5th cereal will be better than a 3rd.

 

[Bignor Farmer]

Won't the wheat be full of volunteer barley and contaminate the sample?

There’s a good 3 months to chit some volunteers. Won’t be much left after that and a squirt of Broadway Star in the spring.