The Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia

2002-2003 Small Grain Performance Tests
Research Report Number 688
July 2003

SMALL GRAIN CULTURAL PRACTICES

R. Dewey Lee
Extension Agronomist, Tifton, Georgia

Fertilization

Soil samples should be taken from all fields to be planted in small grains, whether for grain or grazing. Soil testing prior to planting aids in determining the amount and type of fertilizer needed to produce a small grain crop. This practice may prevent excessive expenditures where the soil fertility level is very high, and it ensures that the nutritional needs of the crop are met.

Lime should be applied to maintain the soil pH at a target pH of 6.0. If the small grains are to be grazed or if magnesium (Mg) levels are low, dolomitic lime (high Mg) should be used. Adequate amounts of lime should be applied to the previous crop to assure that the soil pH is in the desired range prior to planting small grains. However, if soils tests indicate the need for lime, it should be applied as soon as possible in order to allow adequate time for the soil pH change to occur (usually two to three months or more, depending on fineness of grind).

The table below show the recommended rates of fertilizer N-P205-K20 to apply to small grain, based on soil test levels:

Soil Test Rating for Potassium (K20)
Low Medium High Very High
Low *-80-80 *-80-40 *-80-0 *-80-0
Medium *-40-80 *-40-40 *-40-0 *-40-0
High *-0-80 *-0-40 *-0-0 *-0-0
Very High *-0-80 *-0-40 *-0-0 *-0-0
*For small grain following a legume, apply 60-80 lb N/acre; for small grain following cotton, corn, etc., apply 80-100 lb N/acre; for small grain following grain sorghum, apply 100-120 lb N/acre. Apply 20-40 lb of recommended N/acre in the fall and the remainder in February. For grazing, increase the total N fertilizer rate by 60 lb N/acre and apply in two applications -- one-half in the fall and the remainder in midwinter.

Planting

Small grain seed should be planted in a well-prepared, firm, moist seedbed. Moldboard plowing or chisel plowing is recommended in preference to disc harrowing. The seed should be planted 1 to 1.5 inches deep. The proper planting date for small grain is important for both grain and forage production. Some factors to consider in determining the date for planting small grains include variety, geographic location, weather patterns, soil moisture, and intended use of the crop. If irrigation is available, the planting date can be more flexible. The following table shows recommended planting dates in Georgia:

Recommended Planting Dates

Coastal Plain Piedmont Limestone Valley
Crop Grain Grazing Grain Grazing Grain Grazing
Wheat 11/07* - 12/01 10/15 10/25 - 11/15 10/01 10/10 - 11/01 9/15
Oat 11/07 - 12/01 10/01 10/07 - 10/30 9/15 9/25 - 10/15 9/01
Barley 11/07 - 12/01 10/15 10/25 - 11/15 10/01 10/01 - 11/01 9/01
Triticale 11/15 - 12/15 - - - - - - -
Rye 11/07 - 12/01 10/15 10/07 - 11/15 10/01 10/01 - 10/20 9/01
*November 7 in the Upper Coastal Plain and November 15 in the Lower Coastal Plain.

Pest Control

Check with your county extension agent for the latest information on weed, disease, and insect control in small grains.

Varieties

Select high-yielding, insect- and disease-resistant varieties for best results. In selecting varieties, give careful consideration to the statistics (LSD) reported in the tables. An explanation of their proper use is given in the preface to this report. The variety listed at the top of the list may be only one of the best.

For late planting, the early-maturing varieties usually perform the best. Varieties recommended for the 2003 planting season are presented in the table below.

Recommended Grain Varieties for 2003

Barley GA-Luttrell (S)1 Nomini (S) Price (S)
Oat Harrison (S) Horizon 474 (C, P) Rodgers (P, M)2
Horizon 314 (S) Plot Spike LS9339 (S) Secretariat (C)2
Wheat AGS 2000 (S) NK Coker 9512 (S) SS520 (P, M)2, 4
AGS 2485 (S) Pioneer 26R24 (UC, P, M) SS535 (P, M)2, 4
Crawford (C)3 Pioneer 26R38 (C)2 USG 3209 (S)4
Fleming (C)3 Pioneer 26R61 (S) Vigoro Tribute (S)
1. M = Mountains; P = Piedmont; C = Coastal Plain; UC = Upper Coastal Plain; LC = Lower Coastal Plain; S = Statewide.
2. Highly susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf rust, or crown rust; consider using a fungicide.
3. Plant at end of recommended planting period or later.
4. Susceptible to Hessian fly; consider using an insecticide.



Recommended Forage Varieties for 2003

Oat *Chapman (S) Horizon 314 (S) Rodgers (S)
Harrison (S) Plot Spike LA9339 (S) NK-Coker 227 (C)
Rye Bates (S) Pennington SPIRye (S) *Wrens Abruzzi (S)
Early Graze (S) Wintergrazer 70 (S) *Wrens 96 (S)
Oklon (S) Wintermore (S)
Wheat Pioneer 26R61 (S) Roberts (S) USG 3209 (S)
1. M = Mountains; P = Piedmont; C = Coastal Plain; UC = Upper Coastal Plain; LC = Lower Coastal Plain; S = Statewide.
* To be dropped from the 2004 recommended list.


To ensure good germination, the absence of noxious weeds, and varietal purity plant certified, treated seed. General seeding rate recommendations based on bushels per acre are provided in Table 1. Seed size varies greatly from year to year and among varieties and seed lots. Therefore, more accurate plant populations may be achieved by using seeding rates based on seeds per area rather than on bushels per acre. For example, research on wheat has shown that seeding rates of 30-35 seeds per square foot are best for top yields. Accurate target populations are best achieved by adjusting grain drill settings based on number of seed per foot of row. Grain drill calibrations can be accomplished quickly and accurately by counting seed collected from one or more rows during travel over a specified distance and calculating the drill output as seeds per foot of row. Table 2 is provided as a guide to establish target populations of the small grain crops for popular row spacings. The figures in Table 2 are broadly based on the average number of seeds per pound for the various crops but even more accurate calibrations can be accomplished if the actual number of seeds per pound is known for the seed lot being planted. At least one seed supplier in the Southeast now prints seed size information on the bag. If seed size is known, Table 3 may more accurately predict seed requirements.



Table 1. Recommended Seeding Rates for 2003
Crop Weight Grain Grazing
lb/bu -----------bu/acre----------
Wheat 60 1.75-2.5 2.0-2.5
Oat 32 2.0 4.0
Barley 48 2.0-2.5 ----
Rye 56 1.0-1.5 2.0-2.5
Triticale 48 1.5-2.0 2.0-2.5


Table 2. Example of seeding rate of different small grains.
Row Width (inches)
Crop Seeding Rate 6 7 8 10
seeds/sq.ft. lb/A1 bu/A1 ----------- seed per foot of row -----------
Barley 19 72 1.5 10 11 13 16
25 96 2.0 13 15 17 21
32 120 2.5 16 19 21 27
Oat 19 64 2.0 10 11 13 16
24 80 2.5 12 14 16 20
28 96 3.0 14 16 19 23
38 128 4.0 19 22 25 32
Wheat 27 90 1.5 14 16 18 23
37 120 2.0 18 22 25 31
47 150 2.5 24 27 31 39
55 180 3.0 28 32 37 46
Rye 31 56 1.0 16 18 21 26
46 84 1.5 23 27 31 38
62 112 2.0 31 36 41 52
1. Estimates based on average seeds per pound of 11,500 for barley, 12,875 for oat, 13,250 for wheat, and 24,000 for rye.
Data compiled by J. L. Day, Georgia Station, Griffin, Georgia.



Table 3. Seeding rates for wheat based on seed size1.
Desired Population (seeds per square foot)
30 32 34 35 36 38 40
Seed Size Seeding Rate
seeds/lb ------------------------------------ lb/A ------------------------------------
10,000 145 155 165 169 174 184 194
11,000 132 141 150 154 158 167 176
12,000 121 129 137 141 145 153 161
13,000 112 119 127 130 134 141 149
14,000 104 111 118 121 124 131 138
15,000 97 103 110 113 116 123 129
16,000 91 97 103 106 109 115 121
17,000 85 91 97 100 102 108 114
18,000 81 86 91 94 97 102 108
1. Seeding rate assumes 90% germination.