The integration of cold-tolerant genetics and agronomy to support the adoption of an ultra-early durum wheat seeding system
Term: 4 years, beginning in 2021
Status: Ongoing
Funding Amount: $639,049
Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Brian Beres (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge)
Funding Partners: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture -Agriculture Development Fund (ADF)
Project Description
This project aims to deliver best management practices for an ultra-early seeded durum wheat so that the ultra-early seeding system strategy allows to expand the seeding window for all crops for producers.
The response of Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) to an ultra-early planting system has not been fully explored, however its much established and the strategy is designed for CWRS growers. Currently, there are cold-tolerant genetics now available in durum wheat that may enhance an ultra-early system and this study builds of the team’s preliminary work on ultra early seeding in durum. This research will clearly identify the risks and benefits (in terms of crop stand establishment, yield, and quality) associated with early plantings of durum wheat in western Canada over a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It will also identify the most effective genetics and agronomics to optimize yield and quality of CWAD wheat grown in cold soil conditions. As grain yield is positively associated with maturity or growing degree day requirements, it is possible that attainable yields can be maintained or even exceeded with early-seeded, cold tolerant durum wheat.
This 4-year project will attempt to design a seeding system tailored to CWAD by analysing the germplasm within CWAD that would display variation around adaptation to the cold soils and abiotic stresses that occur when planting at or near 0ºC.