Answers to 10 questions on wheat cultivation techniques
Q: What is the vernalization phenomenon of wheat?
A: After wheat seeds begin to germinate, besides requiring a certain set of comprehensive conditions, their growing points must also pass through a period dominated by low temperature before they can head and set grain; otherwise, they will never set grain throughout their lives. This phenomenon is called the vernalization phenomenon of wheat; this low-temperature period is called the vernalization stage of wheat; this characteristic is also called the temperature sensitivity of wheat.
Q: What is the marker for wheat passing through the vernalization stage?
A: For wheat to pass through the vernalization stage, besides requiring comprehensive conditions, low temperature plays the leading role; the organ of wheat that receives the low-temperature response during the vernalization stage is the growing point of the embryo of the germinating seed or the growing point of the stem of the green seedling. If conditions are suitable, it can begin at seed germination, but generally speaking, the elongation stage of the growing cone is the marker for wheat passing through the vernalization stage, and the double ridge stage is the marker for the end of the wheat vernalization stage.
Q: According to the temperature sensitivity of wheat, into how many types are wheat varieties classified?
A: According to the degree of low temperature required and the length of duration of the wheat vernalization stage, wheat can be classified into the following three types, namely winter varieties, semi-winter varieties and spring varieties.
Q: What are winter varieties?
A: The suitable temperature for passing through the vernalization stage is 0-3°C, and the required time is more than 30 days. The seedlings of this type of variety are prostrate, have strong cold resistance, and are extremely sensitive to temperature; seeds that have not undergone vernalization treatment generally cannot head when sown in spring.
Q: What are semi-winter varieties?
A: The suitable temperature for passing through the vernalization stage is 0-7°C, and the required time is 15-35 days. The seedlings of this type of variety are semi-prostrate, have relatively strong cold resistance, and generally cannot head or are delayed in heading when sown in spring, with extremely irregular heading.
Q: What are spring varieties?
A: The suitable temperature for passing through the vernalization stage is 0-12°C, and the required time is 5-15 days. The seedlings of this type of variety are upright, have poor cold resistance, and are insensitive to temperature; seeds that have not undergone vernalization treatment can head and set grain normally when sown in spring.
Q: What are the common misunderstandings in the selection of wheat varieties?
A: Misunderstanding one: one-sidedly seeking newness. As we know, a formal new crop variety generally refers to a variety that has undergone regional trials and production trials and has been approved (recognized) by the provincial crop variety approval committee, and performs excellently in yield, quality, resistance and other aspects. But in the market, driven by profit, some units and individuals often promote newly bred lines that have not undergone regional trials and production trials to farmers in the name of new varieties, and some even market eliminated lines on a large scale under the name of new varieties, resulting in reduced yield or total crop failure for some farmers after introduction.
Misunderstanding two: ignoring the scope of adaptation and blindly pursuing large-spike varieties. As we know, large-spike wheat has larger grains, and the seed appearance is also somewhat better; under general conditions it also has higher yield-increasing potential, but this does not mean that planting large-spike wheat varieties will necessarily achieve high yield. Because each wheat variety has a certain regional adaptability, a good variety from elsewhere is not necessarily suitable for local planting. Usually, planting a variety beyond its region generally cannot guarantee the expected yield level, and most cannot achieve high yield. The scientific approach is: according to market demand, select varieties with good marketability and outstanding excellent traits that are adapted to local ecological conditions and soil fertility.
Misunderstanding three: ignoring soil fertility conditions and one-sidedly pursuing high-fertilizer and high-water varieties. Each variety has its suitable soil fertility level; high-fertilizer and high-water varieties can only give play to their yield-increasing potential when planted in high-fertility and high-water plots. If planted in medium- and low-yield fields, phenomena such as premature senescence, drying up, unfilled grains, low flour extraction rate and low yield often occur. Similarly, when medium-fertility and high-water or dryland varieties are planted in high-fertility and high-water plots, because their yield-increasing potential is limited, lodging often occurs and yield cannot be increased.
Misunderstanding four: believing advertising and publicity one-sidedly and blindly following trends. Farmers in some places often believe advertising and publicity one-sidedly, pursuing new, strange, special, expensive and high varieties, and blindly believe that the newer the variety the better, the stranger the better, the more expensive the better, and the higher the yield the better. These views are all wrong. The scientific approach should be: scientifically select varieties according to the planting rotation, soil fertility level, fertilization level and other conditions of your own land; only in this way can high yield be obtained. That is to say, scientific selection of varieties is the first key to obtaining high yield through scientific farming. When selecting varieties, the method of combining high-yield varieties with stable-yield varieties, and new varieties with old varieties, should be adopted. For new varieties that have never been planted, one should not believe advertising and publicity one-sidedly; in the first year a small amount can be purchased for trial planting, and only after success can a large amount be purchased and used in the second year, so as to avoid economic losses caused by poor seed adaptability and other reasons.
Q: What are this year's main promoted wheat varieties and opinions on variety utilization?
A: At present, the main promoted wheat varieties in our city are mainly concentrated in the three major series of Wenmai, Xinmai and Zhoumai. Wenmai varieties include: Wenmai No. 6, No. 4, No. 8, No. 10, No. 19, etc.; Xinmai series include: Xinmai No. 9, No. 11, No. 13, No. 18, etc.; Zhoumai series include: Zhoumai No. 16, No. 18, etc. Other varieties that perform relatively well in production include: Yumai 18 and its superior lines, Yanshi 4110, Luomai No. 4, Xunong No. 5, Aikang 58, Jimai 20, Zhongmai No. 1, Xinong 979, etc. With the introduction and breeding of new varieties, new high-yield and high-quality varieties should be adopted in a timely manner.
According to recent wheat production practice, the opinions on wheat variety utilization are as follows:
①Irrigated plains area
Early-stubble wheat: mainly Yumai 49 (986 line), Yumai No. 69 (Xinmai No. 9) and its superior lines, and Xinmai 18, with supplementary planting of Yumai 41, Zhoumai 16, Xinmai 13 and Kaimai 13. Medium and late stubble wheat: mainly Zhengzhou 9023, Yumai 18 (including the 99 line), Yumai 34 and Yanshi 4110, with supplementary planting of Zhengnong 16, Yumai 70 (Neixiang 188), Pumai No. 9 and Zhongmai No. 1.
②Dry farming area
Early-stubble wheat: mainly Yumai 41 (Wenmai No. 4) and Yumai 49, with supplementary planting of Xinmai No. 9 and Luohan No. 2. Medium and late stubble wheat: mainly Zhengzhou 9023 and Yumai 18, with supplementary planting of Yumai 70, Yanshi 4110, Yumai 34 and Yumai 47.
③Planting of high-quality strong-gluten wheat:
For early-stubble high-quality wheat, select the varieties Jimai 20, Xinong 979 and Gaomai 8901, preferably planting them in high-water and high-fertility plots; for medium and late stubble high-quality wheat, Zhengmai 9023 and Yumai 47 can be selected, appropriately expanding the planting of Zhengnong 16, and demonstrating Zhengmai 005.