How should you choose a lodging-resistant wheat variety?

Lodging in wheat directly affects wheat yield. Although some varieties have high theoretical yields, their poor lodging resistance means actual returns stay low. Recently, Zhang Hua, a farmer in Suqian, Jiangsu, contacted this publication, hoping we could find an expert to give an evaluation of the lodging resistance of the "Huaimai 33" he planted. To this end, our reporter got in touch with Hu Xianggen, deputy manager of the Conventional Rice and Wheat Department of Jiangsu Mingtian Seed Technology Co., Ltd., and discussed the lodging-resistant characteristics of "Huaimai 33."

Hu Xianggen, deputy manager of the Conventional Rice and Wheat Department of Jiangsu Mingtian Seed: Choose a good variety and you need not worry about yield

"Huaimai 33" has strong tillering ability, thick and sturdy stems with good flexibility, and strong lodging resistance □ Pre-ordering at field observation meetings + a vast dealer network make it convenient for farmers to buy seed

Carrying Zhang Hua's question, the reporter contacted Jiangsu Mingtian Seed Technology Co., Ltd., which holds exclusive operating rights to the "Huaimai 33" variety.

"This farmer's choice to plant 'Huaimai 33' is very well targeted, especially under this year's climatic conditions. In fact, the main characteristic of this variety is its strong lodging resistance," Hu Xianggen, deputy manager of the Conventional Rice and Wheat Department of Mingtian Seed, told the reporter.

Before the birth of "Huaimai 33," "Yannong 19" had always been the wheat variety with the largest promotion area in Jiangsu and the Huaibei region of Anhui. This variety had good and stable yield and sold well, but its lodging resistance was not ideal. The successful breeding of "Huaimai 33" not only solved the problem of "Yannong 19"'s poor lodging resistance, but also allowed it to inherit the strong tillering ability and excellent quality of the female parent "Yannong 19" while acquiring the good lodging resistance and good cold resistance of the male parent "Zhengmai 911." It is a variety that is both high-yielding and disease-resistant.

It is understood that Huaimai 33 is a semi-winterness, medium-maturity variety. The seedlings are semi-prostrate with dark green leaves and rapid early growth; tillering ability is relatively strong, with a relatively high number of productive ears, averaging 380,000-450,000 ears per mu; the plant type is relatively compact with a clean appearance, the ear layer is neat, the flag leaves are erect, the plant height is around 80 cm, the stems have good elasticity and good lodging resistance; the ear is nearly rectangular and relatively large with good grain setting, averaging 36-38 grains per ear; the grains are hard-textured, with a 1000-grain weight of 42-45 g.

"For the 'Huaimai 33' planted after rice by Zhang Hua, this year's yield is still acceptable. If conditions in all respects could be a bit more ideal, it could absolutely reach a per-mu yield of 500 or even 600 kg, so there is no need to worry," Hu Xianggen told the reporter. "From 2010-2012, 'Huaimai 33' achieved an average per-mu yield of 531.86 kg over two years of trials in Jiangsu and the Huaibei region of Anhui, a 6.28% increase over 'Huaimai 20.' And in 2014 in Lianyungang, Yancheng and other places in Jiangsu, it even set a record of 680-690 kg per mu."

It is reported that Mingtian Seed also innovated its sales model, extending some advanced marketing models from hybrid corn sales into wheat sales, opening up a new blue ocean for wheat seed sales. "I suggest this farmer pay attention to our company's variety observation meetings," Hu Xianggen offered Zhang Hua advice on seed selection. "Many variety observation meetings are held every year, where our experts give on-site explanations and display the planting results. As long as farmers like what they see, they can pre-order seeds on the spot, which is very convenient."

Zhang Hua, a farmer in Suqian, Jiangsu:Which variety has good lodging resistance?

It must be lodging-resistant and also high-yielding □ How can purchasing channels be made more convenient?

"I'd like an expert to help me see how the variety I chose is doing." Zhang Hua, a large-scale grower in Magong Village, Chemen Township, Sihong County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, contacted the reporter. According to Zhang Hua, the wheat variety he had always planted before was "Liangxing 66." At the time, he chose this variety mainly because of its high yield and good returns. But he later found that this variety was relatively fragile, highly susceptible to fusarium head blight, and relatively poor in lodging resistance, causing relatively heavy losses in some years.

Last year, Zhang Hua newly purchased "Huaimai 33" from a dealer. After a year of careful tending, this year's harvest was still fairly good. "This year many wheat fields around here lodged, but my 'Huaimai 33' was still fairly good, with a yield reaching 450 kg/mu, 80 kg/mu more than others. But after all, it's the first year of planting, so I still don't feel fully secure, and that's why I'd like an expert to give some evaluation," Zhang Hua told the reporter.

To this end, the reporter specifically looked up relevant information and found that 2016 was unfavorable for the entire wheat growing season. At sowing, fields following dry stubble faced drought, while those following rice faced waterlogging; the seedling stage encountered low-temperature freeze damage; and the middle and later stages encountered adverse weather such as continuous rain and strong winds, leading to outbreaks of fusarium head blight and variety lodging in some areas. In areas, diseases such as wheat sharp eyespot and take-all also occurred. The overall situation was not very ideal.

So, was Zhang Hua's planting of "Huaimai 33" this year actually an ideal choice?

Variety characteristics

Good disease resistance: flag leaves are erect, the base is clean, ventilation and light penetration between plants are good, and disease is not easy to contract. Natural incidence in field trials showed moderate resistance to powdery mildew and leaf blight, with light sharp eyespot;

Strong cold resistance: when a severe late spring cold spell struck in 2013, "Huaimai 33" was basically unharmed;

Good drought resistance: leaf color is deep green and the plant type is compact, which is very conducive to photosynthesis; good lodging resistance: plants are short and sturdy, the root system is well developed, the stems are tough with good elasticity, and the first internode is short (3 cm) and thick with a thick wall;

Tolerant of late sowing: the sowing window is flexible, early growth is fast, and it is especially suitable for large-scale growers;

Excellent quality: grains are vitreous, with high test weight (2-year national average 802 g/L, 2-year Jiangsu average 843 g/L), and it is hard wheat (hardness index 65, 66).

Cultivation key points

1. Sow at the appropriate time to strive for strong seedlings to overwinter

October 5 to October 25 is the suitable sowing period; the specific timing should be based on the guidance of the local agricultural administrative department.

2. Moderate dense planting; a high-quality, high-yield population structure is recommended

The basic seedling number per mu should preferably be around 150,000, the overwintering seedlings 450,000-600,000, the peak seedlings controlled at 800,000-900,000, and the final productive ears around 400,000-450,000.

3. Scientific fertilization; save nitrogen, increase phosphorus and potassium, and preserve quality

According to the soil's basic fertility and the technical requirements of soil testing and formula fertilization, generally for a per-mu yield of 500/600/700 kg, it is recommended to apply total nitrogen of 16/20/24 kg per mu, with an N : P2O5 : K2O ratio of about 1 : 0.5 : 0.6. The basal-to-topdressing ratio for nitrogen fertilizer is 5 : 5. For the basal fertilizer, apply 35 kg per mu of 45% compound fertilizer (or an equivalent amount of local formula fertilizer) plus about 8 kg of urea; where straw is fully returned to the field, the basal nitrogen application should be increased to 10-12 kg of urea. The basal-to-topdressing ratio for phosphate fertilizer is 7 : 3, and for potassium fertilizer 6 : 4.

4. Prevent disease and control pests to ensure high quality and high yield

According to disease and pest forecasts and field incidence, promptly control powdery mildew, rust, fusarium head blight, sharp eyespot and aphids.