A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

News, events, and happenings in Colquitt County agriculture.

Wheat is categorized commonly by the Feekes scale 1 (emergence) to 11 (mature). The most difficult task in describing wheat-growth stage is determining leaf and tiller number. To determine leaf number, position the plant so that the first true leaf is on the left. Since winter wheat has an alternate leaf arrangement, the next leaf will be on the right side of the plant. The next leaf would be counted if that leaf were at least half the length of the preceding leaf. To distinguish tillers from leaves, look for the presence of an independent sheath called a prophyll, which is located at the base of each tiller. Unlike leaves, tillers are counted as soon as they emerge. Tillering occurs during stages 2 & 3 (both classified as winter dormancy). Tillers are secondary shoots that develop from buds on the older wheat shoots. The number of tillers that will form on a given plant is determined by the seeding rate, soil moisture and fertility, temperature, and variety. Winter wheat will typically generate 3 to 6 tillers. A good resource for wheat growth stages is this publication from Texas A and M call Growth Stages of Wheat: Identification and Understanding Improve Crop Management. Here is the link to that publication https://varietytesting.tamu.edu/wheat/docs/mime-5.pdf   

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This time of year, I receive calls about wheat nitrogen management. Growers need to look at their fields and assess each situation.  Does the field look nitrogen deficient?  Do we have enough tillers?  Has it been a wet January and what is the up coming weather forecast?  All these factors play into consideration if you are considering splitting your nitrogen applications.. In the Colquitt County area, we have had some leaching rains and this question has started to become common among wheat growers. Below is information from the UGA Wheat Production Guide on nitrogen management this time of year.

When the wheat crop reaches the growth stage Zadoks GS 25, begin counting tillers to determine the need for additional nitrogen applications for the proper tiller production prior to the onset of stem elongation. This stage of growth generally occurs during the mid to later week of January in south GA.

Randomly chose about 10 to 15 areas in the field to obtain an accurate estimate of tillers per square foot. The graph below can be used to get a nitrogen rate recommendation after counting the tillers. If the tiller counts (a stem with at least three leaves) are low, 80 tillers per square foot or less, nitrogen applications at this time are critical for improving the yield potential of the crop. Some nitrogen will still be needed to maximize the yield potential if the tiller counts are lower than 100. If the tiller count exceeds 100 or more per square foot at Zadoks GS 25, then apply all remaining nitrogen at or just before GS 30 (stem elongation). Usually Zadoks GS 30 (or Feekes 5) occurs during early to mid-February in the southern half of Georgia.

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