Influence of no-till furrow opener and seed treatment on ultra-early wheat seeding systems
Beres, B. L., Z. Wang, R. Dyck, S. Simmill, W. Taylor, K. Heidinger and F. C. Stevenson. 2025.
Abstract
Ultra-early planting is an alternative practice that involves planting based on soil
temperature, initiated once the trigger temperature of >0°C is observed, regardless
of calendar date. Our previous research concluded that spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yields are maintained or improved with enhanced yield stability
when adopting this practice. However, a knowledge gap remains around the influ-
ence of furrow opener configuration and seed treatments to mitigate abiotic stressors
related to cold soil and ambient temperatures. Thus, a 5-year experiment was con-
ducted in Lethbridge, AB, to examine the effects of planting dates triggered by soil
temperatures of 0°C, 2.5°C, 5°C, 7.5°C, and 10°C; seed treatment (tebuconazole, pro-
thioconazole, metalaxyl, and imidacloprid vs. untreated); and furrow opener (knife
vs. disc) on ultra-early planted spring wheat. Optimal grain yield was achieved when
wheat was planted at a soil temperature of 0°C, irrespective of seed treatment and fur-
row opener type. A significant yield reduction was observed when wheat was planted
at a soil temperature of 10°C. Wheat planted at soil temperatures of ≤7.5°C with a
disc opener often resulted in high and stable yields, regardless of seed treatment.
Grain protein concentration responses to soil temperature trigger were less consistent, but wheat planted at 10°C accumulated low and unstable concentrations. Seed
treatment delayed emergence, flowering, and maturity; reduced head density; and
ultimately lowered grain yield. Overall, spring wheat grain yield and protein concentration were optimized when planted at soil temperatures of ≥0 and ≤7.5°C using a
disc opener, regardless of seed treatment adoption.
