SDSU 2004 Small Grain Variety Performance Results, Variety Recommendations for 2005

South Dakota State University has released its small grain variety trial performance results for 2004, top performing varieties over the past three years, and  varieties recommended for planting in 2005.

Varietal recommendations may vary from one crop adaptation area to another, based on soil type, elevation, temperature, and rainfall. Varieties are also recommended on the basis of growing season, average rainfall, disease frequency, and farming practices common to a crop adaptation area.

Varieties exhibiting a high level of agronomic performance are listed as “Recommended.”  Varieties listed as “Acceptable/Promising” have performed well, but do not merit the “Recommended” list or are new varieties with a high performance potential but have not yet achieved three-years of performance data for evaluation. A variety needs two years and six location-years in the SDSU crop performance test trials and/or regional nurseries before it is eligible for the “Acceptable/Promising” list.

The SDSU performance results rates varieties with a high top yield percentage: these are varieties evaluated which have the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions across many locations in the state. In contrast, varieties with a low top yield percentage typically adapt to a narrow range of environments.  S.D. producers should look for varieties with a relatively high top-yield percentage of 50% or higher if possible.

Hard Red Spring Wheat
The top-performing varieties in 2004 (variety and top yield percentage) were Briggs at 67%, Knudson and Norpro at 44%, and Steele-ND, Oxen and Mercury at 33%. 

This means these varieties were in the top yielding group at 67%, 44%, and 33% of the S.D. test locations in 2004.

The best top yield varieties over the past three years are Briggs, Granger, and Knudson at 100%; Forge, Oxen, Russ, Reeder, and Norpro at 83%; and Walworth, Dapps, Oklee, and Alsen at 33% of the test locations. The top bushel weight group consisted of the varieties Ingot, Granger, Granite, and Mercury at 50% of the locations in 2004. 

Recommended: Briggs, Forge, Granger, Knudson, Oxen, Reeder, and Russ statewide; Norpro in the northern one-third of the state (roughly north of Hwy 212).

Acceptable/Promising: Ingot and Walworth statewide; Alsen north of Hwy 212.

Oats
In 2004, Morton and HiFi exhibited a top yield percentage of 38% and Jerry and Loyal, 38%. Over the past three years, Don, Reeves, Jerry, Morton, Loyal, and HiFi held the highest yield percentages at 100%.

Recommended: Jerry and Reeves, statewide. Don is recommended statewide, except in the east.  Loyal is recommended statewide, except in southeast and southern S.D.

Acceptable/Promising: Buff (hull-less) statewide; Morton and HiFi north of Hwy 212.

Barley
In 2004, the best top yield group percentages for yield were Eslick at 100%; Lacey and Legacy at 75%; Haxby and Valier at 63%; and Conlon, Tradition, and Drummond at 50% of the locations tested.  The better varieties over the past three years are Lacey and Excel at 100%; Drummond at 67%; and Conlon at 50% of the test locations. The two-row varieties Haxby, Eslick, and Valier tested one to three pounds higher in bushel weight than the other varieties across location.

Recommended: Lacey, statewide. Excel statewide except in the south and southeast.

Acceptable/Promising: Drummond statewide; Conlon statewide except east and south; Robust except south and southeast; Haxby and Valier west for feed.

SDSU Test results compiled by Robert G. Hall, extension agronomist; John Rickertsen, research associate; and Kevin K. Kirby, agricultural research manager.

The publication (EC 774) Small Grains 2005 Variety Recommendations and 2004 Crop Performance Results has more comprehensive information, including winter wheat data.  It is available on the Internet at http://plantsci.sdstate.edu/varietytrials/vartrial.html.

Tips on Analyzing Variety Performance Information

• Always compare yields from the same period of time. Compare one-year yields with other one-year yields and three-year yields with other three-year yields. Don’t compare a one-year average with a three-year average.
• Before evaluating any data at a location, determine whether the data are valid. The coefficients of variation (CV) value often listed at the bottom of a table is a measure of experimental error. Yield tests with a CV of 20% or more contain higher amounts of experimental error than tests with a CV of 10% or less.
• Use the test least-significant-difference (LSD) value to evaluate yield differences between varieties. The LSD value indicates whether one variety really out-yields another. If a yield difference between two varieties is greater than the LSD value, the varieties differ in yield. If the yield difference is equal to or less than the LSD value, the varieties do not statistically differ in yield.
• Sometimes a LSD value is not given and a designation such as $$ or N/A is listed. This indicates yield differences were not significant (NS) or yield differences could not be detected.
• When evaluating yields, remember that environmental conditions at a test location seldom repeat themselves from year to year. Therefore, look at as much yield data from as many trial locations and years as possible.
• Look at the performance or yield stability of a variety over several locations. A simple way of evaluating yield stability is to see how often a variety is in the top yield group over all test locations, giving the most credence to performance data in your growing area.

– South Dakota State University

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Hard Red Spring Wheat Yield Results, Western South Dakota locations, 2003-2004

	Western Location Yield Averages (13% moisture)
		Wall		Bison		Ralph		Western  Averages		State Avg.		State Top Yield Percentage$
		Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	Bu/A	9 Loc	6 Loc
Variety	(Hdg.)*	2004	3-Yr	2004	3-Yr	2004	3-Yr	2004	3-Yr	2004	3-Yr	2004	3-Yr
Ingot	(1)	31	29	25	-	50	-	35	-	44	43	0	33
Trooper	(1)	32	-	26	-	52	-	37	-	50	-	0	-
Forge	(1)	36	30	31	-	57	-	41	-	51	47	22	83
Walworth	(2)	37	31	28	-	57	-	41	-	51	46	22	50
Briggs	(2)	36	27	28	-	52	-	39		57	79	67	100
Granger	(2)	34	29	30	-	55	-	40	-	54	48	22	100
Freyr	(3)	35	-	27	-	52	-	38	-	52	-	0	-
Dapps	(4)	33	26	23	-	46	-	34	-	49	43	0	50
Steel-ND	(4)	35	-	27	-	56	-	39	-	54	-	33	-
Oklee	(4)	31	28	28	-	45	-	35	-	51	44	11	50
Knudson	(4)	29	26	24	-	55	-	36	-	55	47	44	100
Oxen	(4)	37	31	27	-	57	-	40	-	53	46	33	83
Russ	(4)	38	30	29	-	57	-	41	-	51	46	11	83
Reeder	(5)	34	30	30	-	57	-	40	-	51	46	11	83
Norpro	(5)	40	28	31	-	61	-	44	-	54	46	44	83
Chris,Ck	(5)	33	26	26	-	42	-	34	-	40	36	0	17
Dandy	(7)	34	-	27	-	54	-	38	-	51	-	11	-
Alsen	(6)	30	27	27	-	54	-	37	-	49	44	0	50
Mercury	(7)	29	-	26	-	57	-	37	-	53	-	33	-
Granite	(7)	37	28