Fall Planted Triticale

by Sarah Houin

Right below knife is the top joint - or node. This is considered the growing point. The stem is swollen right above this joint. This stage is important because at this point several herbicides are off-label. The crop will respond to additional nitrogen at this growth stage, however, stand loss may occur from driving over the plants.

If you gently slice this swollen area open and un-twirl the whorl…

You’ll find a baby seed head! This seed head will continue to move up the plant.

Daily GDD (°F) = ((Daily Max Temp °F + Daily Min Temperature °F) / 2) - 32 °F.

This is the equation for calculating GDUs for wheat. The difference with corn (a summer annual) and triticale (a cool season grain) is the lower threshold number of 32 degrees. In corn it is 50 degrees.

Looking at the forecast I think we will accumulate on average 20 GDUs per day. Wheat requires 142 GDU’s to reach the next stage of maturity. According to this scale it looks like boot stage will occur in 3 weeks. However, keep in mind triticale is a cross between wheat and rye. Rye matures more quickly than wheat.

I haven’t been able to find a published scale for triticale, but going from experience I would say we need to check this field again in two weeks. Especially if it stays warm and wet. Also, the current stage of this triticale is about two weeks ahead of where it usually is according to calendar date.

Fall Planted Balansa Clover

Balansa clover was spread at 10 pounds per acre on September 13, 2023.

Look how fibrous the root system is. It was no problem to turn over a shovel full. The soil is very tilthy. We also have quite a few earthworms.

Fall Planted Hairy Vetch

I wanted to show you how the mycorrhizal fungi is colonizing the roots/stem of the hairy vetch. This is the white fuzzy-looking stuff on the roots. This is awesome to see because this fungi has to have a host, but when it does, it makes nutrients available to that plant that would otherwise be tied up or unavailable for plant use. It also makes the plant more defensive when it comes to disease.

“Mycorrhizae (fungi that live in association with plant roots and benefit the plant by aiding in water and nutrient absorption) may suppress individual pathogens. Cover crops influence the quantity and composition of mycorrhizae in soils and on the subsequent cash crop. Investigators have observed enhanced mycorrhizal populations in peach and tomato following a mycorrhizal cover crop. More recently, there was an increase in mycorrhizal colonization in watermelon grown after a hairy vetch or crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) cover crop. The cover crops improved mycorrhizal colonization of the watermelon roots and also reduced Fusarium wilt.”

https://southern.sare.org/resources/soil-biology-cover-crops-and-disease-suppression/