Phenological Analysis of Forage Yield and Quality in Winter Wheat
1991
West, C. P. | Walker, D. W. | Bacon, R. K. | Longer, D. E. | Turner, K. E.
Accurate predictions of forage quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during spring would allow targeting of harvests or grazings to desired levels of nutritive composition to meet specific animal requirements. The objectives of this study were to compare number of days since 15 February (DAYS) and growing degree days (GDD, base 4.4 °C) as predictors of Feekes and Zadoks growth stages, and to compare DAYS, GDD, Feekes, and Zadoks growth stages as predictors of forage yield and quality. The 2-yr study on a Captina silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic, Typic Fragiudult) at the University of Arkansas Main Experiment Station, Fayetteville, AR, involved four cultivars of soft red winter wheat. Plots were harvested at six growth stages: beginning of pseudostem elongation, second node detectable, flag leaf collar just visible, boot swollen, inflorescence completely emerged, and soft dough. Feekes and Zadoks growth stage scales were regressed on DAYS and GDD. Forage yield, percentage lamina (ratio of leaf lamina to whole-plant dry weight), and nutritive concentrations were regressed on Feekes, Zadoks, DAYS, and GDD. Lower root error mean squares were generally obtained with GDD than DAYS for predicting growth stages. Zadoks scale and DAYS were generally the best predictors of forage yield, whereas Feekes scale and DAYS were the best predictors of percentage lamina and crude protein. Zadoks and GDD were the best predictors of neutral detergent fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The Zadoks scale and GDD would be useful parameters in wheat growth models designed to target harvests to desired levels of forage quality. Published with approval of the Director of the Arkansas Agric. Exp. Stn
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