MNHRZ FROST LEARNING CENTRE
Report by Mick Faulkner, Agrilink
Who are the winners and losers in the wheat frost and variety debate?
Over a three year period there really isn’t much in it!
Below are the results of Agrilink & MNHRZ trials during the period 2021 to 2023 on a frost red zone at Farrell Flat.
It would appear that on average it would be best to grow Vixen as there is a slight yield advantage over Calibre, DS Bennett & Denison. However, this result is heavily influenced by 2022 yields, when there was no yield loss due to frost. There would be some reluctance to grow Vixen after it was the most damaged in 2021.
DS Bennett produced the highest yield in 2021, but was completely undone by frost in 2023.
There are two losers from the trial. The first is the one who decides, after 2021, not to grow Vixen again because of the frost damage. If they shifted to DS Bennett, because it was the least affected by frost in 2021, they would be seriously regretting it after 2023. That would result in a loss in both 2021 and 2023.
Who is the winner? The one who grew DS Bennett in 2021 but was wise enough to completely change over to Vixen in 2023. But who is going to throw out the variety that has yielded so well for 2 years?
Who is the other winner? The one who picked with certainty at the start of the year when the damaging frost was going to occur and grew the best variety in each year!! We would all love to be that person! Good luck!
Maybe another winner is the one who doesn’t want to suffer the wipeouts by having all their eggs in one basket when it comes to variety choice for their frosty country. Reducing risk by sowing a mix might be a winner for some.
The highest average yield of the best unfrosted variety (from a green zone at the site) for the same three year period was 6478 kg/ha. That represents an average annual loss of 21-29% irrespective of variety choice and 47% if the most damaged variety each year was grown. Conversely the range of mixtures resulted in yield loss, compared to unfrosted, of 25-27% with no blowouts.
That is the advantage of mixes. In any year the mix yield is between the yields of the individual varieties that make up the mix, not the highest nor the lowest. Mixes have avoided the disaster years but don’t quite reach the heights of the best individual in any year.
Calibre & Denison
Vixen & DS Bennett
Calibre & DS Bennett
MNHRZ are grateful for the support of this project by SAGIT & the GRDC
Vixen & Calibre