Evaluating an Advanced Intensive Management Strategy for Virginia Wheat

Current Virginia soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) management strategies have been in place for over 20 years. A new advanced intensive management (AIM) system has been evaluated in order to improve Virginia wheat yields and attempt to bring state average wheat yields of 4288 kg ha⁻¹ more closely in-line with the maximum yield achieved in the Virginia Tech Official Soft Red Winter Wheat Trials of 7400 kg ha⁻¹. Increases in nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates and splits, a chelated micronutrient blend, increased seeding rates, and a "no tolerance" pest control methodology were compared to current intensive management practices in this study. Additional fall N application and an increased seeding rate resulted in an increased number of tillers m-2 at growth stage (GS) 25 and biomass at GS 30. This increased number of tillers may lead to a greater amount of viable grain head production and increased wheat yields. Higher seeding and N application rate resulted in dramatically increased lodging in 2009 with resultant yield loss. Grain yield was significantly affected by management type in three of six instances. The number of heads m-2 was the yield component factor most influenced by factors tested in these studies.