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| Narrow row spacing (for wheat anyway) allows you to raise the upper yield potential. All of the wheat replicated trials and strip trials that I have conducted have resulted in a increased yield in favor of the narrower rows. I have heard others say that the wider rows have yielded the same as the narrower rows, but I might suggest there were other limiting factors involved that capped the yields. If these limiting factors were eliminated, many should see higher yields with the narrower rows. After all, if the average yield increase for 7.5" rows (compared to 10" rows) is 5%+, then this will pay for the extra units quickly.
Back home in the UK, most drills have 3 3/4 to 5" row spacing and research over the years has proven the benefits of the narrower rows. However in this country, there is more no-till and the requirement for increased clearance and wider rows.
Here is a University link from MA that I just found. http://extension.umd.edu/publications/PDFs/FS446.pdf (It states on page 2, that 4" wheat rows consistently yield 8-10% more than 7-8" rows)
Here is some of the work on wheat row spacing I conducted in KS last year. (Click the link for no-tilling with single and double-disc seeders) http://www.needhamag.com/conference_handouts/
Phil N
www.needhamag.com
Edited by Phil N 3/16/2008 20:44
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Row spacing for soybeans and wheat?
