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| Hi Duishay. That's never an easy question to answer because there are many variables that can result in different yield outcomes. However, as a VERY rough guide, I have used a figure of 1 bu/ac for each healthy tiller per square foot at jointing. While this relationship is non linear (especially at higher head populations), it helps producers decide if a field is worth keeping, or not.
If you are in SE Nebraska, I am guessing your plants are still at the 3-4 leaf stage?. Early spring fertility (especially available N), soil moisture and temperatures will influence how many tillers per plant are generated. When 75-80F is reached in the next 2-3 weeks, your plants will switch from the vegetative to the reproductive stages and the crop will cease tillering.
If you have 15-20 plants per square foot now and each plant generates 2 healthy, head producing tillers, that would produce roughly 30-40 bu/ac. (Within good rainfall areas, I shoot for 50-60 heads per square foot in winter wheat, to produce maximum yields) I am guessing you need 30-40 bu/ac to justify keeping it - right?
When was the wheat planted and how consistent is the plant stand? You have applied your early spring N right ?
Phil N
www.needhamag.com
Edited by Phil N 4/13/2008 22:09
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Question for Phil N. and other wheat gurus
