KWS Montana. Growers Guide SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856

Transcription

1 KWS Montana Growers Guide SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856

2 Content Introduction 04 Why You Should Grow KWS Montana Varietal Characteristics 06 Pedigree 06 Grain, Milling And Baking Performance 08 Disease Resistance 10 Agronomic Characteristics Crop Management Strategies 12 Sowing Information 12 Time of Sowing & Seed Rates 13 Crop Nutrition 14 Fertiliser Requirements & Application Timing 15 Additional Nutrients 15 PGR Strategy 02 KWS Montana: Growers Guide 03

3 Benefits: Exceptional grain quality, with proteins regularly around 14% Yields on par with Solstice and Cordiale Vigorous growth habit Good disease resistance Excellent resistance to Fusarium Performance over a range of soil types Good second wheat performance in trial Early to harvest Introduction Why You Should Grow KWS Montana If you are looking for opportunity to add value to your wheat rotation and be involved in innovative variety development, KWS Montana is a great option to sow through to the late autumn this season. New to the UK market in 2015, KWS Montana is a high quality German E grade milling wheat variety which can be grown under UK conditions. With yields on a par with UK favourites, Solstice and Cordiale, good disease ratings and the potential to deliver very high breadmaking quality, KWS Montana has the potential to become a key component of the breadmaking industry in the UK, delivering economic benefits to both growers and end users alike. Rather than providing a stringent protocol, the aim of this guide is to provide sufficient technical information for growers to get the best out of KWS Montana; both in terms of maximising grain quality, yield potential and agronomic performance on-farm. KWS Montana is a registered variety in Germany and is available to the UK via the EU Common Catalogue. The data presented in this guide is obtained from trials conducted by KWS UK Ltd, over 3 seasons. 04 KWS Montana: Growers Guide 05

4 KWS Montana: Varietal Characteristics KWS Montana Breeder: KWS Lochow, Germany Pedigree: Kadu x Cubus/Privileg First Listed: Germany 2014 Pedigree Bred at the headquarters of KWS Lochow in Germany, KWS Montana is the result of a three-way cross based on the high quality German varieties Kadu x Cubus/ Privileg opportunity to be involved in innovative product development, deliver an essential high quality product and achieve good financial reward. Grain Quality, Milling And Baking Performance KWS Montana has proven itself in Germany delivering high proteins, often in excess of 14%, into mills and bakeries which offers end users high loaf volumes coupled with good stability. Following 12 months of intensive product development, end users across Poland, Sweden, Austria, Czech Republic and South Eastern Europe are now reporting the benefits of including KWS Montana into their grists. Protein KWS Montana Solstice Not in trial Skyfall Cordiale * Data Source: 2014 and average of 2 first wheat and 1 second wheat trials, KWS UK average of 5 first wheat sites, KWS UK Here in the UK, German E wheats are routinely imported by domestic millers to add strength into loaves and other bread products. Thanks to its UK adaptability and regional flexibility, KWS Montana offers millers the opportunity to source UK grown German E quality local to the mill. This obviously is a cost saving to the miller as well as offering are more timely supply with complete UK traceability. For UK growers, KWS Montana offers the In terms of grain quality, KWS Montana produces consistently excellent proteins in the UK routinely achieving 14% when grown under a standard Group 1-style milling wheat protocol. In addition, the variety constantly delivers excellent Hagbergs with good specific weights Average Quality (2015 and 2016) Protein (%) HFN Specific Weight (kg/hl) KWS Montana Skyfall Cordiale * Data Source: KWS Trials, PDF East 2015 and KWS Montana: Growers Guide 07

5 15 14 PDF East Milling Trials Yield Potential In Germany, KWS Montana is a high yielding E class wheat. These types are inherently lower yielding when grown under UK conditions; however, KWS Montana is able to still deliver competitive yields, in-line with to some of the current Group 1 Mildew KWS Montana has good resistance to mildew in the UK. Generally, in all but the highest pressure situations, this disease is a low priority in structuring the fungicide programme for the season. Septoria tritici UK observations agree with German scores where Brown Rust As with Yellow Rust, Brown Rust will be of limited concern and is easily controlled by virtually all commonly used fungicides. KWS Montana has inherent good resistance to Brown Rust. In high risk situations an ear wash fungicide with brown rust activity may be advisable to reduce potential late season attacks. 13 varieties. KWS Montana has a good to moderate rating for Septoria tritici; this would be an approximate 6 Fusarium 12 rating. Fungicide programmes should be targeted to As a key disease in Germany, excellent resistance 11 control this disease. The use of a good eradicant and protectant fungicide chemistry is recommended at to Fusarium is a key attribute of any variety resulting from our German breeding programme. In UK Yield t/ha KWS Montana Cordiale Skyfall Solstice * Data Source: KWS Trials, PDF East reasonably robust rates at T1 and T2 timings before the disease becomes established. Yellow Rust KWS Montana has excellent resistance to Yellow Rust. In breeding nurseries over the past couple of years resistances have remained unchanged. Under normal field situations, some early season disease has been observed, however, most fungicide programmes targeted to control Septoria tritici will have robust activity on yellow rust. trials, KWS Montana has confirmed this excellent resistance (8) in the past 3 years of observations. Eyespot There is no UK score for eyespot as infections have not been seen in UK trials to date crops need to be assessed especially in high risk situations and then control should be considered at T0 or T1 timings when chemistry with good eyespot activity should be used as an insurance Disease Resistance All disease scores are based on breeders assessments in untreated KWS trials over the period. KWS Montana offers experienced Group 1 growers a variety with good yield potential, combined with a very good all-round disease package including 8 for Yellow Rust, 8 for Brown Rust and a solid 6 for resistance to Septoria tritici. In addition, having been bred in Germany, where Fusarium is a disease of great importance, KWS Montana has good resistance to this disease (8). KWS Montana is likely to respond well to a structured fungicide programme targeted at prophylactic disease control. As with any variety, correct application timing is crucial. Disease Resistance Mildew Yellow Rust Brown Rust Septoria tritici Fusarium KWS Montana Solstice KWS Trinity Skyfall Cordiale * Data Source: KWS Montana data taken from KWS UK trials 2016 Solstice, KWS Trinity, Skyfall and Cordiale data from 2016/17 AHDB Recommended List - Winter Wheat 08 KWS Montana: Growers Guide 09

6 Agronomics Agronomic Characteristics KWS Montana has a solid agronomic package. It is a tall strawed variety with moderate resistance to lodging in the absence of PGR applications. In UK trials, KWS Montana measures 5 to 6cm taller than KWS Santiago; the variety is very responsive to PGRs and so a robust programme is recommended if maximum yields are to be achieved. In addition, the variety offers the early maturity that is expected by professional Group 1 growers equivalent to 1 day ahead of Solstice. The variety has a good resistance to sprouting coupled with an extremely high and durable Hagberg a key characteristic for any wheat grown for a quality market. Earliness (+/- JB Diego) Untreated Loding (1-9) Treated Lodging (1-9) Height (cm) KWS Montana Solstice KWS Trinity Skyfall Cordiale * Data Source: KWS Montana data taken from KWS UK trials 2016 Solstice, KWS Trinity, Skyfall and Cordiale data from 2016/17 AHDB Recommended List - Winter Wheat 10 KWS Montana: Growers Guide 11

7 KWS Montana: Crop Management Strategies Sowing Information KWS Montana can be grown on a range of soil types, but trials to date suggest that it may be best suited to lighter and medium soil types. Second wheat trials have been on Hanslop clay soils in Cambridgeshire. Performance has been consistent across soil types in regard performance to quality wheat controls. Time Of Sowing And Seed Rates KWS Montana is not suited to early drilling due to its vigorous growth habit. Ideally, It can be sown from 1st October through to mid December, depending on region. Optimum seed rates for KWS Montana will not differ from standard UK bread wheats where a spring plant population of 260 plants per m² is the target. Seed rates must vary according to site, soil types and seed bed condition; however, as a rule of thumb the following are suggested: KWS Montana Seed Rates per m² 1-15 October October 1-15 November November Due to the vigorous competitive canopy development, KWS Montana is an effective suppressant of blackgrass. However because of the quality requirements of the end market it is unwise to significantly increase seed rates for black grass competition. Crop Nutrition KWS Montana is a typical German E quality wheat with a vigorous erect growth habit offering a competitive plant canopy. Three factors need to be considered when planning the nutritional strategy for this variety: Nitrogen strategies should be targeted at producing 14%+ grain protein, whilst avoiding large uptakes resulting in excessive growth at stem extension Growth can start earlier in the Spring compared with mainstream UK variety types (similar to early UK types), our warmer winter weather does not hold crops like continental winters. Calendar timings of the first top dressing and T0 fungicides may be earlier than most UK variety types. The variety has the potential to be taller than UK types. Care should be taken to avoid large uptakes of nitrogen which can produce excessive growth and stem extension. Straw strength should not be overlooked so a nutritional strategy in combination with PGR applications requires planning. 12 KWS Montana: Growers Guide 13

8 Fertiliser Requirements And Application Timing Fertiliser recommendations should always be based around RB209 and not exceed NVZ crop N max s. Recommendations should be received from a FACTS qualified advisor. The aims of the fertiliser strategy should be to hit a balance for the crops needs with regard to crop structure, soil nitrogen availability and total crop requirements to achieve the aims. Total amounts applied would vary between site, season and soil reserves. The KWS approach to fertilisation is to provide as much as a consistent supply to the plants as possible. Regardless of product we would advocate the three way split of application to achieve the above point. Early spring management should target a plant population of 260 plants/m². Each plant may be carrying between 3 & 4 tillers, giving a total of just under 1000 tillers in early spring. More than this number creates a structure which is hard to support and this level is adequate to achieve the targets set. From GS31 back tillers start to die off. The AHDB Wheat Growth Guide indicates 30% of nitrogen will be taken up at this point. The temptation is greatest at this point to apply a large dose. While there are good arguments for this in some years and areas due to the weather patterns, it will increase the retention of unnecessary tillers and lead to increased lodging risk. There is no substitute for spring tiller counting to justify decisions. 50% of total nitrogen is taken up in the period between first node and flag leaf. A further 20% is taken up between flag leaf and flowering GS61. 70% of the nitrogen demand of the crop should be in the plant inside this construction phase. Only a small amount of nitrogen is taken up by plants after flowering (30kg/ha). Most grain protein will come from redistribution from stems, leaves and roots. As an E milling type, KWS Montana is efficient at assimilating nitrogen into protein; typical rates of 280kg/ha will be required to achieve the balance of yield and protein: Crops that are too thick may not have enough reserves in each tiller to achieve high proteins. Crops than are too thin, sub 400 ears/m² may reach high proteins but yield has been missed. Final ear numbers should aim to reach 550 ears/m². Ear counts completed around flowering time are easily carried out before ears start to neck over making counting more difficult. Additional Nutrients Nitrogen is the key driver in crop yields. Its utilisation is only as good as the crops next limiting nutrient. Phosphate and potash are rarely considered limiting factors on most soils but at certain times of year or under conditions of stress their availability is critical to build the crop architecture, resist stress and help nutrient efficiency and water transportation. Applications containing sulphur should be routine in milling wheat crops. High yielding milling crops will require more than standard for efficient protein accumulation. Trace elements are an important addition on many soils. Much of the requirement will be based on field history. Applications may be more justifiable on higher value crops such as milling wheat. Crops should be monitored closely throughout the season so any elemental deficiencies can be addressed quickly. PGR Strategy We recommend a comprehensive programme to shorten this variety, promote tiller retention and provide good anchorage. A robust T0 & T1 including Chlormequate and Trinexapac-ethyl would be advised. Depending on drilling date and crop thickness, we would recommend a robust dose of a late season PGR such as Terpal or Cerone. * Terpal and Cerone are registered trademarks of BASF and contain 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and Mepiquat chloride 14 KWS Montana: Growers Guide 15

9 Further Information If you need any further information or advice on growing KWS Montana, then please us at: or telephone For more about KWS UK Ltd and our other varieties, please visit our website at: Key Contacts Andrew Newby Managing Director Will Compson Cereals Product Manager Bill Lankford Sales Manager Kirsty Richards Value Chain Manager Julie Goult Commercial Manager John Miles Product Development Manager Martin Brown Eastern Variety Specialist Rose Riby Northern Variety Specialist KWS Montana: Growers Guide 17

10 KWS UK LTD 56 Church Street Thriplow Royston Hertfordshire SG8 7RE