Lennox Alternative Wheat Interim grower notes 2013/14 (Autumn sown) Introduction Lennox Saaten Union Background to the variety Lennox is a hard endosperm, alternative wheat. It produces good yields and is ideally suited to later sowing (for example after harvesting potatoes and sugar beet). Because it is adapted to later sowing it also provides an opportunity to control autumn germination of black-grass. The variety produces a good sample with high protein content, associated good hagberg falling number and specific weight. Baking tests for Warburton have indicated good potential for the variety as being suitable for use in the bread making process. Breeder Strube GmbH & Co. KG Germany. UK agent Saaten Union UK. Parentage Strube Line x Passat General background Lennox has been tested in Warburtons field trials for three seasons and is suited to the Warburtons bread making process. The variety is suited to late sowing and may be sown through to spring and has excellent resistance to yellow and brown rust. Because it is adapted to later sowing it allows the pre-sowing control programmes for difficult black-grass to be implemented.
% Yield (Solstice = 100%) Yield Potential Figure 1 (below) illustrates the treated yields achieved in trials (autumn sown) with Lennox compared with the variety Solstice over a three year period. Yield of Lennox as a % of Solstice (100%) autumn sown 108 % Yield of Solstice (100%) 106 104 102 100 98 96 2011 2012 2013 Mean Warburtons Trials Figure 1. Performance of Lennox vs Solstice Warburtons Trials. Lennox was also tested as a spring sown variety in a trial conducted by Warburtons, in 2013. The yield of Lennox was higher when autumn sown and was equivalent to the spring standard Paragon (which yielded 5.1t/ha) when spring sown. Little information exists for Lennox sown as a true spring crop so care is required when making comparisons. Agronomic Characteristics Lennox is relatively short (80cm, with PGR), stiff strawed and has good lodging resistance. It is suggested, however, that the variety would benefit from a medium input PGR programme. Lennox (when autumn sown) is intermediate in terms of maturity. It is best suited to drilling in late autumn (20 th October onwards). It does not have a latest safe sowing date so can be sown into the spring. When sown in autumn seed rates of between 300-400 seeds per m 2 should be used (depending on date and seed bed conditions). Seed rates for spring sowing should be adjusted to suit the conditions. Disease Resistance Lennox has excellent yellow and brown rust resistance and is rated 7 and 6 respectively for mildew and Septoria tritici. Lennox will benefit from a robust disease control programme, under high disease pressure situations and should be designed to protect the potential.
The following tables summarise the provisional variety ratings for Lennox in terms of disease resistance, agronomic characters and grain characteristics compared with Solstice. Disease ratings Lennox compared to Solstice (autumn sown) Lennox* Solstice Mildew (7) 4 Yellow rust 9 4 Brown rust 8 4 Septoria nodorum 5 Septoria tritici 6 5 Eyespot 5 Fusarium (6) 6 OWB midge N N Limited data available based on HGCA Recommended List 2014/15 Characteristics of Lennox vs Solstice when sown in late autumn Lennox Solstice Height (cm) with PGR 80 73 Lodging Maturity Resistance to sprouting 7 Endosperm Hard Hard Protein 12.9 HFN 314 Specific weight 79.1 Latest safe sowing date None End Jan Limited data available based on HGCA Recommended List 2014/15
Soils Lennox can be grown on a wide range of soil types. Husbandry Guidelines Seed treatments Consider seed treatments to prevent early disease infection. Please note, seed treated with products such as Redigo Deter must not be sown between 1 st January and 30 th June. For the latest guidance on seed treatments (including the neonicitinoid issue) please call the Openfield seed office (01476 862639). Sowing date Lennox can be sown from 20 th October onwards. There is no latest safe sowing date so Lennox may also be sown as a spring sown crop although yields will be less when spring sown. Seed rates Optimum seed rates will vary according to thousand grain weight, time of sowing and expected establishment (which is affected by seed bed condition). Seed rate of between 300-400 seeds per m 2 should be considered for autumn sowing. Adjust seed rates for spring sowing. Phosphate, Potash Lime Applications of P & K should be made to standard RB209 recommendations for the soil levels that prevail. Soil ph should be regularly monitored and maintained at around 6-6.5, for most soils, to ensure that other nutrients do not become limiting. Nitrogen First Wheat Situation autumn sown The key to growing a quality winter wheat variety such as Lennox is to achieve the highest yield potential with good grain characteristics but not to erode standing power. All nitrogen applications should be made according to the RB209 and NVZ guidelines. The preferred three split nitrogen approach has been found to be more reliable than a two split approach. For example the first application of nitrogen in mid-march should consist of no more than 50 kg/ha. This should be reduced if the crop has been sown in a very fertile situation where too much nitrogen could have a detrimental effect on straw strength. The second application should be targeted just prior to terminal spikelet which usually occurs mid- April and this should be the main part of the nitrogen application (in the region of 100kg / ha). The third application at the growth stage of flag leaf emergence delivers the remainder of the nitrogen required for maximum yield plus the nitrogen required for improved grain protein levels. In simple terms the nitrogen application works out roughly as 25% / 50% / 25% split with an additional amount added to the third application if growing the crop as a higher protein quality crop.
The nitrogen regime for a spring sown crop should be adjusted and reflect the guidance given in RB209. Please note. You will need to confirm that you have not applied late foliar nitrogen. Crops grown for Warburtons must not receive a late foliar nitrogen application (traditionally applied between GS 59 and 69). Land intended for cropping with wheat destined for Warburtons must not be treated with biosolids after the 30 th of June preceding the planting of the wheat crop. It is now well accepted that Sulphur deficiency is present in many soils in the country and therefore Sulphur applications are desirable or essential on most crops. The best approach is to apply 20 kg /ha S (this equates to 50 kg/ha SO 3 ) with in the first application of nitrogen. You will need to provide a record that sulphur has been applied to the crop destined for Warburtons or that there is an agronomically justifiable reason for not applying Sulphur containing fertiliser (eg tests indicate there is no need, the soil is not prone to deficiency or there is evidence of regular applications of FYM to the fields). Grass and Broadleaf weed control Grass weeds such as black-grass can have significantly detrimental effects on yield. A number of populations of black-grass have developed resistance/tolerance to certain herbicides. It may be necessary to use pre-planting applications of glyphosate to remove early germinating weeds. Later sowing of Lennox fits with this practice. Fungicide Lennox has very good disease resistance and the fungicide regimes should reflect the varieties disease strengths and weaknesses. Lennox does not usually require T0 as standard but if the grower is going to go through the crop with a PGR application we would suggest that the grower may wish to include a low cost and effective fungicide product to clean up the crop as it emerges from the winter period. The T1 application should be designed to reflect the disease pressure and likely disease development based on the variety s susceptibility. T2 is the most important spray for disease control and yield potential and a robust fungicide programme should be implemented. Triazole chemistry with chlorothalonil or triazole mixed with SDHI chemistry (eg Aviator 235 (Bayer Cropscience), Seguris (Syngenta) and Adexar (BASF) offer robust solutions to disease control. The T3 fungicide application is important for late foliar disease control and especially ear diseases. A reduced rate strobilurin combined with a reduced rate of triazole should suffice Your agronomist will be able to advise you on the most appropriate programme for your situation. Orange wheat blossom midge. Monitor crops for risk of damage as Lennox does not have resistance to OWBM.
Nitrogen and Carbon Footprint Growers may choose to use either urea or ammonium nitrate based products to grow wheat for Warburtons.. As we may wish to carbon footprint the wheat, careful considerations need to be given to nitrogen use as it contributes the most to the foot print of wheat. Abated ammonium nitrate will have a lower carbon footprint than non abated products as the loss of nitrous oxide (a powerful greenhouse gas) has been significantly reduced during the production process. Thus products such as Nitram (34.5% N) from Growhow have a 40% lower footprint than other nitrogen products that have not been produced from abated processes. Urea (46% N) has, in the past, had the disadvantage that some of the N is lost due to volatalisation when urea is converted to ammonia by the soil enzyme urease. KαN, from Koch Industries, incorporates Agrotain, a urease inhibitor, which significantly reduces the volatalisation loss making more efficient use of the N. Use of these products can therefore help you to reduce the greenhouse gas production associated with growing wheat with positive benefits in terms of carbon footprint. Please note. We may ask you for agronomic information relating to your wheat crop in order to calculate a Carbon Footprint for the crop. Summary Lennox provides the grower with high yielding, quality alternative wheat, suited to the Warburtons bread making process, through a good disease profile. Although possessing high levels of disease resistance it is still worth implementing a good fungicide programme. Growers have been tempted to miss out fungicide sprays on very disease resistant varieties to their detriment and have lost any enhanced physiological benefits derived from either the strobilurin or SDHI chemistry where this benefit is claimed. Lennox stands well under high nitrogen regimes but it is important to use a robust PGR programme. If you have any specific questions relating to the agronomy of wheat crops being grown for Warburtons please e-mail David leaper (david.leaper@openfield.co.uk). Disclaimer: The information in the technical note (above) is intended as guidance, only, for growers and is based on limited information. Consider the relevance of the information provided to individual circumstances with your Farm Business Advisor/agronomist. Some information used is from breeders trials. Consult the HGCA recommended List for final confirmation of variety attributes. Openfield cannot accept any liability for any loss sustained from use of the above information. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. All product trade names are acknowledged as the property of the relevant manufacturer. OpenfieldTM Honey Pot Lane, Colsterworth, Lincs NG33 5LY. 2 nd December 2013. Saaten Union UK agents for Lennox