Agronomist Jared Spackman this fall will start a study of how soil moisture, particularly at planting, impacts dryland wheat yields in southern Idaho. He’s seeking growers to participate, particularly in the western and far-southern parts of the study area.
“We know that soil moisture is the main determining factor on yield for all of our wheat and barley crops, but more so on the dryland fields,” said Spackman, who is based at the University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center.The data could help dryland wheat growers fine-tune yield and nitrogen fertility expectations for the coming growing season, he said.
Relatively dry conditions, for example, could indicate lower yields and reduced nitrogen fertilizer application.