Introduction to Varietal Performance Research

Recent trials conducted by Agrii suggest that while varietal differences are evident across various production scenarios, there is little distinction in their performance between direct drilling and conventional cultivation systems.

The Importance of Varietal Performance

Varietal performance across different production scenarios is a fundamental aspect of Agrii's Integrated Crop Management (ICM) programme, according to Dr. Ruth Mann, the company's Head of Integrated Crop Technologies.

"All trials conducted at Agrii aim to furnish growers with essential insights into managing the evolving spectrum of crop production systems, with varieties being central to this endeavour," she explains.

"The objective of our research and development efforts is to address every farmer's triple bottom line, ensuring that yields and profitability are optimised while safeguarding the environment.

"Identifying the most suitable variety for sustainable cereal production is a crucial component of any ICM programme. However, it has not always been evident whether varieties perform uniformly across all circumstances.

"Of particular interest in recent years has been the performance of varieties in direct drilling versus conventional ploughing systems, and our ongoing research is shedding light on this issue."

Insights from Trials

According to Agrii's Seed Technical Manager, John Miles, recent indications suggest that growers should select varieties based on their potential performance in their specific locality and growing conditions, rather than attempting to determine which ones best suit their cultivation system.

"Two years of trials conducted across two different locations employing both direct drilling and conventional cultivation systems have failed to yield any statistical evidence suggesting that certain varieties are better suited to one approach over the other," he explains.

Hypotheses Tested

• The absence of soil disturbance in direct drill soils could lead to nitrogen deficiency, resulting in slow-growing crops, with certain varieties coping better than others.
• Direct drilling may lead to earlier sowing, potentially influencing varietal performance.

"Consequently, many producers transitioning to direct drilling from ploughing inquire about the varieties likely to excel in the new system, sparking considerable debate over the years," says John Miles.

Trial Locations and Conditions

The trials, conducted in Huntingdon and Braintree, featured Hanslope series clay soils, representative of 35% of the UK's arable area, according to John Miles.

"Heavy clays pose more challenges when transitioning to direct drilling but are typical of soils found in the East of the country. Both sites employed the same range of 18 popular RL wheat varieties," he explains.

Observations from Braintree

"At Braintree, continuous wheat has been the norm for 40 years, although direct drilling is now being explored to reduce costs," says John.

• In 2022, direct drilled plots yielded an average of 8.9t/ha compared to 9.5t/ha for ploughed ones due to poor establishment and significant slug pressure.
• In 2023, establishment was more uniform, with yield differences narrowing to 0.4t/ha between the two approaches.
  
  

Observations from Huntingdon

"At Huntingdon in 2022, direct drilling outperformed ploughing by 0.6t/ha, attributed to favourable conditions for direct drilled plots compared to ploughed ones. Similar conditions were observed in 2023, with direct drilled plots outyielding ploughed ones by 0.7t/ha," says John.

Conclusions from the Trials

Overall, while significant varietal performance differences were noted at each site, there was no correlation between any variety and its performance in direct drilled or plough-based systems.

"Varietal performance is primarily influenced by establishment conditions and subsequent growth throughout the season, rather than suitability to a particular production system," explains John.

Key Takeaway

In summary, a variety that performs well in a ploughed situation is likely to excel in a direct-drilled scenario. Any observed differences in varietal performance between cultivation systems are negligible compared to other critical factors influencing variety selection.