S. Duiker: Checking Small Grain Stands

By: Sjoerd Duiker

Now is a good time to check whether to keep that small grain stand or eliminate it to plant another crop. For wheat, satisfactory yields depend on having at least 40 heads per linear foot on 7 inch row spacings (about 3 million head/A).

To achieve that, you need 17 plants per foot of row. However, wheat has the ability to compensate for poor stand by tillering. If stands are reduced below 50%, or 7-9 plants per foot of row, it is recommended to eliminate the wheat and plant a summer crop instead.

Source:psu.edu