Prevent Winter Kill In Winter Wheat

 

Adverse winter weather can result in damage and even death to winter wheat in South Dakota.

 

"Lack of snow cover on fields increases the incidence of winterkill. Ice from rain could also result in problems, as oxygen supply to dormant plants may be cut off due to water puddling and ice formation," said Ruth Beck, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist.

 

Beck added that in fields with low residue, multiple freeze/thaw cycles can cause soil to heave, which can physically push plants up and out of the ground.

 

Beck's colleague, Sara Berg, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist, explained that even though winter wheat goes through a hardening process in the fall, which allows it to withstand low temperatures during the winter, periods of extreme cold or rapid fluctuations in temperatures can still result in damage to the winter wheat.

 

"Fields planted late in the fall can be more vulnerable to winterkill, as plants do not have time to develop and harden off sufficiently before winter. The degree of winter hardening changes with time, fluctuating temperatures, day length and other factors," Berg said. "Winter wheat plants are killed outright when their crowns die. Snow cover on fields can insulate the wheat and mitigate cold and fluctuating temperatures."

 

 

The key to protecting winter wheat is to keep the crown from dying. Sometimes cold weather will kill leaves, but if the crown survives, plants will recover. Below, Berg and Beck outlined a list of tips winter wheat producers should consider to help ensure their fields survive.

 

Fall 2016 weather in South Dakota was conducive to timely planting and good fall growth of winter wheat. Snow cover across the state throughout the winter months protected much of the winter wheat crop.

 

However, warm temperatures in late February resulted in loss of snow cover. Green wheat appeared from under the snow indicating that the wheat had suffered very little desiccation from winter winds.

 

"This could be a positive indication that much of the winter wheat made it through the winter in good condition," Beck said. "However, as the wheat loses its winter hardiness this spring, it can still be at risk if temperatures fluctuate and become cold for an extended period, especially in fields without upright residue to mitigate the fluctuations."

 

Berg added that there may also be areas in fields, such as low areas or south facing slopes that are showing some winterkill. Some areas in central South Dakota received rainfall in December. It may be too early to assess damage, if any, that resulted from the "winter" rain.