Zimmatic-Blog
Applying the Correct Amount of Water at the Right Time is Critical for Optimum Wheat Yields
28.05.2019
Whether it’s spring or winter wheat, effective water management is important at every stage of growth.
“As with all crops, it’s important to maintain the correct soil water balance with wheat,” said James Han, FieldNET Advisor solutions specialist at Lindsay Corporation. “Too much or too little water will stress the plant and negatively impact yields.”
The plants’ water needs vary with each stage of development. For example, Han said in the Kansas – Nebraska region, they are:
Emergence – Adequate moisture at seeding encourages germination and root development for healthy uniform stands.
Vegetative growth – Slight water stress during vegetative growth may have little impact on yield but may accelerate plant maturation.
Flowering – Yield loss from water stress during flowering cannot be recovered by adequate water late in the growing season.
Yield formation – Water stress during yield formation reduces both grain weight and quality.
Ripening – Excess water during ripening and dry down can induce lodging and yield loss.
So, how do you know when, where and how much to irrigate?
“Historically, growers have had to rely exclusively on visual inspections or use complex calculations to track soil moisture at each growth stage, but that’s no longer the case. FieldNET Advisor® is really all growers need,” Han said. “The technology does the work. It harnesses all of the critical inputs related to soil water balance and delivers field-specific irrigation recommendations, so growers know precisely when, where and how much to irrigate.”
Because the technology is seamlessly integrated into the powerful FieldNET® platform, Han said growers can put their irrigation plans into action with a single click and track progress from virtually anywhere.
In addition to spring and winter wheat, FieldNET Advisor can be used on 20 other crops around the world, including alfalfa, barley, corn, corn silage, cotton, dry edible beans, peanuts, popcorn, potatoes, sorghum, soybeans, sugarbeets, sweet corn, and surgarcane.
For more information about FieldNET Advisor, talk to your local Lindsay dealer or visit www.fieldnetadvisor.com.
For more information on the different crops FieldNET Advisors can be used on, check out some of our previous blog posts: