Optimizing Wide Row Wheat Production in Ohio.

In Ohio, wheat acreage has decreased since the 1970s.  Wheat acreage is decreasing partly due to an increase in corn and soybean prices and a reduction in equipment inventory.  Wide-row wheat production may increase profitability by allowing for relay intercropping of soybean and allows for wheat planting without the use of a drill.  A small plot study was established during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing seasons in Wooster and Custar, Ohio to evaluate the effect of row width and wheat variety on grain yield.  Three on-farm strip trials were established during the 2013-2014 growing season in Fulton County, Ohio to identify the optimum seeding rate for wide-row wheat.  In the small plot study, main plot factor was row width (7.5 in or 15 in) and subplot factor was wheat variety (Rupp 935, Rupp 972, Syngenta W1104, and Syngenta SY483).  In the on-farm strip trials, wide-row wheat (15 in row spacing) was planted at either 1.0 million seeds ac^-1 or 1.5 million seeds ^ac-1 and compared to the local practice of wheat grown in 7.5 in row spacing at 2.0 million seeds ac^-1.  Tiller, head counts, and grain yield were recorded for both studies.  In 2013 and 2014, grain yield was greatest when grown in narrow rows; however, under low-yielding conditions, wide-row wheat may provide greater economic return by reducing seed costs.  Wheat seeded at 1.0 million seeds ac^-1 yielded equal to or greater than wheat seeded at 1.5 million seeds ac^-1.  However, the local practice of wheat planted in 7.5 in row width at 2.0 million seeds ac^-1 yielded more compared to the wide-row wheat.