Recent Research Work

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 89, Issue 2, 16 August 1954, Page 161

Recent Research Work

CEREALS

THE Crop Research Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, passes its newly bred strains and varieties of crops and introductions from overseas to the Extension Division of the Department of Agriculture for field testing and this work forms a large proportion of the Division's experimental programme with annual crops.

WHEAT

IN the season 1953-54 34 variety trials were sown, the majority of these being in the South Island. One series of trials was concerned with the further

testing of promising lines which have consistently outyielded Cross 7 while equalling it in suitability for header harvesting. Unfortunately the most promising line is inferior in baking quality to Cross 7. It is possible, however, that further selection work by the plant breeder may improve the baking quality to a desirably high level. Some trials were conducted to find out whether the baking quality of this line could be improved by adding at sowing time various amounts of Hilgendorf, a very high baking quality wheat of medium yield. Varying proportions of Hilgendorf up to 40 per cent, have been used in these blends. Last season and also in this season the two varieties grew reasonably well together as blends. There was some reduction in yield, according to the amount of Hilgendorf used. It is not clear yet whether baking quality was sufficiently improved to make blending worth while.

In parts of South Canterbury and North Otago the variety Dreadnought is grown, mainly because of its very high yield and of the amount of grazing it provides and sometimes because of the large amount of good straw it produces and its weed-smothering ability. As it is subject to shaking, it is not suited to direct header harvesting. A header variety is desired in these districts and for several years trials have been conducted with this object in view. One line in particular, bred at the Crop Research Division, has shown promise, as it approaches the yields of Dreadnought, has long, clean, and heavy straw, resists lodging, and is suitable for header harvesting.

Trials to evaluate the use of the Australian variety Gabo for spring sowing have been continued. • As it yields as well as Tainui, the standard variety, and surpasses it in strength of straw, Gabo is considered promising. However it was found in the 1952-53 trials that baking quality was variable. Two lines of Gabo of different origin gave very different baking tests, though they were very similar in other. respects. Both of these were included in the 1953-54 trials. One line was of distinctly superior baking quality and will be preferred for further work.

BARLEY

Variety trials with barley in 1952-53 and 1953-54 consisted of comparisons of Kenia and a number

of other Scandinavian-type varieties and Research. The other Scandinavian varieties all closely resemble Kenia in appearance, though it has become apparent that they differ somewhat in yields and in some important agronomic features. Rigel, for instance, has suffered frequently from neck break, with consequent loss of yield. The varieties Maj a and Herta have shown promise for several years, and a third, Rika, also performed well in its first year of trial in 1953-54. All of the Scandinavian varieties tested are superior to Research in resisting lodging. The original Research used in New Zealand was mixed in type, and several lines were selected by the Crop

Research Division which differed markedly, notably in maturity. The earliest, called Early Research, was very quick to mature, but of poor malting quality. Mid-Research is higher in quality, but is subject to lodging. This is now released as certified Research barley. Laboratory tests on malting quality over several years have shown that the Scandinavian types are superior to Research in malting quality. None of the other Scandinavian varieties is superior to Kenia in malting quality.

DATS

Oat variety trials are directed mainly toward the discovery of a good milling oat variety which resists

lodging. Milford, a new English introduction, which is short and stiff in the straw with good grain yield has been one of the most successful introductions into trial work in recent years. Its yield appears to be at least equal to that of Onwards. The grain is not as attractive as varieties like Onwards and Abundance, but preliminary tests show that it is likely to be acceptable for milling. Its greatest value lies in its ability to withstand lodging under conditions in which the standard varieties are badly lodged. Steel, a Swedish variety, appeared in Extension Division trials for the first time in 1953-54. It has some degree of resistance to lodging.

MAIZE

Trials continue to be carried out in Poverty Bay, the chief maize-producing area, and they are mainly

concerned with the testing of double hybrid lines of maize of United States origin. Pfister 360, the main variety now grown, is a double hybrid. Trials in past years have revealed that certain lines have outyielded Pfister 360, sometimes by a considerable margin, but generally they have been much too late maturing to be considered as practicable replacements or have other practical disadvantages. Variety trials are continuing with many other hybrid maize varieties which appear likely to be of value under New Zealand conditions. —K. COTTIER

WHEAT PRODUCTION IN CANTERBURY

AN extensive sampling survey of wheat growing in the Canterbury Province was conducted to obtain estimates of the acreage of wheat grown on the various classes of land and to determine the

standard practices of wheat growing associated with each land class. From a random sample of approximately 20 per cent., based on acreage, a response of 89 per cent, of useful returns was obtained for the years 1951-52 and 1952-53. The main aim of this survey was to obtain preliminary information for determining the cost of production of wheat.

Results showed that on light land 1 per cent, of farm acreage was devoted to wheat, with 5 per cent, on medium and heavy land. Medium and heavy land was used for 70 per cent, of the total amount of wheat grown. In most districts the most common place in the rotation for wheat is after grass or after a brassica crop after grass, but there are several local variations. The most common pattern for the preparation of the ground included both skim ploughing and deep ploughing followed by about three working-down operations.

—JEAN G. MILLER