Abstract Long‐term agroecosystem research trials, particularly supracentennial experiments (SCEs, lasting over 100 years), are invaluable for establishing the sustainability of agricultural systems. As research advances over time, it is common for SCE to fall short of modern experimental design and principles, necessitating modifications to ensure its continued relevance and scientific rigor. Knorr–Holden plot is a long‐term irrigated maize ( Zea mays L.) fertility experiment established with one replication in 1912, increased to two in 1952, and four in 2014. We investigated whether increasing the number of replications from two to four affected inferences that can be drawn from the experiment. The experiment with the initial two replications and later four was arranged as a split‐plot design (whole plots: manure; subplots: nitrogen [N] rates). A new factor (replication set) was established with two levels: the old replication set (Replications 1 and 2), and the new replication set (Replications 3 and 4). Two mixed models were fit, with the model assuming either equal or unequal variance among replication sets. The interactions involving replication sets were assessed for significance, and the Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to determine the variance structure to include in the model. All two‐ and three‐way interactions involving replication sets with manure and nitrogen rate were insignificant ( p ≥ 0.05). The two models were not statistically different (∆AIC < 2). Insignificant interactions involving replication sets implied that inferences drawn from this trial did not change after adding replications, and a homogeneous variance model was appropriate for modeling treatment effects.

Yellow dwarf viruses (YDV), comprising strains of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV), constrain cereal production in the United States by causing yellow dwarf disease (YDD). Five principal B/CYDV strains occur in cereals: BYDV-PAV, -MAV, -RMV, -SGV, and CYDV-RPV. Although YDV has been reported in Nebraska, cultivar-specific responses and field-level strain composition remain poorly characterized. We conducted a two-year (2024-2025), multi-location field study at Mead, Fairbury, and Concord, Nebraska to evaluate 10 widely grown wheat and barley cultivars for YDD incidence, virus strain diversity, and aphid infestation. Across years and locations, YDV infection was higher in wheat (29.73%) than in barley (12.53%). In wheat, cv. SY Monument exhibited the highest YDV incidence (36-92%) and the greatest aphid abundance, whereas cv. Ruth consistently showed the lowest incidence (4-20%) and minimal aphid infestation. In barley, cv. Fortress had the highest infection levels (8-48%) and aphid abundance, while cvs. NB19420 and NB21427 were generally the least infected (0-20% and 4-12%, respectively) and supported the lowest aphid populations. Strain composition differed by crop: wheat infections were dominated by PAV-associated single and mixed infections, whereas barley shifted toward MAV-dominated infections with reduced strain diversity. Aphid abundance was positively associated with YDV infection in wheat and barley. Collectively, these results highlight the interacting roles of host susceptibility, strain diversity, and vector dynamics in shaping YDD epidemiology and support integrated cultivar- and vector-based management strategies.

Tillage is an integral part of the crop production system and is one of the crucial management decisions producers make to enhance soil health and crop productivity. However, its contribution to winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield over time requires further investigation in dryland cropping systems. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of tillage practices on the rate at which winter wheat grain yield changes over time. A long‐term tillage experiment established as a winter wheat–fallow in 1970 was used to address the research objective. The tillage treatments included moldboard plow (MP), stubble mulch (SM), and no‐till (NT) and were assigned to three blocks arranged as a randomized complete block design. The rate at which grain yield changed over time was studied using data from 1972 to 2010. The rate at which grain yield changed between 1972 and 2010 was not significantly different from zero for all the tillage practices with grain yield decreasing by approximately 10 kg ha −1 year −1 . The slopes associated with each of these tillage practices did not differ from each other, suggesting that tillage practices did not affect the rate at which grain yield changed over time. In dryland cropping systems without nutrient application, yield trends may remain similar among tillage practices, and the long‐term decline in soil fertility or quality possibly decelerates organic crop producers from harnessing the full benefits of improved genotypes.

Integrating cover crops (CCs) into cropping systems offers multiple benefits, including soil erosion control, nitrogen cycling, organic matter accumulation, weed suppression, and forage for livestock. Biomass, a key driver of these benefits, depends on species selection and adaptation to environmental conditions. In the western US's semiarid climate-characterized by cold, dry winters and short spring growing periods-CC options are limited due to winterkill risk and limited time between main crop cultivation. This study evaluated the biomass of 20 commercially available species, including grasses (seven), legumes (four), brassicas (three), and mixtures (six), grown from March to May at Sidney and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 2022 and 2023. At Sidney, Jerry oat (Avena sativa L.) had the greatest biomass (1.13 Mg ha(-1)), exceeding other species by over 60%. At Scottsbluff, P919 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and a mixture of Lavina barley, 4010 pea (Pisum sativum L.), and Barsica rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) had the greatest biomass (0.71 Mg ha(-1)). Grasses had 140% greater biomass than legumes and brassicas. Spring-planted CCs also had supplemental forage potential, with greater crude protein and total digestible nutrients, particularly in oat and barley. Growing degree days and precipitation explained 44% and 34% of biomass variation, respectively. All species had carbon-to-nitrogen ratios below 16. Despite lower biomass than reported thresholds, modest spring biomass of some species offers an alternative to winterkill or autumn planting constraints in semiarid systems. Results underscore the importance of selecting appropriate species suited to local conditions to maximize biomass and nutritive value.

Estimating potential crop yield during the growing season allows growers to adjust inputs, set reasonable harvest expectations, and guide marketing decisions. Therefore, the ability to estimate yield is a valuable yet difficult goal for growers. To evaluate the potential of several methods of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield prediction, this experiment used published methods based on phenological characteristics: stand and tiller/spike counts, and newer methods that employ image- and reflectance-based approaches, such as fractional green canopy cover (FGCC) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) readings. This experiment was conducted across six locations (Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Intensively Managed at Cheyenne, Deuel, and Kimball counties) in western Nebraska during 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 for a total of 11 site-years. Treatments consisted of seven winter wheat varieties that were evaluated in the Winter Wheat State Variety Trials. Stand count did not show a significant correlation with wheat yield (0.09) nor model fit for yield estimation. Spike count was significantly correlated with yield (0.54), but efforts to use it to estimate final yield were not significant. Due to the inconsistency of yield prediction with historical methods, analyses of novel methods of yield estimation were warranted. NDVI and FGCC readings correlate with wheat yield and model fit efforts were successful. NDVI at Feekes 10 correlated significantly at 0.39, while FGCC had correlations of 0.56, 0.50, and 0.68 at Feekes 2, 4, and 10 (respectively). This experiment suggests that NDVI and FGCC are methods that could be used to replace outdated and laborious approaches.

Abstract Corn residue grazing is an economical winter feed resource for cows in the Midwest. However, questions about changes in the feeding value have been raised. A 2-yr experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn grain yield on the quantity and quality of corn residue. In yr 1, 32 hybrids were evaluated from four locations in Nebraska. In yr 2, 31 hybrids were evaluated from three locations in Nebraska. Each hybrid was harvested from four replicate plots. Three of the locations were irrigated and four were rainfed. Observed grain yields ranged from 1,416 to 22,318 kg/ha (23 to 355 bushels/acre) with a mean of 12,704 kg/ha (202 bushels/acre). As corn yield increased, the amount of grain relative to whole plant biomass (harvest index) increased (P < 0.01). Harvest index ranged from 48.4% to 67.6% and averaged 59.3%. The increase in harvest index indicates there was less residue produced per kilogram of corn grain produced in greater yielding corn. However, as expected, total amount of residue (kg/ha) still increased (P < 0.01) as grain yield (kg/ha) increased. Within the residue, the proportions of leaf and husk increased (P < 0.01) slightly, stalk decreased (P < 0.01) slightly, while the proportion of cob did not change (P = 0.62) as grain yield increased. On average, the observed plant proportions in this experiment were 15.8% husk, 18.6% leaf, 50.5% stalk and 15.1% cob (DM basis). As grain yield increased, the proportion of husk within residue increased from 14 to 21% and leaf increased from 17 to 24%. In contrast, the proportion of stalk within residue decreased from 53 to 41%. Cattle primarily consume leaf and husk when grazing corn residue, thus the availability and digestibility of those plant parts could be a key factor that affects diet quality of grazing cattle. Both the digestible organic matter (DOM, % of DM) in leaf and husk and the kilograms of DOM from leaf plus husk per 25.4 kilograms of grain declined (P < 0.01) as grain yield increased. On average, the DOM (% of DM) for husk was 69.3% but declined from 83.6 to 56.4% with increasing in grain yield. The average DOM (% of DM) for leaf was 55.6% and declined from 65.3 to 41.6% as grain yield increased. The average amount of DOM from leaf plus husk was 3.6 kg/25.4 kg of grain (8 lb/bushel) and declined from 5.8 to 2.5 kg/25.4 kg of grain (12.8 to 5.5 lb/bushel) as grain yield increased. Thus, the concentration of nutrients in corn residue declined as grain yield increased, meaning greater yielding corn had reduced quality residue. The impacts of this decline in diet quality on cow performance should be further evaluated.

Biochar may improve the health of environmentally sensitive soils (i.e., low C, sandy, sloping) especially if combined with cover crops (CCs), but research is scant. We assessed how wood biochar (836 g C kg(-1)) applied at 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 Mg ha(-1) to sandy, sloping, and semi-arid soils with and without CCs affects soils and crop yields in the central US Great Plains for 3 years. We measured crop yields and CC biomass each year, and most soil properties in Years 1 and 3. Biochar did not interact with CCs, suggesting the combination was no better than biochar or CC alone. In the semi-arid soil, crop and CC did not establish due to persistent droughts. Biochar benefits were highly site-specific. Biochar improved some soil properties but only in the sandy and sloping soils and at the biochar application depth (0- to 15-cm soil depth). The 50 Mg biochar ha(-1) improved the soil's ability to sorb water (0.08 cm s(-1/2)). Also, in the sandy soil, it increased soil organic matter concentration (2.5 g kg(-1)), soil pH (0.65 units), and available water (0.07 m(3) m(-3)) only in Year 1, suggesting a biochar benefit in sandy soils is short-lived. In the sloping soil, >25 Mg biochar ha(-1) reduced bulk density (0.16 Mg m(-3)) and increased soil mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (0.58 mm), organic matter concentration (11.42 g kg(-1)), infiltration (9.35 cm), CC biomass production (0.27 Mg ha(-1)), and some microbial biomass groups. Biochar did not affect crop yields. Overall, >25 Mg biochar ha(-1) improved properties in some soils without interacting with CCs.

Off-target movement of growth regulator herbicides can cause severe injury to susceptible plants. Apart from not spraying on windy days or at excessive boom heights, making herbicide applications using nozzles that produce large droplets is the preferred method for reducing herbicide drift. Although large droplets maintain a higher velocity and are more likely to reach the leaf surface in windy conditions, their ability to remain on the leaf surface is poorly understood. Upon impact with the leaf surface, droplets may shatter, bounce, roll off, or be retained on the leaf surface. We examined how different nozzles, pressures, and adjuvants impact spray droplet adsorption on the leaf surface of common lambsquarters and soybean. Plants were grown in a greenhouse and sprayed in a spray chamber. Three nozzles (XR, AIXR, and TTI) were evaluated at 138, 259, and 379 kPa, respectively. Dicamba (0.14 kg ae ha(-1)) was applied alone and with methylated seed oil (MSO), a non-ionic surfactant, silicone-based adjuvant, crop oil concentrate, or a drift reduction adjuvant. A 1,3,6,8-pyrene tetra sulfonic acid tetra sodium salt was added as a tracer. Dicamba spray droplet adsorption when using the XR nozzle, which produced the smallest spray droplets, was 1.75 times greater than when applied with the TTI nozzle with the largest spray droplets. Applying dicamba with MSO increased adsorption on leaf surfaces nearly 4 times the amount achieved without an adjuvant. The lowest application pressure (138 kPa) increased dicamba spray volume adsorbed more than 10% compared to the higher pressures of 259 and 379 kPa. By understanding the impacts of these application parameters on dicamba spray droplet adsorption, applicators can select application parameters, equipment, and adjuvants that will maximize the amount of dicamba spray volume retained on the target leaf surface while minimizing dicamba spray drift.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a United.States of Americae government program that provides financial incentives to transition marginal croplands to permanent grass cover to conserve soil and water. Few studies have evaluated the best tillage system that maintains soil properties when converting CRP back to cropland. Our objective was to determine how converting CRP to cropland under different tillage practices after three years affects soil C (carbon) stocks, physical and chemical properties, and winter wheat ( Triticum aestivium L. ) and corn ( Zea mays L .) grain yields after 4 yr. We also reviewed literature on the topic to compare previous results against our findings. This experiment was conducted in Sidney, NE, USA on CRP that was converted to production farmland through four tillage practices no -till (NT), disk -sweep (DS), plow -sweep (PS) and deep plow -sweep (DPS) in 2017 and planted to a wheat -corn -fallow rotation. Organic C stock was reduced by 6% in PS and 15% in DPS compared to CRP in the 0 - 10 cm depth but not in the 0 - 60 cm. Tillage practice did not affect grain yields in our study but had inconsistent effects according to previous literature. In the upper 10 cm, wet aggregate stability was reduced by 41% in DS, 51% in PS, and 58% in DPS, dry aggregate stability was reduced by 66% in NT, 71% in DS, 74% in PS and 77% in DPS, and plant available water was reduced by 45% in NT, 50% in DS, 39% in PS and 43% in DPS treatment relative to CRP. However, treatments had no effect on cumulative infiltration rate and bulk density. The use of DS or NT when converting CRP to cropland caused the least negative impacts on soil properties when CRP was converted to cropland in our study and in previous studies reported in the literature. Minimizing soil disturbance by reduced or no tillage maintained relevant soil properties 3 yr after CRP conversion to cropland.

The contribution of tillage practices to enhancing soil fertility levels is a major subject of research among agricultural scholars. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of several decades of tillage under winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow on soil fertility. The experiment was established in 1970 as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included moldboard plow (MP), stubble mulch (SM), no-till (NT), and native sod. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 and 10-20 cm in 2010 and 2011 and analyzed for several variables including soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and soil pH. Benchmarks for these variables used to evaluate temporal changes for each treatment were obtained from previous documents containing data that were sampled in 1982 and 1984 from the same site. In 2010-2011, SOM, TN, and pH were all influenced by the tillage practices at 0-10 cm (p <= 0.05). For SOM, the magnitude of the difference between native sod and NT in 1986 was 28% (10.1 g center dot kg-1) and this increased to 30.6% (18.5 g center dot kg-1) in 2010-2011 with native sod storing more SOM. Over time, NT sustained a high level of SOM with 7.7 g center dot kg-1 more SOM than the initial 38.3 g center dot kg-1 reported in 1986. TN with NT was greater than SM and MP by 56%, but 53% lower than TN with native sods. In general, soil fertility and nutrient availability at this site supported crop production for over 50 years without fertilizer application. Native sod had the highest level of soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) compared to tillage practices. No-till improved soil fertility with more SOM, TN, P, and K than moldboard plow (MP) at 0-10 cm. Soil pH, TN, P, and K were redistributed within the two depths with MP. Soil pH declined over time for each tillage practice and native sod.

Context: Long-term field data on the implications of biochar use are scant. Also, biochar research on semi-arid environments where biochar use might be most beneficial is rare. Objective: We assessed soil and crop response to wood biochar in a no-till millet-pea-winter wheat-sunflower rotation in a semi-arid environment for 5 yr. Methods: An ongoing experiment under five levels (0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 Mg ha(- 1)) of biochar (56% C) and three levels of N fertilizer (0, 84, and 168 kg N ha(- 1)) application in a silt loam in the western U.S. Great Plains was studied. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied only in 3 of the 5 yr. It was not applied when a legume crop was planted or when a crop followed a legume for the study rotation. Thus, N fertilizer was applied to millet in 2018 (year 1), sunflower in 2021 (year 4), and millet in 2022 (year 5) but not in 2019 (year 2) when peas were planted and 2020 when winter wheat followed peas (year 3). Crop yields were measured every year, while soil properties were measured in years 1, 3, and 5. Results: Biochar had some effects, but biochar x N rate interaction was not significant, suggesting limited synergism between biochar and N fertilization in this study, although N was not applied every year. It is hypothesized that biochar combined with N fertilizer could be better than biochar alone in cropping systems where N fertilizer is applied every year. Across N levels, biochar had a larger effect on soil chemical and fertility properties than on soil physical properties, but the effect was mostly significant between the highest biochar rate (25 Mg ha(- 1)) and no biochar. Biochar application at 25 Mg ha(- 1) increased soil pH by 0.2-0.7 units, increased soil organic matter concentration by 4.0-6.0 g kg(- 1) and available P concentration by 10.0-14.0 mg kg(- 1). Biochar impacted soil properties more in year 1 than in years 3 and 5, indicating soil benefits of biochar may be short-lived. For example, biochar applied at 12.5 and 25 Mg ha(- 1) reduced soil bulk density in year 1, but not in years 3 and 5. Also, biochar at 25 Mg ha(- 1) increased soil pH by 0.7 units in year 1, whereas it increased pH by < 0.5 in years 3 and 5. It increased soil organic matter concentration by 6.0 g kg(- 1) in year 1 and by 4 g kg(- 1) in years 3 and 5. Application of 12.5 and 25 Mg biochar ha(- 1) increased pea yield by 0.65 Mg ha(- 1) in year 2, while application of 6.25 and 25 Mg biochar ha(- 1) increased sunflower yield by 0.30 Mg ha(- 1) in year 4, and had no effect in other years. Conclusions: Biochar improved soil fertility properties and increased crop yields in some years. Biochar effects on soil properties were greater in year 1 than in years 3 and 5. Implications: Wood biochar (>6.25 Mg ha(- 1)) improved some soil properties and crop yields in this semi-arid environment, but its soil benefits generally decreased with time after application.

Making the best use of limited precipitation in semi-arid dryland cropping systems is important for crop production. Tillage practices may influence how this precipitation is utilized to predict winter wheat grain yield (Triticum aestivum L.). This study examined how tillage practices influence winter wheat grain yield prediction accuracy using precipitation received at three different periods of the season. Data were obtained from the period of 1972 to 2010 from a long-term tillage experiment. The study was designed as a winter wheat-fallow experiment. Each phase of the winter wheat-fallow rotation was present each year. The trial was set up as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Tillage treatments included no-till (NT), stubble mulch (SM), and moldboard plow (MP). Feed-forward neural network and multiple linear regression (ordinary least squares) were used to fit models under each tillage practice. No-till had the highest yield prediction accuracy with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.53 Mg ha-1 and accounted for 81% of the variability in grain yield. Stubble mulch had an RMSE of 0.55 Mg ha-1 and explained 73% of the variability in yield. Stubble mulch and NT were more accurate in yield prediction than MP which had an RMSE of 0.77 Mg ha-1 and accounted for 53% of the variability in yield. The multiple linear regression model was less accurate than the feed-forward neural network model since it had at least 0.30 Mg ha-1 more RMSE and accounted for only 5-8% of the variability in yield. Relative RMSE classified all neural network models as fair (21.6-27.3%) while linear regression models for the different tillage practices was classified as poor (33.3-43.6%), an illustration that the neural network models improve yield prediction accuracy. This study demonstrated that a large proportion of the variability in grain yield may be accounted for under NT and SM systems when using precipitation as predictors with neural networks.

Hybrid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) offers potential yield advantages over conventional inbred cultivars. For hybrid wheat to be a commercial success, the cost to produce the hybrid seed needs to be minimized. Although wheat is naturally self-pollinated, hybrid wheat seed production can be improved by increasing the amount and availability of pollen for cross-pollination. This research examined 19 pollination traits using the Hard Winter Wheat Association Mapping Panel for 3 years. Anther extrusion, pollen 50 date (date at which a genotype has 50% of spikes pollinating), plant height, and pollination duration (last spike pollen 50 date minus first spike pollen 50 date) were identified as the most important traits for hybrid seed production. Anther extrusion, plant height, and pollen 50 date varied widely among genotypes, while pollination duration had significant genotypic differences in one year of testing. These traits also had significant genotype x year interactions, but better and poorer performers were consistent among years. Anther extrusion was weakly, negatively correlated with plant height, and high anther extrusion semi-dwarf genotypes were identified. Pollination duration was reduced in a high temperature (>30 degrees C) environment, and genotypic differences in pollination duration were identified only in a milder temperature (24 degrees C) environment. Hierarchical clustering suggested that excellent pollinator genotypes with high anther extrusion and longer pollination duration tended to pollinate early and were of short to moderate stature. Pollination traits were higher when temperatures were mild, which benefited early genotypes because they pollinated before higher temperatures limited their pollination duration.

Grain yield stability is vital for achieving yield consistency across a broad range of environments. The significance of this is well documented in crop genetic studies and may equally be relevant for tillage practices used in croplands. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield stability under different tillage practices. The study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications. The independent variable was tillage with three levels: no tillage (NT), stubble mulch (SM), and moldboard plow (MP). The experiment was established as a winter wheat-fallow under a dryland cropping system. Each phase of the wheat-fallow was present each year. The historical grain yield data from 1972 to 2010 were presented in this study. Yield stability was assessed using regression coefficients (beta(i)) and squared deviation from regression (S(2)d). Grain yield had average stability because each tillage practice had a beta(i) of 1.0. The SM tillage had an S(2)d of 0.03 (P = .90), which was not significant than zero (0), while NT and MP had an S(2)d of 0.06 (P = .04) and 0.07 (P = .01), respectively, that were significant than zero (0). This suggests that SM had a more stable yield under different environments when compared with NT and MP. In general, using minimum tillage, such as SM, that maintains residues on the soil surface could contribute to yield resiliency across different environments and enhance land sustainability in dryland cropping systems.

Historically, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars developed by the cooperative University of Nebraska-USDA-ARS wheat improvement project were hard red winter wheat. With the expanding hard white wheat market, there is a greater emphasis on developing hard white winter wheat lines adapted to the Great Plains. 'NW13493' (tested as NW13493) (Reg. no. CV-1197, PI 699380) was selected for its white kernels, agronomic performance, relevant disease resistances, and end-use quality and is adapted to the central Great Plains. NW13493 was licensed to Bay State Milling Company on the basis of its superior agronomic and end-use quality performance and also the need to ensure hard white wheat growers have a known market for their grain. NW13493 hard white winter wheat was released in February 2021 by the developing institutions and the licensee. NW13493 was a selection in 2013 from the cross 'SD98W175-1'/'NW03666', which was made in 2007. The pedigree of SD98W175-1 is 'KS84273BB-10'/'KSSB110-9'//'KS831374-141B'/'YE1110'/3/ 'KS82W418'/'Stephens' and the pedigree of NW03666 is 'N94S097KS'/'NE93459'. The F-1 generation was grown in the greenhouse in 2008, and the F-2 to F-3 generations were advanced as bulks at Mead, NE, in 2009-2010. NW13493 was evaluated in replicated trials beginning in 2014. It has excellent winter survival and agronomic performance, acceptable disease reactions to many of the common diseases in its target area, and good end-use quality for bread making.

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in dryland areas is optimized by the improvement of genetics in combination with ideal production practices. Different combinations of seeding rate and row spacing can influence the development of wheat plants, impacting wheat yield and its components. To determine the influence of these practices, yield components, water use efficiency (WUE), biomass, and subsequent grain yield were evaluated in an experiment conducted at the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory, Sidney, NE, from 2019 until 2022, using a split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments consisted of four different row spacings (19, 25, 31, and 51 cm), three seeding rates (1.05, 2.1, and 3.1 million seeds ha(-1)), and two high performing winter wheat varieties-'Ruth' and 'Robidoux'. Row spacing showed differences in wheat yield (p < 0.0001) across all years, with a significant effect of seeding rate only in 1 year and an interaction effect of the three factors in 2022 alone. Higher wheat yield was achieved with the two narrower row spacings (19 and 25 cm) compared to the wider row spacings of 38 and 51 cm. The treatment combining the 19 cm row spacing and either 2.1 or 3.1 million seed ha(-1) seeding rate had the greatest yields in most years. Narrower row spacings had improved WUE in drier years as compared to wider row spacings.

Successful crop stand establishment is critical to realize high yield potential, which is dependent on depth of seed placement to access soil moisture. The coleoptile determines sowing depth by its length and ability to emerge from depth. This study was conducted to assess coleoptile length among three sets of three Great Plains winter small grain cereals—wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) and triticale ( X triticosecale Wittm.)—and to evaluate the effect of the Rht-B1b dwarfing allele on coleoptile length in wheat and triticale. Fifty seeds of each genotype were sown in wet germination paper in two replications utilizing a randomized complete block design, which were placed in dark growth chambers at 25°C. Measurements were conducted after 7 d, and analysis of variance and comparison of least square means for coleoptile length among and within each set of genotypes were performed in Statistix 8.1 software using Fisher’s protected least significance difference at the α = 0.05 significance level. Results revealed that triticale had the longest coleoptiles, which were significantly longer ( P < 0.05) than those measured in both barley and wheat. Additionally, significant variation in coleoptile length ( P < 0.05) was also found within each set of wheat (3.52–6.41 cm), barley (4.32–6.63 cm) and triticale (4.05–6.92 cm) genotypes, respectively. These findings confirm other reports that the presence of the Rht-B1b allele was pleiotropic for coleoptile length, but development of semi-dwarf wheats with longer coleoptiles is possible if breeders deploy concurrent selection strategies.