The Performance of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivar Mixtures in Conventionally and Organically Managed Systems in Western Canada

• Author / Creator

  Nguyen, Khang

• Wheat cultivar mixtures may positively alter grain yield, quality, improve biotic and abiotic
  management, and may be employed in both conventional and organic management systems. Such
  promising benefits have not been thoroughly studied in Canada, especially in the western region
  where most Canadian wheat is produced. We conducted a twelve site-year study on both
  conventionally and organically managed locations across western Canada, comparing the
  performance regarding grain yield, quality, lodging resistance, and weeds suppression of five sole
  Canadian Western Red Spring wheat cultivars with twenty two-way and three-way mixtures.
  Mixing Glenn, CDC Titanium, and Lillian produced stable and high yield over a wide range of
  environments. A three-way mixture of Go Early (tall), Carberry (semi-dwarf), and Lillian (medium
  height) diminished lodging, leading to improved yield under conventional environments in North
  Central Alberta and Central Saskatchewan. The two-way mixture of Glenn and Lillian boosted
  yield in conventional environments in Northwest Alberta and Central Saskatchewan and an
  organic environment in North Central Alberta. Mixtures managed organically did combine high
  productivity and elevated grain protein. Mixing lodging-resistant with susceptible cultivars
  reduced the overall damage in conventional environments. Meanwhile, high-tillering and early
  heading cultivars are recommended for mixing to retain grain production under weedy
  environments. In conclusion, wheat cultivar mixtures provided western conventional farmers yield
  benefits in the presence of abiotic pressures, and organic farmers simultaneous yield and quality
  benefit.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
  • Cultivar Mixtures
  • Organic Agriculture
  • Western Canada

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3DJ58Z58

• License

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