Spring Wheat

Spring crops in crop rotations are becoming increasingly important. Whether it is climate change, greening requirements, fertilizer regulations, work distribution or weed problems – crop rotations with spring crops solve many problems!

Hence spring wheat is also no longer just an emergency solution when the winter cereals have been subject to poor establishment or winter kill. Spring wheat brings a more balanced labour peak and machinery distribution compared to growing winter wheat alone.
The crop has no need for vernalization. However, due to its shorter vegetation period compared to winter wheat, it can be an increased risk. Spring wheat appreciates calcareous, nutrient-rich, and deep soils. On sandy soils with few soil points, the water supply must be ensured because early summer drought has a strong yield-reducing effect. From about 50 soil points upwards, spring wheat reliably delivers high grain yields. As a preceding crop, leafy species such as oil seed rape, beet, potatoes, or cabbage have a positive effect on the performance of spring wheat. The long fallow period between the two spring crops offers many opportunities for catch crops within the framework of greening. With cereals as the preceding crop, however, there is a risk of crop rotation diseases such as eyespot, blackleg, cereal cyst nematodes or the wheat orange blossom midge. The more frost-tolerant the variety, the earlier sowing can begin, even under frost. Normally, spring wheat is drilled at the beginning of the vegetation in March to take advantage of an extended growth period. The seedbed should be sufficiently dry and reconsolidated. The earlier the sowing, the more time the wheat has for tillering. 550 to 650 spike-bearing culms are necessary for a good yield.

A successful SAATEN-UNION variety in the past has been THASOS but also the variety QUINTUS with its excellent Fusarium resistance can be seen as a milestone in SAATEN-UNION's spring wheat history.