Report
Assessing freeze damage to winter and spring wheat using a crown viability test
Washington State University Extension fact sheet, 369E, Washington State University Extension
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000002575
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/120143
Abstract
The following publication is intended to help producers identify areas of potential winter and spring freeze damage by using a crown viability test. Environmental factors, such as available soil water and soil and air temperature, have a major effect on the growth and development of wheat plants. In the dryland region of eastern Washington, producers look to snow cover during the winter months to (1) provide soil water for the upcoming growing season and (2) serve as a �blanket� to protect the vital crown against rapidly changing or subfreezing temperatures. One to two inches of snow can be enough insulation to trap residual soil heat and help mitigate killing temperatures in the crown zone. Winter wheat can survive temperatures as low as -9�F to -11�F, provided it is a period of short duration and not several hours. However, it is the actual soil temperature at the crown depth that is most critical for plant survival. Even if aboveground plant tissue is killed by extreme, cold temperatures, plants can recover when the crown remains alive.
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Details
- Title
- Assessing freeze damage to winter and spring wheat using a crown viability test
- Creators
- Dale K. Whaley
- Academic Unit
- Publications, WSU Extension
- Series
- Washington State University Extension fact sheet; 369E
- Publisher
- Washington State University Extension; Pullman, Washington
- Format
- pdf
- Identifiers
- 99900632734301842
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Report