Crops

Wheat Growth Stages and Associated Management

Published:

August 23, 2024

Wheat is among the world's most common, and most important crops. Capable of growing in a wide range of climates and environments, it is an essential ingredient in a broad range of consumer products.  At Cropler, our solutions help you monitor and manage every phase of wheat growth. From planting to harvest, we give you the edge that allows you to make the proactive management decisions required to protect your crops from weeds, pests, and diseases so that you can improve your yield and increase the profitability of your operations.

Key Takeaways

Global wheat production is increasing and the top 10 wheat producing countries harvested more than 789 million metric tons in 2023. The top five producing regions included China and the EU which were tied at 17% of global production, followed by India at 14%, Russia at 12%, and the United States at 6%.
The growth cycle for spring wheat is roughly 100-130 days, whereas winter wheat ranges from 180-250 days. Close monitoring during every stage is vital for a successful harvest.
Roughly 20% of global wheat production is lost to pests and pathogens, notably fusarium head blight, thus representing an enormous loss to agribusiness.
Prompt application of biological and chemical solutions is vital for protection against magnaporthe oryzae, barley yellow dwarf virus, stripe rust, septoria leaf blotch, tan spot, glume blotch, etc.
Of increasing concern, changes within growing climates around the world are expected to negatively impact the stages of wheat plant growth and significantly lower yields in many top-growing regions. Effectively countering the environmental impact on the wheat growth cycle may require the development and adoption of new seed varieties and changes to planting schedules.

Wheat Development Stages

Everything from planting schedules to determining when to apply fertilizer can affect grain yield. That is why understanding the wheat growth cycle is important, and smart farming tools can help you keep track of changes more effectively.

Tillering. Tillering involves the emergence of side shoots appearing at the stem junctions of the leaf. This is followed by secondary tillers that develop at the leaf junction of the primary tiller. To optimize tiller production, proper spacing is essential for achieving optimal tiller production which is 35 shoots per plant for wheat planted in October, and 11 or less for wheat sown in November. Since tillering is highly susceptible to weather, early sowing is typically preferred in order to achieve shoot survival rates of between 40-70%. Close monitoring is important here as wheat is highly susceptible to tan spot and powdery mildew during the tillering stage.
Stem Elongation. At the conclusion of the tillering stage, stem elongation is one of the most critical stages of wheat development as it will significantly influence the final yield. When the plant reaches roughly 4" tall, cell division at the nodes will cause the pseudo-stem to grow and move toward the terminal spikelet stage.
Booting. At this stage, the head of the plant will begin to grow upward from the tip of the stem while enclosed within the flag leaf. Close monitoring of this stage is crucial as it may be necessary to apply nitrogen, manganese, zinc, and sulfur to increase protein content and potentially increase the suitability of the grain for use in baked goods.
Heading. Heading is one of the most important stages for effective disease management. As the head emerges from within the protection of the flag leaf, the awns will become visible and the reproductive cycle will begin. Pollination typically occurs quickly and is determined by the number of kernels per head that are pollinated. During this stage, higher temperatures and drought stress will significantly influence the health of the plant and the final yield. It is also imperative to monitor for diseases including stripe rust, septoria leaf blotch, tan spot, glume blotch, etc. At this stage, the application of the appropriate fungicide can significantly improve outcomes and protect against excessive mycotoxin DON.
Flowering. While wheat diseases can appear at any point of the leaf development process, they often occur during the flowering (anthesis) phase. In particular, as the extrusion of brightly colored anthers from the spikelets progresses, close inspection for fusarium head blight is advisable. Proactive selection of seed, crop rotation, and other steps can mitigate the risk, but it's also possible to apply fungicide before the flowering stage to prevent blight from taking hold.
Development of Fruit. As nutrients accumulate, the grains will reach roughly half their final size. You'll see signs of early milk, followed by medium and late milk. This typically takes 15-18 days, during which time the endosperm will solidify. During this stage, it is vital to monitor for both pests and diseases, including aphids, army cutworms, cereal leaf beetles, common bunts, confused flour beetles, brown wheat mites, termites, wheat stem sawflies, hessian fly, wireworms, Russian wheat aphids, etc.
Ripening. Divided into early dough, soft dough, hard dough, and fully ripe, the grain will evolve from soft to dry during this stage until the grain becomes hard and difficult to divide. During this phase, the plant is highly susceptible to ergot, loose smut, fusarium head blight, and sooty head mold.
Senescence. In the final stage of development, roughly 80% of the nitrogen and phosphorus from the leaf are remobilized into the grain. Close monitoring can address water and nutrient deficiencies, as well as affect response to extreme temperatures, pathogens, etc.

When you want reliable solutions that deliver dependable data you can use at every stage of the BBCH scale, contact Cropler to learn more about our products and the solutions we offer. Discover More

How Cropler Can Help?

Closely monitoring the cereal growth staging cycles is essential for maximizing the yield of your wheat crop. Our solutions, such as a portable agri-camera and a web platform with real-time data, help you make effective wheat management decisions at every stage of the wheat growth timeline. This gives you the advantage against diseases and pathogens, pests, and even weather that can influence each wheat development stage.

Our monitoring solutions give you the real-time data required to influence the wheat growth cycle and increase wheat production. We help you maximize the effectiveness of your resources which gives you the competitive edge that can help your business grow.

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