Winter and spring wheat: differences and comparison of yields, which one is better to choose

Wheat is considered the most common variety of cereal crops in the world. It is used for the manufacture of flour, which is actively used for the production of bakery products. There are quite a few species and varieties of this crop. So, winter and spring wheat have differences in appearance, planting time, care features, yield parameters.

What is winter wheat

Winter wheat is an annual herbaceous crop that belongs to the bluegrass family. It is planted in late summer, first half or mid-autumn. Specific dates depend on the climate of the region. At the same time, the harvest ripens in the summer.

Description of spring wheat

Spring wheat is a herbaceous crop that belongs to the bluegrass family. This valuable plant is grown in almost all countries of the world. Spring wheat is planted in spring - from March to May. During the summer, it goes through a full cycle of development. You can harvest in autumn.

How are they different?

Spring and winter wheat have many differences. They consist in the requirements for the composition of the soil and the duration of the growing season. In addition, these varieties differ in terms of planting and yield parameters. This enables farmers to choose the most suitable varieties.

Vegetative

The main difference between spring and winter wheat is the growing season. The cycle of spring wheat, on average, takes 100 days - just such a period of time passes from the moment of planting to harvest.This period may vary slightly depending on the climate and be 80-125 days. During this period, the moisture content of the grains drops to approximately 13%. This parameter indicates the readiness of the plant for harvesting.

Winter wheat has a full growing season of 240-350 days. At the same time, it is divided into 2 active periods:

• autumn - takes about 50 days;
• spring-summer - lasts from 75 days.

The remaining time between active stages, winter wheat is at rest, and this must be taken into account when growing a crop.

Sowing dates

Spring wheat needs to be planted in the spring - immediately after the snow melts and the soil warms up a little. It is important to carry out planting work in a short time, while water from melting snow remains in the ground. Winter varieties are recommended to be planted in late summer or early autumn.Specific dates should be selected taking into account the climatic features of the region.

Soil Requirements

When growing cereal crops, it is worth considering that their demands on the composition of the soil are also different. For spring wheat, the optimal moisture parameters are 65-75% - it all depends on the particular variety. It is important to understand that hard varieties need more moisture than soft varieties.

In addition, spring varieties require slightly alkaline or neutral soil. They do not tolerate acidic soil. The absence of weeds in the ground favorably affects the size of the crop. Another feature is the need for foliar feeding. This is especially important during periods of drought and temperature fluctuations.

Winter varieties require 70-75% moisture. They are recommended to be planted in places where legumes or corn for silage were grown before.Clean fallow is also excellent for winter wheat. This term refers to a field free from agricultural plants, which is maintained in a loose state and is processed throughout the year from weeds. Peat and swampy types of soil are not suitable for winter wheat. Also, it should not be planted in places that are in the lowlands.

The type of soil affects planting depth. On heavy clay soils, it is recommended to deepen the seeds by 4 centimeters. In drought-prone sandy soil, the depth should be about 7 centimeters.

During tillering, it is important to fertilize. If this is not done, there is a high probability of a decrease in yield. A long growing season provokes an increase in the need for winter wheat in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Weather requirement

Soft varieties of spring wheat normally withstand exposure to low temperatures. Germination of seed material occurs already at +1 degree. The period between planting and the appearance of sprouts is determined by the temperature of the soil.

If it warmed up to +5 degrees, this period is 20-21 days, at a temperature of +8 degrees - 10 days. If the soil has warmed up to +15 degrees, shoots appear after 1 week. Active growth of culture begins at a temperature of +13 degrees.

Spring varieties can withstand short frosts. During the period of grain germination, they tolerate a decrease in temperature to -12 degrees, during tillering - to -10. However, at the stage of flowering and grain filling, negative parameters are unacceptable. The same goes for sudden weather changes.

Winter varieties are not as susceptible to climate. Seed material germinates already at +1-2 degrees. However, this is rather slow. For comfortable development, culture requires + 12-15 degrees. If the temperature is +14-16 degrees, sprouts will appear after 8-9 days, subject to sufficient soil moisture.

In early spring, winter wheat is sensitive to low temperatures and sudden fluctuations. If during the day the parameters are -5 degrees, and at night - +10, not very favorable conditions are created for the development of this plant.

Lack of snow cover in winter can be detrimental to a crop. At the same time, a layer of snow measuring 20-25 centimeters is able to save winter crops even with frosts down to -30 degrees.

Destination

Spring wheat is soft and hard. The first variety is used for the manufacture of flour for baking bread, the production of confectionery and bakery products. Durum varieties contain a lot of protein. They make cereals and pasta. Bran from spring wheat is a highly concentrated feed for various types of farm animals. Hay and chaff are also used as feed.

Winter crop is predominantly soft varieties. It is used to make flour of the highest quality. Due to the high content of fiber, this product is used for the preparation of bakery products. Flour is actively used in the confectionery industry, but rarely used for the production of pasta. Bran is a good feed for farm animals.

Yields

Winter wheat has a higher yield. Specific parameters depend on compliance with the timing of planting and timely fertilization. Parasites, diseases, violation of agrotechnical recommendations lead to a decrease in productivity.

The average yield of spring varieties is 1300-1500 kilograms per 1 hectare. However, the use of intensive farming technologies allows you to increase the parameters by 2-3 times.

Growing regions

To grow he althy and high-quality crops, it is important to choose the right region depending on the variety. Winter varieties are recommended to be planted in places with thick snow cover. The air temperature should be at least -20 degrees. Therefore, winter wheat is usually grown in the Volga region, in the North Caucasus, in the Central Black Earth region.

Spring varieties require a lot of moisture, sun and warmth. Therefore, they are mainly planted in forest-steppe zones in the western and eastern parts of the Volga.

Taste

Spring wheat is considered a very valuable crop. Its grains contain 25% protein and 30% gluten. Therefore, spring varieties are considered more tasty and of better quality than winter ones.

How to tell them apart?

To distinguish spring wheat from winter wheat, it is recommended to focus on the appearance of bushes and grains.

By grain

Spring wheat has smaller grains compared to winter wheat. However, they are more different in hard and soft varieties. Soft - have a more powdery texture and are easily gnawed. Hard varieties have elongated grains. They have a very firm texture.

In appearance

In appearance, plants differ little from each other. Spring varieties have a tighter ear. At the same time, its shade is determined by the variety and is beige, gray, golden and light burgundy. Winter varieties are characterized by awns on ears.

Which is better to choose?

Choosing a variety of wheat is based on your goals and objectives. Spring wheat has high-quality grains and excellent baking properties. It includes soft or hard varieties. They are less susceptible to diseases and pests.

Winter wheat is only soft. However, it has its advantages. These include higher yields. In addition, winter varieties are better able to withstand sudden climate changes, ripen faster and store longer.

Spring and winter wheat varieties have certain similarities and differences. This allows you to choose the optimal variety based on your needs and preferences.

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