Ayman Mostafa & Shawna Loper
Small Grain: Looking at fields, most of the small grains in central Arizona were in tiller production. Tillering usually starts when the plant has 3-4 leaves. Critical management factors for this stage are early weed control and good nitrogen management. Tillers are an important component of wheat yield because they have the potential to develop grain-bearing heads. Adjust the crop’s need for nitrogen by tissue sampling for nitrate is critical.
We have a video that describes how to take these tissue samples at different growth stages of small grains http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBLcPQSk5bU.
Photo of barley field in east Pinal County. Taken 1/24/14