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Perennial wheat: The development of a sustainable cropping system for the U.S. Pacific Northwest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Pamela L. Scheinost ,
Doug L. Lammer ,
Xiwen Cai ,
Timothy D. Murray  and
Stephen S. Jones
Pamela L. Scheinost
Affiliation:
Graduate Research Assistant, Winter Wheat Breeding Program, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164-6420;
Doug L. Lammer
Affiliation:
Research Fellow, The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas, and Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington State University;
Xiwen Cai
Affiliation:
Staff Cytologist, Winter Wheat Breeding Program, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164-6420;
Timothy D. Murray
Affiliation:
Chair, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Box 646430, Pullman, WA 99164-6430.
Stephen S. Jones*
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Winter Wheat Breeding Program, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164-6420;
*
Corresponding author is S.S. Jones (joness@wsu.edu).
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Abstract

Perennial wheat offers a new solution to the long-standing problems of soil erosion and degradation associated with conventional annual small-grain cropping systems in the Pacific Northwest region. Using classical breeding methods, new types of wheat have been developed that maintain the key characteristics of annual wheat, but continue to grow after harvest. Following dormancy in the winter, growth is initiated from the roots or crowns in the spring, allowing a crop to be harvested every fall. By retaining constant soil cover over multiple years, wind and water erosion would be dramatically reduced. In addition, the costs associated with annual seeding and tillage would be minimized, and unlike many reduced tillage systems, it is expected that standard seeding equipment would be suitable for stand establishment. Other potential benefits of perennial wheat include improved wildlife habitat, more efficient use of available water, provision of a potent carbon sink, and the possibility of integrating straw retrieval into a small grains cropping system. Past attempts in the first half of the last century failed to develop perennial wheat as a viable crop, primarily because of low yields, and the research was ultimately abandoned. Perennial wheat production may now be viewed as acceptable for highly erodible land or for obtaining carbon sequestration credits. This paper presents an overview of solutions to the obstacles encountered by previous researchers, introduces some of the newly developed perennial wheat lines, and discusses considerations for management practices.

Keywords

carbon sequestrationcereal grainsConservation Reserve Programcrop coverno-till agricultureplant breedingsoil erosion control
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 147 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

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