Cool Season Annual
Wheat is an upright annual grass. There are winter varieties as well as spring varieties. It is known and bred for grain, but has some potential as a feed stock. Salinity and heat rating for wheat is fair. Drought tolerance is good, flooding is rated as fair. Most cover crops do not utilize wheat because it is included in rotations already.
Seeds per pound: 15,000 Seeds/sq. ft/pound: 0.41
Uses:
- Erosion control
- Soil builder
- Nitrogen scavenger
- Weed suppression
- Grazing potential
- Hay potential
Strengths:
- Seed is readily available
- Well adapted to western Canada
- Produces lot of starch
- Good source of soil armour if straw is mature
Concerns:
Most varieties are bred for grain, feed values are somewhat compromised, some varieties have awns.
Grazing:
Good for winter varieties. Poor for spring.
Hay:
Good for both winter and spring.
Mycorrhizal support? Yes
