Monitoring cereal tiller counts

The ability of a cereal crop to tiller is an indication of the crop’s ability to maximise crop yield. An inadequate number of tillers will limit the number of heads and yield potential. Excess tillers will waste plant energy resources and soil moisture that will lower yield and increase small grain and screenings, particularly when a poor finish to the season. Sowing time, variety and crop choice, plant density, disease and insect control, as well as timing and rate of nitrogen application are key management decisions in managing crop growth.

Smaller less developed tillers on the left
Poor seed soil contact can cause variable emergence and tiller numbers
Source URL: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mycrop/monitoring-cereal-tiller-counts
This print version was generated at 7:13am on the 5th of May, 2024.
The original document was last revised at Thu, 15/01/2015 - 9:34am

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The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.