The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, Feb. 25th continues to show slight improvement. Stafford County and part of Pawnee are totally out of drought. Barton is primarily abnormally dry with the northern third in moderate drought. The six to ten-day outlook (March 3 to 7) indicates near normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation.  The eight to 14-day outlook (March 5 to 11) indicates a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a near normal for precipitation.  

While winter may rear its head a bit, today is March 1st, the start of meteorological spring. This week’s weather is well above normal for temperatures and compared to the last few years we are in fair shape in terms of soil moisture. Wheat should be breaking dormancy and starting to resume growth. Winter wheat is an interesting plant and to understand why it works in Kansas, let’s take time to consider how it grows and survives here.  

• Wheat is a grass, a monocot (one seed leaf at emergence). Unlike broadleaf plants, the seed stays in the soil at emergence. For a broadleaf plant, when the seedling emerges, so does the growing point. For grasses, the growing point stays below the surface for an extended period of time. For winter wheat, that is typically until spring. In the fall, the plant establishes a root system above the seed. It establishes the number of tillers which is a function of plant density, planting time and weather. As day length decreases and temperatures cool, leaves grow prostrate, not vertically. It changes the contents of the cells to better survive freezing temperatures. It becomes winterhardy. With growing point below the soil surface, it is better protected from winter temperatures.

• During winter, the plant may go dormant and will not resume growth until day length starts to increase and temperatures warm. Leaves may or may not be lost during winter. If they are lost, as long as the growing point is healthy, new leaf growth will occur and it’s not a problem. It’s important to note that unlike broadleaves, growth is above the growing point. That’s why your lawn grows immediately after you mow it. It’s why grazing wheat works.

• As the plant resumes growth, leaf growth is upright on the main shoot and tillers. Eventually, here normally around mid-March, the growing point will emerge from beneath the soil. This is termed jointing or first hollow stem. The head is forming and pushing upward. This is when the plant is most vulnerable to damage from freezing temperatures.  

• The flag leaf will appear, the head will emerge, and soon after pollination will occur. While the plant may have a fair number of tillers, not all of them will produce heads. However, if some primary or secondary tillers are damage, these tillers can go ahead and flower. 

Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.