Small Grains

 

Soil Heaving

Mary E. Burrows, Montana State University Plant Science and Plant Pathology
 Bill Grey, Alan Dyer, Jeff Stein and Ned Tisserat

 

Cause:  Soil heaving during winter can physically lift young wheat plants and expose the roots to freezing temperatures and to desiccation. 

 

Occurrence:  Heaving occurs during alternating periods of soil freezing and thawing.  Young wheat seedlings are more prone to injury

 

Key Symptoms: 

·         Plants lifted in soil and roots exposed.

·         Patches of withered plants

·         Soil heaving may predispose plants to Cephalosporium stripe infection.

 

Problem:   The problem is more severe in fine textured, poorly drained soils and occurs when water freezes and thaws repeatedly.

Management Approaches

·         Plant early enough so that there is adequate root and top growth on the plant before freezing occurs

 

 

Categories: Small grains, Diseases, Soil heaving

 

Date: 04/26/07


Supported in part by:
Western Region IPM Center, EPA Region Vlll, National Plant Diagnostic Network, Great Plains Diagnostic Network, USDA CSREES, Colorado State University, Montana State University, South Dakota State University, the University of Nebraska - Lincoln,and the University of Wyoming.