Wheat

Wheat was one of the first domesticated food crops and for 8,000 years has been the basic staple food of the major civilizations of Europe, West Asia and North Africa. Today, wheat is grown on more land area than any other commercial crop and continues to be the most important food grain source for humans.

The optimum growing temperature is about 25°C, with minimum and maximum growth temperatures of 3° to 4°C and 30° to 32°C, respectively. Wheat can be grown in most locations where precipitation ranges from 250mm to 1,750 mm. Optimal production requires an adequate source of moisture availability during the growing season; however too much precipitation can lead to yield losses from disease and root problems.

Winter wheat is planted in the autumn. After germination the young plants direct most growth into their root systems so that they are fully ready to resume growth in early spring. This takes advantage of autumn moisture for germination, and makes optimum use of early spring sunshine, warmth and rainfall. Spring wheat, as the name implies, is usually planted in the spring and matures in late summer. Landkom aims to maximise winter wheat, but any land that misses the autumn drilling window it out under srping wheat.

Wheat works well in rotation with rape seedand can be interchanged with barley from a rotational perspective.