140 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



WHEAT. 



THE COMPOSITION OP THE GRAIN AS INFLUENCED BY THE SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT. 



In studying the problem of the influence of environment — and more particularly 

 of climatic conditions — upon the composition of wheat, we have found that the moisture 

 content of the soil during the period of development markedly affected the percentage 

 of protein in the grain. Our results indicated that prolonged vegetative growth, as 

 induced by excessive moisture, defers the ripening process and allows the further 

 deposition of starch, resulting in a ' piebald ' or soft kernel. On the other hand, early 

 ripening of the wheat, such as is brought about by high temperatures and the gradual 

 lessening of the supply of soil moisture during the maturation of the grain, resulted 

 in a hard, glutinous wheat.* 



If these conclusions are correct, then it might be conjectured that wheat grown 

 under irrigation in a semi-arid district would be more or less glutinous according to 

 the amount of water supplied during the growing, and more particularly, the ripening 

 period. To obtain information concerning this matter, areas irrigated and non-irri- 

 gated were sown last season on the Experimental Farm, Lethbrioge, southern Alberta, 

 with Red Fife and Kharkov wheats. This district is usually one of sparse precipita- 

 tion and one, consequently, where the methods of the so-called ' dry ' farming must be 

 practiced in parts where there is no prov;ision for irrigation. As a rule, irrigation is 

 necessary to obtain the best yields. 



The object of the experiment was to ascertain what effect the added water on the 

 irrigated areas might have on the quantity and quality of the grain. The season, 

 during the earlier months, was unusually wet, and consequently not favourable to the 

 experiment in hand. Only one irrigation was found necessary, owing to the ample 

 rainfall referred to, and this was not made until July 16, immediately following the 

 second collection of soil samples for moisture-content. 



The percentages of moisture in the soil of these areas, as determined at intervals 

 throughout the season, in samples taken to a depth of 14 inches, were as follows: — 



Irrigated. Non-irrigated. 



Per cent. Per cent. 



May 14, 1908 16-56 15-61 



July 15, 1908 - 8-78 8-11 



August 17, 1908 10-37 6-38 



Until July 15, therefore, the moisture-content was almost the same for both the 

 areas under examination, but subsequent to that date — that is during the ripening 

 period of the wheat — that of the irrigated was considerably higher than that of the 

 non-irrigated area. 



The protein-content of the wheats grown on these areas may now be given. Red 



Fife is a spring wheat ; Kharkov, a winter variety. 



Protein, 



(N X 5-7.) 



Red Fife — Original seed from Brandon, Man 15-95 per cent. 



" Grown on irrigated land 13-70 " 



" Grown on non-irrigated land 16-37 " 



Kharkov — Grown on irrigated land 12-31 " 



Grown on non-irrigated land 13-12 " 



a 



* Report of the Chemist, Experimental Farm Eeport, 1907-8. 



