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Treatments
Buckwheat is sown late, when soil temperatures are high, and seedlings will emerge
quickly. Seedling diseases are not common. There are no registered seed treatments.
Dates
June 1 to June 20. Buckwheat is very susceptible to frost in late spring or early
fall. To maximize yields, buckwheat should be sown early in June after the risk of frost.
Rates
36-48 lb/acre to achieve a plant stand of 13-17 plants/ft2
is ideal. New varieties tend to have larger seed size, along with increased
bushel weights. These large-seeded varieties have larger leaves, and as a result do not
require higher seeding rates than the smaller-seeded types.
Seeding Depth
1 to 2.5 inches. Seed should be placed only deep enough to reach moisture to obtain
rapid and uniform emergence.
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Weed control in buckwheat can be difficult
and requires planning, since there are few herbicides available, particularly for
broadleaf weed control. Since buckwheat is sown late, there is ample opportunity to
control problem weeds with herbicides or cultivation before seeding. Do not use herbicides
that may leave a residue before seeding. Weeds can reduce both yield and quality of
buckwheat. Seeds that constitute foreign matter include wheat, rye, barley, oats,
triticale, peas, beans and corn, as well as several weed seeds.
Link: How to obtain printed copies
of the Field Scouting Guide and Guide to Crop Protection.
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Grasshoppers and
cutworms can damage
buckwheat.
Link: How to obtain printed copies
of the Field Scouting Guide and Guide to Crop Protection.
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Diseases affecting Buckwheat
Buckwheat is free from most diseases that affect other broadleaved crops. Three
diseases that do affect the crop are Botrytis leaf and stem rot, downy mildew and
Rhizoctonia root rot.
Also refer to Scouting for Diseases
Crop disease
identification, scouting techniques, economic thresholds.
Link: How to obtain printed copies
of the Field Scouting Guide and Guide to Crop Protection.
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Swathing
Much of the yield is determined by seed development in the primary seed cluster.
Buckwheat should be swathed when about 75-80 per cent of the seeds have turned brown or
black. The best way to determine this is to pull a few plants and turn them over and judge
seed turn. Yield increases rapidly in the last two of weeks of growth, and therefore
swathing should be delayed as long as possible. Usually the crop will show marginal
shattering before swathing, but the amount of shattering is minimal, compared with the
increases at this stage of growth.
If a light frost occurs (top third of crop canopy or less), the yields of the crop will
be further improved, since all flowering will be stopped. If a hard frost occurs (more
than the top third of canopy), swathing should begin immediately. Shattering losses can be
minimized by swathing when the crop is damp and by matching reel speed with ground speed.
Desiccation
Desiccation weakens the stem and causes lodging. Do not desiccate buckwheat.
Timing
Standing buckwheat is difficult to manage after the crop has been exposed to frost.
Where possible, try to swath the crop before a heavy frost.
Combining
To minimize shattering, ensure that the pickup speed equals ground speed. Combine
adjustments are important to minimize the dehulling of seed; therefore, use a cylinder
speed of 600-800 rpm, concave of 1/2 to 5/8" at front and 1/4" at rear. If seed
is dehulling, increase concave size or lower cylinder speed.
Storage
A moisture content of 16 per cent or less is necessary for safe storage of buckwheat.
The primary market for buckwheat is Japan, which buys only new crop seed; therefore, it is
important not to mix old and new crops. These mixtures of old and new seed are easily
detected, as the old seed oxidizes and the light green layer just under the hull in new
seed gradually changes to reddish brown during storage.
For specific information on:
These and other Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
publications are available from your local extension office under the headings of Crops & Plants, Soil
& Conservation, and Weed, Insect & Disease. Your local GO Office representative can help you
find those resources most relevant to your needs.
Links:
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