Vitality studies on frozen wheat
Date
1952-04Author
Banting, James Daniel
Type
ThesisDegree Level
MastersMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Three times in the past three decades frost has caused
exceptionally severe crop damage in Western Canada. Although
early autunm frosts are a recurring hazard, damage usually is
scattered and light, often being confined to the more northerly
areas. It has been estimated that one-half of the grain crop
was damaged in the fall of 1928 (16). Frost damage in August
of 1950 was even more severe with estimates of damage ranging
as high as 75 percent in Saskatchewan.
The ability of seed to germinate and establish vigorous
seedlings under field conditions is one of the important factors
in crop production. The availability of good seed-stocks for
the spring of 1951 was a vital factor. Although a limited
amount of seed is normally held in reserve, most of this
surplus was disposed of prior to July 31. 1950, which date
signified the end of the five year Pool Agreement (1945-49)
with Great Britain. This meant that farmers were almost
entirely dependent on frosted grain for their 1951 seed supply.
In order to determine the value of frozen grain as seed a
series of tests was conducted at the University of Saskatchowan
on frost-damaged wheat.