Effect of Seeding Rate on Hulless Barley Production in Eastern Canada

Citation

Khanal, R., Mills, A., Mountain N., Fillmore, S. (2021). Effect of Seeding Rate on Hulless Barley Production in Eastern Canada. Tri-Society Virtual Conference, Edmonton, AB

Résumé en langage clair

Hulless barley varieties are becoming more valuable due to higher levels of protein and digestible energy compared to hulled varieties. Although there is growing market potential for hulless barley, there is very little information on how cultural practices affect yield and quality in eastern Canada. A study was conducted over two years and four sites in eastern Canada to evaluate the responses of hulless and hulled barley varieties to various seeding rates. There were significant effects of barley varieties and seeding rates on grain yield, plant height, thousand kernel weight, test weight, and grain protein. There were also significant contrasts between hulled vs. hulless on all factors except for thousand kernel weight. For the hulless varieties seeding at 450 – 550 seeds m-2 resulted in an increased grain yield whereas there was no significant yield increase for hulled varieties seeding at more than 350 seeds m-2. Seeding rates for hulless barley should be at least 450 seeds m-2 to achieve the optimum grain yield in eastern Canada.

Résumé

Hulless barley varieties are becoming more valuable due to higher levels of protein and digestible energy compared to hulled varieties. Although there is growing market potential for hulless barley, there is very little information on how cultural practices affect yield and quality in eastern Canada. A study was conducted over two years and four sites in eastern Canada (Charlottetown, PE; New Liskeard, ON; Normandin, PQ; and Ottawa, ON) to evaluate the responses of hulless and hulled barley varieties to various seeding rates (250, 350, 450, 550, 650, 750). The feed varieties tested included two 2-row hulless (AAC Starbuck and CDC Ascent), two 2-row hulled (AAC Ling and CH2720-1), and one each of a 6-row hulless (AAC Azimuth) and a 6-row hulled (AAC Bloomfield). Mixed models analysis with REML was used to measure the effects of variety (V), seeding rate (S) and V x S interactions. Polynomial contrasts were performed to measure differences between hulled vs. hulless varieties. There were significant effects of V and S on grain yield, plant height, thousand kernel weight, test weight, and grain protein. There were also significant contrasts between hulled vs. hulless on all factors except for thousand kernel weight. For the hulless varieties seeding at 450 – 550 seeds m-2 resulted in an increased grain yield whereas there was no significant yield increase for hulled varieties seeding at more than 350 seeds m-2. Seeding rates for hulless barley should be at least 450 seeds m-2 to achieve the optimum grain yield in eastern Canada.