Effect of Variety, Seeding Rate and Nitrogen Rate On Yield and Quality of Malting Barley in Western Canada.

Field experiments were conducted from 2005 to 2008 at eight locations in western Canada to determine the effects of barley variety (AC Metcalfe and CDC Copeland), seeding rate and nitrogen rate on barley yield, yield components, seed uniformity and malt quality. Variety CDC Copeland displayed some advantages over the more widely grown AC Metcalfe including increased yield, lower protein and better modification. Barley seeding rate had variable effects on yield but the higher seeding rate often improved quality. The effects of increasing nitrogen rate on malting barley quality parameters were mainly negative.  Percentage plump seed decreased while protein and beta-glucan levels increased with increasing nitrogen rate. Malt friability and homogeneity decreased in both varieties but the extent of the decrease was less pronounced with CDC Copeland suggesting that it may modify better at relatively high nitrogen rates.