Stephen Guy and Mary Lauver. Univ. of Idaho-PSES, 375 S Line St., Moscow, ID 83844-2339
Tillage systems have different growing conditions that may influence the performance of crops and varieties; however, spring barley variety performance differences in tillage systems are not well defined. This study compares variety performance of spring barley in a replicated conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) comparison near Genesee, Idaho in 2001 to 2004. Combined over four years and six cultivars, barley grain yields were not significantly higher (4575 kg ha-1) in CT than in NT (4430 kg ha-1). Plant stands were 6% higher (p=0.04) in NT, plant height was 3 cm lower in NT (p=0.10), crop biomass was 6% lower in NT (p=0.10), and harvest index was 4% higher in NT (p=0.04). Grain protein was 0.5% points lower in NT (p=0.06), but seed weight (p=0.06), test weight (p=0.07), and kernel plumpness (p=0.05) were all higher in NT than CT. These end use and grain quality characteristics would appear to give an advantage to NT production of barley for both feed or malt uses. Cultivars and years were different for all measured parameters and most of their interactions were also significant. There were significant tillage by cultivar interactions for yield and crop biomass. ‘Xena’ was highest yielding in CT, but fourth in NT, while ‘Excel’ was fourth in CT and first in NT. ‘Camas’ and ‘Baronesse’ were second and third while ‘Harrington’ and ‘Morex’ were fifth and sixth for grain yield in both CT and NT. Barley could be an important component of NT cropping systems where wheat predominates.
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