Core Ideas Chlormequat chloride did not markedly reduce height or lodging, but yield increased by 2% across environments. Chlormequat chloride improved barley quality through increased test weight in moderate stands (240 plants m−2). Foliar fungicides increased grain yield by 3% across environments, which overall had low disease pressure. Dual fungicide applications increased yield more than single applications only at the higher density (355 plants m−2). Greatest grain yield was achieved by 355 plants m−2, a growth regulator, and dual fungicide applications. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) yield has increased at a slower rate than other major crops in Alberta, and barley area has declined over the last two decades. Improved agronomic management may increase grain yield and address other production constraints such as lodging, disease, and quality limitations. Field experiments were conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 at four rainfed sites and one irrigated site in Alberta, Canada, to evaluate the effects of plant density (targeting 240 or 355 plants m−2), the plant growth regulator chlormequat chloride (CCC; 2‐chloroethyl‐trimethyl‐ammonium chloride), foliar fungicide application (at flag leaf, 2 wk later, or at both application [dual] timings), four rates of post‐emergence N, and the interaction of these factors on ‘Amisk’ feed barley. There was no post‐emergence N interaction with the other agronomic practices tested in this study. The CCC did not markedly reduce height or lodging, but increased grain yield by 2%. Test weight increased by 0.5 kg hL−1 with CCC at 240 plants m−2. Foliar fungicides resulted in an average yield increase of 3% in the low disease conditions encountered in the study. Dual fungicide applications increased yield over single applications at the 355 plants m−2 density only. Combined, the most intensive agronomic practices (355 plants m−2, CCC, and dual fungicide applications) provided a 7% grain yield increase compared to the low intensity control.

Agronomic solutions such as supplemental post‐emergence N may increase yield of feed‐barley grain. Grain yield, grain N yield, and grain protein generally increased as post‐emergence N rate increased. Largest grain yield increases occurred in environments with >300 mm of growing season precipitation. Yields decreased when N was applied as urea ammonium nitrate in hot and low‐precipitation conditions. There were no adverse negative effects to maturity, lodging, or grain quality in ‘Amisk’ feed barley. Small yield gains and decreasing feed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) acreage in Alberta may be addressed with agronomic solutions. Field experiments were conducted from 2014 to 2016 at 3 irrigated and 11 rain‐fed environments in Alberta, Canada, to determine the effects of supplemental post‐emergence N on ‘Amisk’ feed barley growth, grain yield, and grain quality. At the time of seeding, urea N was applied at rates suitable for targeting average yield potential in each environment. Just prior to BBCH 30 (beginning of stem elongation), this was supplemented with additional 0, 34, and 68 kg N ha−1 in the form of undiluted urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), and 34 kg N ha−1 with the urease inhibitor N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). In most environments, grain yield, grain N yield (grain yield × percentage grain N), and grain protein increased with post‐emergence N rate. The largest positive grain yield responses (up to 19%) usually occurred in environments with more than 300 mm of growing season precipitation. Grain yield and grain N yield were significantly reduced when post‐emergence N was applied in high temperatures with low precipitation. Post‐emergence N increased height, but did not markedly change lodging or days to maturity. The grain quality parameters of test weight, starch, and fiber had minor responses to post‐emergence N application. The addition of NBPT to post‐emergence N had little effect on any response variables. Supplemental post‐emergence N provided an agronomic solution for increasing feed barley grain yield, but consistent increases were limited to irrigated or high precipitation environments.

In western Canadian cereal crops, lodging is still a major production constraint in high‐yield environments, and growers are looking for agronomic solutions. Plant growth regulators are synthetic compounds can work to produce shorter stems, reduce lodging, and maintain grain yield. Earn 1 CEU in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at http://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/613.

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