Advanced Agronomic Practices to Maximize Feed Barley Yield, Quality, and Standability in Alberta, Canada. I. Responses to Plant Density, a Plant Growth Regulator, and Foliar Fungicides

Abstract

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.

Impact of field fungal contamination of barley on ensiling properties, nutritional quality and the microbiome of barley silage

“…Others have also reported a greater normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), an indicator of photosynthetic leaf area, in barley treated with foliar fungicides(Perrott et al, 2018). FR, fungal resistant barley sprayed with the fungicide Twinline ® (BASF, Missisauga, ON) applied at the flag leaf emergence to boot stage at the rates outlined in the materials and methods; UN, fungal susceptible barley with no fungicide treatment.…”

“…Foliar fungal infections reduce photosynthetic area of leaves and decrease the filling of grain kernels(Poole & Arnaudin, 2014). Others have also reported a greater normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), an indicator of photosynthetic leaf area, in barley treated with foliar fungicides(Perrott et al, 2018). Studies have also shown that fungi utilize plant simple sugars and likely hydrolyse starch to meet their energy requirements(Singh, Asthir, Bains, & Mann, 2009).…”

Effects of plant growth regulator applications on malting barley in western Canada

“…Seeding rates were therefore incorporated into the current study to try to create a scenario with increased probability of lodging. Additionally, recent research has found interactions between seeding rate and PGR application (Perrott et al 2018). The effect of chlormequat chloride on spike length, test weight, and acid detergent fibre in feed barley in Alberta was different between target plant densities of 240 and 355 plants m −2 (Perrott et al 2018).…”

“…Overall impacts of lodging depend on how early a plant lodges (Jedel and Helm 1991), weather events following lodging, and disease inoculum levels. Lodging risks can be cultivar specific (Clark and Fedak 1977) but are also affected by agronomic decisions such as seeding date or rate (O'Donovan et al 2012), seeding depth (Pinthus 1974), fertilization strategies (O'Donovan et al 2011), and potentially disease management (Turkington et al 2015;Perrott et al 2018) that affect plant height, plant health, and, likely as a result, stem strength.…”

“…The stem stabilizing properties of chlormequat are less effective in winter barley than in wheat (Jung 1984), possibly suggesting lower efficacy in spring barley as well. Chlormequat has been shown to reduce spring barley height without significantly affecting lodging in Ontario and Alberta (Ma and Smith 1991b;Perrott et al 2018). Chlormequat applications have been shown to increase test weight and reduce kernel protein in Alberta, although protein reductions were likely related to increased grain yield (Perrott et al 2018).…”