Yield variation of wheat and barley in Britain in relation to crop growth and soil conditions—A review

Abstract

Yields of cereals in Britain vary between sites and between years, and average farm yields are less than half of the calculated potential maximum yield. Yield variation is discussed in relation to soil conditions and root growth. An analysis of yield and its components of winter wheat for several sites over several years shows that yield is strongly correlated with number of grains per ear, and number of ears per unit area. These components of yield are influenced by environmental conditions during the reproductive phase of development, particularly light interception, nitrogen absorption and plant water stress. Crop growth analysis shows that total dry matter production is strongly correlated with light absorption,' which depends on seasonal variation in leaf area index. Leaf expansion in the field is mainly dependent on temperature, plant water stress, and nitrogen absorption. The environmental factors that are believed to have a strong influence on number of grains per ear, number of ears per unit area, and leaf expansion are discussed. Subjects in which further research is needed are identified. These include: effects of restrictions to root growth on absorption of nutrients and water; effects of soil temperature on leaf expansion and nutrient absorption ; the nitrogen requirements of the cereal crop, including the effects of temporary deficiencies of N on the final grain yield.

Nitrogen and dry matter partitioning of barley grown in a dryland environment

“…Of the yield components, grain number/unit area was related most strongly with grain yield (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). Other studies (Gallagher et al 1975;Gales 1983;Fischer 1985;Anderson 1986;Thorne & Wood 1987;Acevedo et al 1991) have also shown high correlations between grain yield and grain number/unit area. Significant relationships did occur with ears/unit area (r = 0.62, P < 0.001) and grains/ ear (r = 0.35, P < 0.05).…”

The effect of soil fertility on the contribution of main stem, tillers and kernel position to grain yield and grain protein content of wheat

“…Morishima, Oka and Chang (1967) and Hsu and Walton (1971) classified wheat varieties as 'ear number' or 'ear length' types to emphasize the relative importance of ear number as a component of yield. Other researchers (Darwinkel, 1978;Nerson, 1980;Gales, 1983; Bulman & Hunt, 1988) have reported genotypic differences in ability of wheat cultivars to produce fertile tillers. A positive correlation between spike number and grain yield has been reported by Nass (1973).…”

Characterizing the soil physical condition in reduced tillage systems for winter wheat on a fine sandy loam using small cores

“…Air permeability on the soil cores was determined using the procedure of Green and Fordham (1975 Evidently, some degree of mutual compensation occurred between yield components (i.e., heads per plant to maintain crop yield (Gales 1983). …”