Influence of Foliar Application of Microelements on Yield and Yield Components of Spring Malting Barley

Abstract

Barley is an economically important plant cultivated primarily for animal feed and in the brewing industry for the production of barley malt. Climate changes and an increase in grain demand result in a constant need to improve the volume and stability of cereal species yields and better use the potential of cultivars. In cereal production, an important aspect is the use of microelements, especially by foliar spraying. Microelements, as components or enzyme activators, play a significant role in plant growth and metabolic processes occurring in the cell. As a consequence, their availability is a factor determining plant development. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of foliar fertilization with selected microelements on the yield of two-row malting barley cultivars. In 2019–2021, a two-factor field experiment with barley was conducted in south-eastern Poland. The experimental factors were three spring barley cultivars (Baryłka, KWS Irina, and RGT Planet) of the brewing type and four single-component micronutrient fertilizers containing copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn). The foliar application of microelements resulted in improvements in selected elements of the yield structure and an increase in grain yield, and the effect depended on the fertilization applied. The highest grain yield was obtained from plots where fertilizer with Mo or Zn was used. Barley plants sprayed with Mo fertilizer developed the longest spikes and were characterized by the highest number of productive tillers per plant. The foliar application of Zn resulted in the formation of the highest number of spikes per unit area and grain uniformity. The RGT Planet cultivar was characterized by higher values of the measured parameters compared to Baryłka and KWS Irina.