Response of Glasshouse Grown Malt Barley Yield to Water Stress

Abstract

Core Ideas Malt barley was subjected to water stress at different growth stages. The yield and yield components were used to evaluate the effect of water stress on barley. Effect of water stress at anthesis growth stage is more pronounced than in other growth stages. The study was performed to investigate the effect of water stress and duration of water stress at different growth stages on yield and yield components of glasshouse grown malt barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The crop was grown for two seasons on lysimeters, and was subjected to water stress at different growth stages (Late tillering, Flag leaf, Anthesis, and Milk/Dough) from the beginning until the end of each growth stage. Yield and yield components focused on were number of plants per pot (NP), tillers without ear (TWE), full ears (FE), empty ears (EE), mass of grains of 10 ears, total biomass per pot (TBPP) and total grain per pot (TGPP). Irrespective of season, results show that water stress during different growth stages did not significantly affect NP and EE but had a significant effect on TWE and FE. Total grain per pot produced due to the effect of water stress at Anthesis (105.110 and 29.860 g) and Milk/Dough (100.350 and 51.680 g) growth stages were lower than that of the well‐watered (177.570 and 99.310 g) for both seasons. Relative yield due to the effect of water stress confirmed that more yield will be lost per day if the crop experiences stress at Anthesis than other growth stages. This present an opportunity for improved management of irrigation scheduling for malt barley to maximize the period and level of irrigation water applications. Proper deficit irrigation during the Late tillering stage will help save water and reduce irrigation cost without significantly affecting grain yield.