Average Yield Increase Research Articles

Increasing of Food and Bioenergy Potato Resources by Microbial Influence on Tubers Phytohormonal Status

Abstract Potato and its by-products became a promising both food and bioenergy resource. The determination of the bacteriaantagonists influence on phytohormone status and productivity of potato tubers was studied. The indole-3-acetic acid content during the dormancy end and germinating in the tubers treated with Bacillus subtilis Ch-13 was fewer than in the control samples. L-tryptophan significant quantity compared to the control was found in the treated tubers in a state of physiological dormancy (more than 2-fold) and especially during active germination (43 times greater). Average potato yield increase at treated fields was of 18.8 %.

Maize Root Architecture and Water Stress Tolerance: An Approximation from Crop Models

This work presents an assessment of potential advantages of drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) production. A higher water uptake resulting from an enhanced root exploration at deep soil layers seems to be the most promising mechanism. The potential field‐level impacts of this mechanism is assessed in two contrasting agroecological areas of the Argentine Pampas using the CERES‐Maize model. The soil root growth factor parameter (SRGF) was manipulated to represent a modified maize hybrid with higher density of deep roots. Enhanced root exploration increased maize transpiration and consequently biomass production and yields. Benefits of the modified hybrid tend to be higher under low water availability conditions (low soil water content at sowing and/or rains during crop cycle). Although higher yield responses to root architecture changes were initially expected in the marginal semiarid area (Pilar), the opposite was observed: the average yield increases were 4.7 and 11.7% for Pilar and Pergamino, respectively. The modified hybrid showed lower yields than the current one in approximately 10% of the simulated situations. There were no yield penalties for the modified hybrid in cropping cycles with high water availability. This work shows strong interactions between root architecture and the environmental conditions in which crops are grown that affect potential field‐level benefits. We highlight the need for assessing attributes tied to drought tolerance in the context of agroecological conditions in which plants will be grown to identify which drought‐tolerance mechanisms might prove effective under different water‐stress conditions.

Impact of front line demonstrations ofRabi onion in Ambala district of Haryana

among the farmers. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ambala (Haryana) conducted 25 demonstrations especially on plant protections measures adopted in Rabi onion against the purple blotch and thrips attack in onion. The critical inputs were identified from the recommended package of practices of Punjab and their usages were discussed in practising farmer’s trainings at the farmer’s field and KVK campus. The constraints in the production of onion crop were identified and their remedies at farming situation were studied along with the participation of farmers with more emphasizes to increase the productivity of onion per unit area and also get the feedback from farmers on the performance demonstrated plot of onion during the period of study of four years (2009-2010 to 2012-2013) . The average four years data revealed that an average yield of demonstrated plot was obtained 190 q/ha and local check (171.50 q/ha) and the average percentage increase in yield over local check was 12.50 per cent. The average extension gap were found to be 18.40 q/ha. From the study, it revealed that over the year’s local selection (Kali Patti Pyaz) performed better at demonstrated plot in comparison to local check. Benefit: cost ratio was recorded to be higher under demonstrated plot against check during the part of the study.

Climate change impacts on rain-fed and irrigated rice yield in Malawi

There is extensive scientific evidence on climate impacts and adaptation in rice (Oryza sativa L.), but the majority relates to production in South Asia and China. Only a handful of studies have been conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa and none in Malawi. In this paper, the climate impacts on rain-fed and irrigated rice yield have been assessed by combining the downscaled outputs from an ensemble of general circulation models (GCM) (HADCM3, INCM3 and IPCM4) with data from the LARS-WG weather generator to drive the CERES-Rice crop model. This was calibrated and validated using 10 years (2001–2010) field data from three rice schemes to simulate the baseline (1961–1990) yield (t ha−1) and then model future yield changes for selected (B1 and A2) emissions’ scenarios for the 2050s. Although relatively small increases in average yield were projected (+8% and +5% for rain-fed and irrigated rice, respectively), there was large uncertainty (−10% to +20% yield change) when considering different GCMs and emission scenario. Farmer responses to cope with the projected impacts include both autonomous and planned adaptation strategies, such as modifying planting dates to maximize crop growth calendars and available soil moisture, increased use of on-farm water conservation measures and land levelling to improve water efficiency in rice schemes dependent on surface irrigation.

SHORT- TO MID-TERM IMPACT OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ON YIELD VARIABILITY OF UPLAND RICE: EVIDENCE FROM FARMER’S FIELDS IN MADAGASCAR

SUMMARYFamily farming in the tropics suffers from low crop productivity mainly due to a combination of poor soil fertility, low investment capacity, and a variable climate. The Lake Alaotra region of Madagascar is no exception and rainfed production is particularly hard hit. To evaluate the agronomic benefits of conservation agriculture (CA) in a region of erratic rainfall, we analysed four years of yield, management and climatic data from 3803 upland rice fields cultivated by farmers and monitored by researchers. Fields located on rainfed lowlands and hillsides were cultivated with sole rice using conventional tillage (Cv) or rice sown with no-tillage on dead organic mulch and rotated with other cereal/legume combinations (CA) from 2006 to 2011. A first global comparison across seasons, locations and years of adoption showed significantly higher average yields under CA, with no change in variance (on lowland: 2.6 ± 0.9 t ha–1 Cv, 2.8 ± 0.9 t ha–1 CA; on hillside: 2.1 ± 0.8 t ha–1 Cv, 2.4 ± 0.8 t ha–1 CA). Grouping fields according to the number of years under CA (first to fourth) revealed that CA gradually increased average yields and reduced the coefficient of variation in the short and mid-term (on lowland: +0.2 t ha–1 and –6% coefficient of variation; on hillside: +0.7 t ha–1 and –13% coefficient of variation, over four to six years of successive CA cropping). The average yield increase under CA was not associated with an increase in mineral fertiliser use, as farmers used the same amounts of fertilisers (or none) under Cv and CA. The comparison Cv versus CA also highlighted a major benefit of CA regarding climate: it widened the window of possible sowing dates. A classification and regression tree analysis of the entire dataset revealed that rice yield was more affected by agro-environmental factors than management factors (fertilisation, Cv or CA), and extreme climate variability such as the severe drought of 2007–2008 could not be offset by CA. The hypothesis of yield penalties during the first years of implementation of CA cannot be verified with the evidence presented in this study.

Performance of landrace and improved rice varieties under the system of rice intensification management in Bajhang District of Nepal

Participatory action research was conducted in Luinyata VDC of Bajhang district during main rice-growing season of 2012 to evaluate the effects of cultivation practices in rice varieties. The experiment was in factorial randomized complete block design, where two methods of cultivations: System of rice intensification (SRI) and conventional transplanting (CT) and 3 different varieties: Khumal-4, Thapachini and Hansaraj Basmati were evaluated. Data were collected on grain yield, number of tillers, panicle length and number of filled and unfilled grains per panicle. Results averaged across the three varieties showed significantly better crop performance with SRI practices: higher number of tillers per hill, panicles per hill, tillers per m2, panicles per m2, and grain yield. The values of these parameters comparing SRI with conventional practice were, respectively, 24.5 vs. 11.3, 21.5 vs. 9.5, 305 vs. 273, 273.5 vs. 233.8, and 7.6 vs. 4.46 tha-1. Among the varieties evaluated, the highest yield was achieved with the Thapachini (8.11tha-1) using SRI methods. Average yield increase across the three varieties with SRI practice was 70% compared CT. These results indicate the practical relevance of SRI principles for increasing rice production in mountainous regions of Nepal.

Short communication: Heterosis by environment and genotype by environment interactions for protein yield in Danish Jerseys

Crossing of lines or strains within and between breeds has been demonstrated to be beneficial for dairy cattle performance. However, even within breed, differences between strains may also give rise to heterosis. A key question is whether an interaction exists between heterosis and environment (H × E) that is independent of genotype by environment (G × E) interactions. In this study, H × E and G × E interactions were estimated in a population of approximately 300,000 Danish Jersey cows. The cows were a mixture of pure Danish Jerseys and crosses of US and Danish Jerseys. The phenotype studied was protein yield. A reaction norm model where the unknown environmental covariates are inferred simultaneously with the other parameters in the model was used to analyze the data. When H × E, but not G × E, was included in the model, heterosis was estimated to be 3.8% for the intermediate environmental level. However, when both H × E and G × E were included in the model, heterosis was estimated to be 4.1% for the intermediate environmental level. Furthermore, when only H × E was included in the model, the regression on the unknown environmental covariate was estimated to be 0.15, interpreted as meaning that an increase of average herd-year protein yield by 1kg of protein led to an increase in heterosis of 0.15kg above the average heterosis for a first-cross cow. When both H × E and G × E were included in the model, the regression on the unknown environmental covariate was not significantly different from zero, meaning that heterosis was similar in all environments investigated. The genetic correlation of protein yields for different environmental levels ranged from 0.72 to 0.93, which was significantly different from unity, indicating that G × E exist for protein yield.

Producción artesanal de semilla de frijol con participación municipal en Veracruz, México.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la produccion artesanal de semilla de frijol municipal (PASF-Municipal). La estrategia se implemento de 1998-2010, en veintitres municipios de las regiones Centro-sur y de las Altas Montanas del estado de Veracruz, Mexico. El estudio consto de dos fases: una de establecimiento de parcelas de validacion de variedades para seleccionar las de mayor productividad; la segunda fase fue la de instalacion de parcelas de produccion de semilla de las variedades mejoradas seleccionadas. Durante la validacion en la region Centro-sur, las mejoradas superaron en 78,7% al testigo Negro Michigan (743 kg/ha). En las Altas Montanas, los cultivares mejorados registraron un rendimiento de 1219 kg/ha, mientras que Negro Michigan produjo 751 kg/ha. En la produccion de semilla, se obtuvieron 28 300 kilogramos, para la siembra de 628 hectareas en beneficio de 1545 productores. El incremento promedio obtenido por los productores con semilla PASF-Municipal de variedades mejoradas fue de 109,4% en relacion a la obtenida con el grano utilizado como semilla de la variedad del productor.

A Crop Model and Fuzzy Rule Based Approach for Optimizing Maize Planting Dates in Burkina Faso, West Africa

AbstractIn sub-Saharan Africa, with its high rainfall variability and limited irrigation options, the crop planting date is a crucial tactical decision for farmers and therefore a major concern in agricultural decision making. To support decision making in rainfed agriculture, a new approach has been developed to optimize crop planting date. The General Large-Area Model for Annual Crops (GLAM) has been used for the first time to simulate maize yields in West Africa. It is used in combination with fuzzy logic rules to give more flexibility in crop planting date computation when compared with binary logic methods. A genetic algorithm is applied to calibrate the crop model and to optimize the planting dates at the end. The process for optimizing planting dates results in an ensemble of optimized planting rules. This principle of ensemble members leads to a time window of optimized planting dates for a single year and thereby potentially increases the willingness of farmers to adopt this approach. The optimized planting date (OPD) approach is compared with two well-established methods in sub-Saharan Africa. The results suggest earlier planting dates across Burkina Faso, ranging from 10 to 20 days for the northern and central part and less than 10 days for the southern part. With respect to the potential yields, the OPD approach indicates that an average increase in maize potential yield of around 20% could be obtained in water-limited regions in Burkina Faso. The implementation of the presented approach in agricultural decision support is expected to have the potential to improve agricultural risk management in these regions dominated by rainfed agriculture and characterized by high rainfall variability.

Double row spacing and drip irrigation as technical options in energy sorghum management

The effect of two row spacing configurations and four water supply levels was investigated on sweet and fibre sorghum in Central Italy for two consecutive years. Results highlighted the influence of both irrigation and row spatial configuration on crop productivity. Indeed, several studies have pointed out the positive response of sorghum to irrigation in Mediterranean climate, as in this environment water stress represents one of the main limiting factors on crop productivity. On the other hand, few attempts have been made to explore the role of row spacing on energy sorghum productivity. Results outlined an average increase in sorghum dry biomass yield ranging from +23% to +79% at variable rates of water supply as compared to rainfed control. The positive effect of irrigation was also observed on leaf area index and radiation use efficiency. Moreover, we observed a crop yield increase, from 9% to 20%, under double row spacing compared to the standard planting pattern (i.e. single row spacing). Finally, it was confirmed the efficient use of water by sorghum and the great ability of sorghum to increase its biomass yield in response to increasing volumes of water supplied. Therefore, this work suggests how row spacing configuration and drip irrigation could be feasible technical options to increase sorghum biomass yields in Mediterranean environments. These techniques should be experienced by farmers towards a sustainable intensification of current cropping systems.

Phenology of Maize ( Zea mays L. ) and Associated Weeds as Influenced by Tillage and Weed Control Methods under Mid-Hill Conditions of North West Himalayas

A field study was conducted on silty clay loam soils to study the effect of tillage and weed control methods on phenology of maize and associated weeds and their influence on the production of crop. The results revealed that irrespective of tillage and weed control methods, Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa colona and Panicum dichotomiflorum and sedge (Cyperus iria) emerged earlier by 4-8 days than maize crop resulting more competition in the initial stages of growth. Commelina benghalensis emerged and senescenced almost along with the crop. While all other weeds flowered at tasseling stage of the maize crop, Echinochloa colona and Panicum dichotomiflorum flowered 7-8 days earlier to this stage. Senescence of almost all the weeds except Commelina benghalensis occurred 15-25 days earlier than the maize crop. Zero tillage resulted in significantly early emergence of the crop by 4-5 days over other tillage methods but the emergence of grass weeds was not affected significantly. Appearance of all the phenophases of the crop and associated weeds was initiated early in zero till plots as compared to raised seed bed and conventional tilled plots resulting in reduction in grain yield of maize by 13.7 and 16.9 per cent over raised seed bed and conventional tillage. Effective control of weeds with atrazine 1.5 kg/ha and acetachlor 1.25 kg/ha delayed the emergence and appearance of different phenophases of weeds than the crop resulting in 75.2 and 71.7 percent average increase in grain yield of maize, respectively over unweeded check.

Effects of drainage water management on crop yields in North Carolina

Research studies on a wide range of soils, crops, locations, and climates have shown that drainage water management (DWM), or controlled drainage (CD), can be used to substantially reduce the loss of nitrogen (N), and in some cases, phosphorus (P) from drained agricultural lands to surface waters. The adoption and widespread application of DWM depends on a variety of factors including its impact on crop yields. This paper presents results from a long term field study on the effect of DWM or CD on crop yields in a three-crop, two-year corn/wheat–soybean rotation. Yields were measured on replicated field scale plots under CD and conventional or free drainage (FD) treatments for a total of 18 crops on two experimental sites during the period from 1990 to 2011. Data were collected on 7 corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) crops, 5 wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) crops, and 6 soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.) crops. Controlled drainage had no significant effect on yields of winter wheat, which in North Carolina is grown in the wettest, coolest part of the year. Controlled drainage increased corn yields compared to FD in all seven years. The average yield increase for corn was 11%. Controlled drainage also increased soybean yield in all years with an average increase of 10% compared to FD. Such yield responses will promote the application of DWM, which will result in both economic and environmental benefits.

The Effect of Nutrient Concentration on the Yield of Mushroom (Pleurotus Osttreatus)

Various percentage concentration of wheat bran was used to examine their effect on yield of mushroom in terms of total and average yield. Wheat bran was added to saw dust the main substrate medium used for mushroom growth. The treatment used are control, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5% and 20%. Six replicas of each treatment was made, sterilized and inoculated with spores of (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushroom. Data was collected over a 30 day period. Data obtained were analysed statistically using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. Results indicate a gradual increase in both total and average yield of mushroom from 2.5% to 12.5%. The highest growth yield (average) of 22.78g and total yield of 683.5g was observed for 12.5% wheat bran concentration. Also, after 12.5% of wheat bran concentration both average and total yield declined sharply due to contamination of the fruiting bags. Consequently, higher nutrient concentration above 12.5% favoured the growth of competing organisms which cause spoilage. The study indicated that best results in terms of yield can be obtained by using wheat bran concentrations of 7.5% to 12.5%.

Genetic potential and maize production in Serbia

Genetic potential of maize hybrids grown in Serbia is 10-15 t ha-1 , while the average yields are considerably lower. There are many reasons for this. At first, it is well known that drought is present often in some parts of country. Some soils are not suitable in the same degree for intensive maize production, application of mineral fertilizers is insufficient, mechanization is outdated and arable farms are small and fragmented. During the period 19652012 high variations in precipitation were present during the maize vegetation. The yearly average precipitation sum was 688.9 mm, with 397.5 mm during vegetation. According to precipitation amount, years were divided into groups: I 200-300 mm 7, (15%); II 301-400 mm 21, (44%) and III 401-500 mm 14, (30%), and IV in 5 years (11%) more than 500 mm of precipitation was present. The highest average yield in Serbia was achieved in 1991 (5.95 t ha-1) and the lowest in 2000 (2.44 t ha-1). The average yield increase was 114 kg ha-1 per year from 1965 to 1985, and it was 22 kg ha-1 per year from 1986 to 2012. In experiments during the period 1998-2012, when the standard cropping technology (MSY) was applied, the average grain yield was10.46 t ha-1 for hybrids of FAO 300-400, 10.39 t ha-1 for hybrids from FAO 500 and 11.38 for FAO 600-700. There were no significant differences in yield between hybrids from examined FAO groups. According to this, average maize yield includes only 44.2% for FAO 300-400, 44.5% for FAO 500 and 40.6% for FAO 600700 utilized maize genetic potential. The significant improvement of maize production demand the strategic long-term program, where it will be elaborated: merging of land properties, increasing of the areas with irrigation and increasing of the technology level in maize cropping.

Effects of Long-Term Rice-Rice-Green Manure Cropping Rotation on Rice Yield and Soil Fertility

为探讨湘南红壤稻田多熟制增产潜力，不断提高经济效益和土壤肥力，促进农业可持续发展，从1982年开始，对红壤稻田布置了冬种紫云英（T1）、油菜（T2）、黑麦草（T3）翻压还田对水稻产量和土壤肥力影响的长期轮作制度定位试验。30年的研究结果表明：（1）与冬闲（T4）处理相比，绿肥还田能促进水稻增产，其平均增产效果和年均增产率为：T1〉 T2〉 T3，且其增产稳定性较好；（2）与T4处理相比，绿肥还田能显著增加土壤有机质含量，其中T1处理下活性有机质含量显著高于其他处理，且在有机质中所占比例最大；（3）与T4处理相比，绿肥还田能提高土壤全氮、碱解氮含量，加速土壤矿化，促进水稻对磷素和钾素吸收，其中，T1处理下土壤全氮、碱解氮含量显著高于其他处理，T2和T3处理显著高于T4处理，T1处理比T2和T3处理更能促进土壤磷素释放与吸收，致使T1处理土壤全磷累积相对缓慢，也更需要补充外界钾素；（4） 稻-稻-紫云英轮作是一种较好的轮作模式。

Cultivar diversity has great potential to increase yield of feed barley

This study shows an average yield increase of 415–1,338 kg ha−1 per unit increase of the Shannon diversity index for feed barley cultivar use. There is a global quest to increase food production sustainably. Therefore, judicious farmer choices such as selection of crop cultivars are increasingly important. Cultivar diversity is limited and, as a consequence, corresponding crop yields are highly impacted by local weather variations and global climate change. Actually, there is little knowledge on the relationships between yields of regional crops and cultivar diversity, that is evenness and richness in cultivar use. Here, we hypothesized that higher cultivar diversity is related to higher regional yield. We also assumed that the diversity-yield relationship depends on weather during the growing season. Our data were based on farm yield surveys of feed and malting barley, Hordeum vulgare L.; spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L.; and spring turnip rape, Brassica rapa L. ssp. oleifera, from 1998 to 2009, representing about 4,500–5,500 farms annually. We modeled the relationships between regional yields and Shannon diversity indices in high-yielding (south-west) and low-yielding (central-east) regions of Finland using linear mixed models. Our results show that an increase of Shannon diversity index increases yield of feed barley. Feed barley had also the greatest cultivar diversity. In contrast, an average yield decrease of 1,052 kg ha−1 per unit increase in Shannon index was found for spring rape in 2006 and 2008. Our findings show that cultivar diversification has potential to raise mean regional yield of feed barley. Increasing cultivar diversity thus offers a novel, sustainability-favoring means to promote higher yields.

Meta-analysis of Winter Wheat Response to Chloride Fertilization in Kansas

Cereal grain yield response to chloride (Cl) fertilization has been reported in most of the Great Plains. The objective of this study was to use meta-analytic methods to summarize and provide quantitative estimates of the effects of soil and fertilizer Cl on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) response including grain yield and flag leaf Cl tissue level. Meta-analysis evaluated the effect of soil and fertilizer Cl application from different studies on a common scale of effect size. Chloride tissue concentration using the flag leaf correlated well with fertilizer plus soil Cl at a depth of 0–60 cm. However, our analysis indicates possible luxury uptake of Cl in relation to grain yield, with a possible upper limit in plant uptake with soil Cl levels around 68 kg Cl ha–1. Application of Cl fertilizer generated average wheat yield increases of approximately 8%.

Effect ofLolium perennesward density on productivity under simulated and actual cattle grazing

AbstractThe objective of this study was to quantify the effect of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.; PRG) sward density on seasonal and total DM yield under simulated grazing and animal grazing by cattle, and to assess the effectiveness of visually estimated ground scores (GSs) for predicting sward PRG density. The study incorporated five different seeding rates of PRG, each replicated three times, to simulate swards ranging in PRG density typical of different ages and conditions. There was no significant difference between defoliation managements for total DM yield, but sward PRG density had a significant effect on both the seasonal and total DM herbage yield under both systems. Under simulated grazing, total DM yield ranged from 10·7 to 12·0 t DM ha−1with increasing sward PRG density at a GS range of 1·70–4·28 (mean of 2 years’ data,P &lt; 0·01). Under animal grazing, the yield range was from 10·3 to 12·2 t DM ha−1for a GS range of 1·50–3·39 (mean of 2 years’ data,P &lt; 0·01). The largest differences in DM yield occurred during the spring period. The relationship between sward DM yield and GS was significant (P &lt; 0·001) for both simulated and animal‐grazed swards. Each unit increase in midseason GS (June) related to an average yield increase of 350 kg DM ha−1under simulated grazing and a 721 kg DM ha−1increase under cattle grazing. Every unit increase in the GS at the end of the grazing season (December) was associated with a 460 or 1194 kg DM ha−1increase under simulated and animal grazing, respectively. These results show that visual estimates of density were an effective tool in describing PRG density and that this could be related to DM yield potential. Further investigations may provide a threshold value below which the renewal of swards could be advised based on a visual GS of PRG.

Crops that feed the world 7: Rice

Fears about global food security led to a spike in food prices in 2008, social unrest and pushed a further 100 million people into poverty. Prices remain high and volatile. In this paper we take a closer look at rice, a crop that feeds billions of people in the world, and focus in particular on Asia and Africa. On both continents, rice is grown in a wide range of climatic conditions, from river deltas to mountainous regions. Irrigated systems dominate in Asia and rainfed systems in Africa. Predicted demands for rice remain strong. An additional 116 million tons of rice will be needed by 2035 to feed growing populations. In Africa, where rice is the most rapidly growing food source, about 30 million tons more rice will be needed by 2035, representing an increase of 130% in rice consumption from 2010. About one-third of this extra rice will be needed in Nigeria alone. In Asia, per capita consumption of rice may go down in some mid- and high-income countries. Rice farming will need to produce about 8–10 million tons more paddy per year over the next decade. Without area expansion this will require an annual yield increase of about 1.2–1.5%, equivalent to an average yield increase of 0.6 t ha−1 world-wide. Improving global food security will, therefore, necessitate concerted efforts to increase the productivity of rice per unit of land, water and/or labor in Asia and Africa, and the development of new land and water resources in a responsible and equitable manner to counteract losses due to urbanization and industrialization. During 2007–2011, productivity increases in Africa have been leading the way, with paddy rice production levels increasing by 9.5% per year, compared to 1.6% in Asia. Priorities for rice sector development include (i) continued and increased research efforts to close yield gaps and raise yield ceilings across rice growing environments through varietal development and improved rice production methods, and coping with climate change in both continents and (ii) strengthened and equitable public-private sector partnerships and conducive policy environments in Africa, with special emphasis on mechanization of rice farming from land preparation to harvest and rice processing practices.

Effect of Storage and Its Impact on Some Parameters Used in Assessing Distilling Wheat Cultivars

Wheat varieties of distilling quality were grown at two locations where different nitrogen fertilizer treatments were administered. Relationships between parameters used to assess wheat quality for Scotch whisky grain distilling such as moisture, nitrogen, hardness, and alcohol yield were assessed after harvest and reassessed after one year to determine the effect storage had on wheat quality. Changes observed in these parameters affected wheat quality in different ways. An increase in average wheat alcohol yield (dry weight basis [dwb]) of 1.6% was found for wheat grown at the lower nitrogen site. These samples had a higher average moisture level at harvest, and showed greater moisture loss (average = 8.7%) during storage. In contrast, a decrease in average wheat alcohol yield (dwb) of 0.6% was observed for wheat grown at the higher nitrogen site. This set of wheat samples had lower moisture levels at harvest, and lower moisture loss (4.1%) after storage. Both sets of wheat showed marginal increases in total nitrogen content which ranged from 0.01�0.12% for lower and 0.01�0.08% higher nitrogen wheat. When the harvest and stored data was compared, weak correlations for oven moisture (R = 0.2766) and grain hardness (R = 0.1789) were found for wheat varieties grown at the lower nitrogen site, while stronger correlations were observed for moisture (R = 0.6573) and hardness (R = 0.8403) for wheat grown at the higher nitrogen site over the same period. The lower nitrogen wheat, which showed a greater loss of moisture during storage, showed a strong correlation for NIR nitrogen (R = 0.9269) compared to wheat grown at the higher nitrogen site (R = 0.7652). Changes observed for moisture, nitrogen, and hardness of stored wheat appeared to have little effect on alcohol yield. Correlation results for alcohol yield assessed before and after storage for lower nitrogen (R = 0.8616) and higher nitrogen wheat (R = 0.8814) were similar and shows that storage did not have a dramatic effect on wheat alcohol yield. This observation has important commercial value because it demonstrates that storage of wheat does not have a detrimental effect on alcohol yield when such wheat is processed for alcohol production.