Malt Barley Production Research Articles

Estimating nitrogen requirements for irrigated malting barley

Abstract The production of marketable malting barley requires careful N management to meet the quality standards set by the malting industry. Nine field trials were conducted over an eight‐year period at four locations to develop N fertilization guidelines for irrigated malting barley. Residual soil NO3‐N (0 to 60 cm) ranged from 15 to 103 kg N/ha. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied preplant as either urea or NH4NO3 at rates ranging from 0 to 269 kg N/ha. Maximum yields were obtained when the sum of residual plus applied N (available N) was above 110 kg N/ha. However, the percentage of plump kernels generally fell below acceptable levels (85%) when available N exceeded 135 kg N/ha. Grain protein exceeded acceptable levels (12%) when available N was above 210 kg N/ha. Stem NO3‐N sufficiency levels were determined from high‐yielding barley with acceptable quality parameters. At the three‐leaf stage, the barley stem NO3‐N sufficiency level was approximately 6,000 μg/g and decreased to about 1,000 μg/g at the ei...

Effect of Supplemental Water on Barley and Corn Production in a Subhumid Region1

AbstractA 3‐year field experiment was conducted on a loam soil in eastern North Dakota to determine the effect of supplemental water, added in various quantities and at different times, on malting barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) and corn (Zea mays, L.) silage production. Irrigation consisted of (a) none; (b) after previous harvest only (to fill 120‐cm profile); (c) 6 cm applied per irrigation as needed during growing season; (d) after previous harvest plus 6 cm at anthesis; (e) after previous harvest plus 6 cm applied as needed during the growing season; and (f) after previous harvest plus 9 to 12 cm applied as needed during the growing season. Water added after harvest was not reflected in soil water content by seeding time the following spring or in increased crop yields, indicating that fall irrigation was of little value. A linear regression (r = 0.89) existed between total water use and both barley grain and corn silage production, with no distinct differences between the six water treatments evident. These results suggest that stored soil water, growing season precipitation, and added irrigation water are all equally effective in enhancing crop production, and within the range studied, one can be substituted for the other. The results also suggest that such factors as amount of water added per event and frequency or timing of events may be of less importance in subhumid than in more arid climates.