Malt Barley Varieties Research Articles

Intensity of Adoption of Improved Malt Barley Production Technologies in Ethiopia: A Case Study in Oromia Region

Improved malt barley production technology packages are not yet widely adopted in Ethiopia. Stakeholders, including brewers, malt factories, research institutes, and farmer-based organizations, have been collaborating and promoting new malt barley production technologies in order to boost the intensity of acceptance. The aim of this study was to find out the intensity of improved malt barley production technologies adoption in Arsi zones, Oromia region, Ethiopia. A stratified random sampling approach with multiple stages was employed to collect primary data from 384 malt barley household heads. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the intensity of adoption of improved malt barley production technologies was determined using an econometric Tobit regression model. The findings specified that the most adopted improved malt barley variety was Traveler (47.92%), which was followed in descending order by Iboni (14.58%), Sabini (9.38%), Grace (5.47%), Holker (4.43%), and 18.23% unnamed varieties. The Tobit model result also depicted that the intensity to which improved malt barley varieties adopted were affected by, taking into account factors including contract farming involvement, cooperative membership, off-farm income, size of livestock holdings, access to training, and mobile ownership. Enhancing farmers’ knowledge of the advantages of contract farming, income diversification, and mobile phone-based information delivery are among the many ways to support access to and accelerate the adoption of improved malt barley technology in the research area and beyond.

Determinants of malt barley varietal adoption decisions of farmers: Evidence from the central highlands of Ethiopia

AbstractBarley is one of Ethiopia's most important cereal crops, ranking fifth in total cereal production, after maize, wheat, teff, and sorghum. Based on its intended use, it is divided into two types: food barley and malt barley. This study investigated the factors that affect farmers' decisions to adopt malt barley technology. The research was conducted in eight major malt barley‐growing districts in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain quantitative data from 400 sample farmers. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to triangulate and substantiate the quantitative data. Secondary data were also used to supplement the primary data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric models. A logistic regression model was employed to analyze quantitative data. The findings revealed that educational level of the household head, family size of the household, access to input, experience, and access to demanded variety all have a positive and significant impact on malt barley technology adoption. However, the age of the household head, income from off‐farm activities, and distance to the market have a negative and significant impact on farmers' decisions to use malt barley technology. Up to 2021, about 30 malt barley varieties were released or registered by the Ministry of Agriculture for production nationwide, while only six to seven varieties were adopted by the sampled farmer households. As a result, we concluded that strong government support and clear policy direction are required to encourage farmers and other stakeholders to invest more to enhance adoption of improved varieties across malt barley growing areas.

Agro Morphological Trait and Yield Component Evaluation of Malt Barley (Hordeum Distichon L.) Varieties Response to the Rate of Fertilizer in Habro Woreda West Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

The study assessed the effects of NPSB Fertilizer Rate on Yield and morphological traits of Malt barley Varieties. The experiment used a Randomized Complete Block Design with three varieties and five levels of fertilizer rates. The effects of NPSB fertilizer rate and varieties were highly significant on all yield components; phenology and morphological traits. The highest number of kernels per spike (29.5), above ground biomass (12.0 tha-1), and straw yield (6.4 tha-1) were obtained from 200kg NPSB ha-1 , while highest the thousand grain weights (48.2g) were obtained from 150kg NPSB ha-1. The interaction effects of varieties and fertilizer rates were significant at p<0.05 on grain yield (5653.3) from the Traveller variety at 150 kg NPSB ha-1 fertilizer rates. The analysis of variance showed that the interaction effects of varieties and fertilizer rates were significant at p<0.05 on Hectoliter (69.133) from the Traveller variety at 150 kg NPSB ha-1 fertilizer rates. Finally, from the above result, it can be concluded that using 150 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer with Traveller variety can be recommended for malt barley production in the study area.

Nutrient Use Efficiency and Grain Quality of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties in Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer in, Southeastern Ethiopia

The expansion of brewing industries in Ethiopia has been inducing a growing demand for the supply of malt with optimum kernel protein content. However, the supply has been constrained by the unavailability of sufficient volumes of acceptable quality of malting barley grain to meet the ever-increasing demand. In this regard, field experiments were conducted in the southeastern Ethiopian highlands to evaluate the combined effects of six fertilizer levels (0, 11.5, 23, 34.5, 46, and 57.5) N kg ha<sup>-1 </sup>and three malt barley varieties (Fanaka, Ibon and Holker) on the yield, quality and nutrient use efficiency of malting barley. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Application of 11.5, 23, 34.5, 46 and 57.5 N kg ha<sup>-1</sup> increased the grain yields by 1010.3, 1065.9, 1288.1, 1421.3, and 1777.6 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> and economic benefits by 31 ETB, 30.4 ETB, 32.9 ETB, 33.16 ETB and 33.38 ETB respectively, for each increment of on N fertilizer, when compared to the control treatment. The production of malting barley with improved yield, optimum kernel protein concentrations and enhanced economic benefit was attained through 57.5 and 46 N kg ha<sup>-1</sup> as first and second option respectively in the study area. Thus, to improve the likelihood of acceptance of malting barley by malting industries, growers are recommended to select low-protein containing varieties and decide application of N fertilization based on soil test results.

Grain Quality and Yield Response of Malt Barley Varieties to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates in the West Arsi, Oromia Reginal State of Ethiopia

Grain yield and yield components of malt barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L.) were investigated concerning varieties and nitrogen application rates. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate (i) the optimal fertilizer level for maximum yield and quality of malt barley varieties (ii) to determine the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer rate, vaieties and growing season on yield and yield components of malt barley. Three malt barley varieties (Ibon, Bekoji 1, and EH1847) and four fertilizer rates (RNP kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, 150% RNP kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, 200% RNP kg ha<sup>-1</sup> and RNPS kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) were studied over two growing season (2019 and 2020) in a factorial arrangement of randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The main effects of<sup>-</sup> variety and fertilizer rate were significantly (P<0.01) variation, on grain yield, biomass yield, hectolitre weight and thousand kernel weight, while plant height, spike length and grain protein content showed significant (P<0.05) variations. The interaction effect of variety and fertilizer rate on the number of grains per spike indicated significant (P<0.001) variation. The use of a 200% RNP kg ha<sup>-1</sup> fertilizer rate resulted in a higher (4152.9 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) grain yield. The highest (33.1) number of grain per spike was produced from the combination of 150% RNP kg ha<sup>-1</sup> fertilizer rate with Bekoji 1 malt barley variety, Like wise higher (48.6) thousand kernel weight was produced from RNPS. The results of this study indicated that, the importance of using appropriate malt barley variety and fertilizer rate to increase the yield of malt barley with acceptable grain quality in the study area. Hence application of 150% RNP and 200% RNP kg ha<sup>-1</sup> gave a grain yield of (3582.81 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) and (4152.9 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, and economic benefit of 5.99 (ETB) and 3.65 (ETB) respectively. Among malt barley varieties highest (4110.4) and (3538.3) kg ha<sup>-1</sup> grain yield was recorded from EH1847 and Bekoji 1 verities respectively. The production of malt barley with higher yield, optimal kernel protein concentration and higher economic benefit was obtained via EH1847 malt barley varieties along with 150% RNP and 200% kg ha<sup>-1</sup> fertilizer rate in the study area and similar agro ecologies.

Cluster Based Pre Scaling Up of Improved Malt Barley Technologies: Evidence from West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Malt barley is a high-opportunity cash crop, with great room for profitable expansion, particularly when connected to growing breweries. With the intention of popularizing advanced malt barley varieties (IBON174/03 and HB-1963) on a large-scale demonstration farming approach, this activity was carried out in West Shewa Zone potential areas to increase production and productivity of malt barley technologies during 2020-2022 production seasons. West Shewa Zone was purposively selected based on agro-ecological zone as the target population for this cluster farming. From the Zone potential areas, three districts were randomly selected including Ambo, Toke kutaye and Elfeta Districts. From each district, 9 kebeles and 144 host farmers participated in this cluster based on their interest and availability of adjacent farm plots. Thus, 9 clusters were formed, and 60 ha of land was covered on improved malt barley technologies. Training was given for stakeholders for 144 farmers, 44 DAs, and 16 agricultural experts who worked in selected districts on barley production and management packages. The study found that the average yield from the IBON174/03 variety was 30qt ha-1, 29qt ha-1, and 28qtha-1 at Toke kutaye, Elfeta and Ambo districts, with an overall mean grain yield of 29qtha-1. The HB-1963 variety yielded 26 qt ha-1, 24 qt ha-1 at Toke kutaye, Elfeta and Ambo districts respectively for an overall grain yield of 25 qt ha-1. Therefore, from the researchers and farmers evaluation both demonstrated malt barley varieties were recommended for the study areas and similar agro-ecologies for further demonstration and dissemination.

Popularization and Performance Evaluation of Improved Malt Barley Varieties in Three Zones of Oromia Region

Popularization and Performance Evaluation of Improved Malt Barley Varieties in Three Zones of Oromia Region

Starch molecular structure, physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of Ethiopian malt barley varieties

Characterization of local varietal barley quality diversity can help boost further development of novel value-added utilization of the grain. Therefore, in this study starch was isolated from 11 Ethiopian malting barley varieties to determine starch structural, pasting, thermal and digestibility characteristics, and their inter-relationships. The varieties showed significant differences in all amylopectin chain length fractions, and the A, B1, B2 and B3 chains ranged from 25.4 to 30.1, 47.4–50.1, 14.3–16.0 and 7.8–9.0 %, respectively. The varieties also exhibited significant variation in amylose content, relative crystallinity, absorbance peak ratios, pasting and thermal properties. Moreover, on average about 83 % raw starch of the varieties was classified as slowly digestible and resistant, whereas after gelatinization this was reduced to 9 %. Molecular and crystalline structures were strongly related to pasting properties, thermal characteristics and in vitro digestibility of the starches. The study provides information on some starch quality characteristics and the inter-relationships among the parameters, and might inspire further studies to suggest possible target-based starch modifications, and future novel utilization of barley. More studies are required to investigate the association of starch quality parameters with malting quality attributes.

Evaluation of Improved Malt Barley Varieties in North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Malting barley is barley that will produce high quality malt. It is a specialty crop for which a premium price is paid by domestic maltters and exporters. Quality requirements for malting barley are reasonably strict and are directly related to processing efficiency and product quality in the malting and brewing industries. Many of the characteristics required are under the control of the producer. Others are determined by weather conditions during the growing and harvesting season. So this trial was conducted on eleven improved malt barley varieties at Fitche Agricultural Research Center for two consecutive years with the objective to identify adaptable, stable, high yielding and its malting potential. The experiment was layout in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Nine agronomic traits data and four major malt quality parameters were evaluated. Analysis of variance detected significant difference among varieties for most observed traits both separated and combined analysis. Observation attained significant differences over years and locations for most traits. The combine ANOVA and the AMMI analysis for grain yield across environments revealed significantly affected by environments that hold 40.42% of the total variation. Genotype and genotype by environmental interaction were significant and accounted 38.11 % and 19.10 % respectively. Principal component 1 and 2 accounted 10. 9 % and 4.19 % of the GEI respectively with a total of 15.09 % variation, the interaction effect of variety by year and variety by location imposed significant effect on most traits. Among evaluated varieties; Singiten and EH1847 had significantly higher mean value of grain yield. Malt quality parameters were conducted in the laboratory of Food Technology and Process Engineering at Holleta Agricultural research center. The mean values of malt quality parameter had malt hot water extract, malt Friability, malt protein content and malt beta-glucan, 78.32%, 58.42%, 10.27% and 492.13mg/L respectively. The results obtained showed that most malt quality had differences among the varieties and some of the results found were within the acceptable limit of EBC (European Brewery Convention) standard even if a single variety may not fulfill all the quality requirements. Based on these findings, the Traveler and the HB1963 varieties fulfill some of the quality parameters that are specified in the EBC range.

Adoption and intensity use of malt barley technology package by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia: A double hurdle model approach

Ethiopia has an enormous production potential for malted barley due to its ideal agroecology, notably in the central and Bale highlands. However, local production cannot meet the demand for both new and old malt and brewing plants. Millions of dollars have been invested to import malt at the national level. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence smallholder farmers' adoption and level of use of the malt barley technology package. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to choose representative kebeles and households. The study relied on actual data collected from 201 randomly selected barley-producing households. Descriptive statistics and Double Hurdle economic models were used to analyze the data. The descriptive findings show that malt barley varieties and the malt barley technology package were adopted at rates of 0.3 and 0.9, respectively. The Double Hurdle model results reveal that factors such as the household head's age, the total area under cultivation, the availability of information on malt barley production, distance from the main road, participation in the field day program, and membership in the agricultural cooperative all had an effect on smallholder farmers' decisions to adopt and use the malt barley technology package. The recommendation made by this research was to boost farmers' knowledge of malt barley production through training and field trip programs. Organizing smallholder farmers in nearby agricultural cooperatives, as well as ensuring access to roads and public transit for easy access to agricultural inputs and output markets.

BK 306: A two-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L) as potential source of higher diastatic power and FAN content for malt barley improvement

The Indian malt industry has updated the specifications in past few years with respect to the diastatic power of the malt and free amino nitrogen content in the wort. The demand is now for higher values of malt diastatic power for better degradation of starch during the malting and brewing processes. Similarly, higher values of free amino nitrogen (FAN) content are preferred for better yeast growth during the brewing operations. We hereby report a genotype BK 306, which posses’ higher diastatic power (average of 107°L) and FAN content (average of 216 ppm) as compared to the prevalent two row malt barley varieties. The genotype can be a potential source for these two traits for malt barley improvement programme of the country.

Evaluation of Malt Barley (Hordeum distichon L.) Varieties for Yield and Agronomic Traits in South Gondar, Ethiopia

The production and productivity of malt barley are limited using disease-susceptible and low-yielding varieties. Study was focused on identifying and selecting the best performed and adapted malt barley variety/varieties for yield and yield-related traits. We evaluated six improved malt barley varieties using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The study was conducted for 2 years (2019 and 2020 cropping season) at Lay Gayint district. The combined analysis showed highly significant differences ( P < 0.01 ) among varieties, years, and their interactions in all traits. The highest yield (31.54 qt·ha−1) was obtained from variety Holker. The correlation coefficient analysis showed a significant and very strong positive association of grain yield with number of effective tillers ( r = 0.953 ∗ ∗ ), spike length ( r = 0.973 ∗ ∗ ), and strong positive association with thousand seed weight ( r = 0.739 ∗ ∗ ) with a medium positive association with seed per spike ( 0.554 ∗ ∗ ). In principal component analysis, PC1 was dominated by traits that had a greater effect on yield. A variety of Holker could be recommended in the study areas and other similar agro-ecologies. Farmers lost a lot of quintals of yield by lack of new technologies, by addressing more adapted improved production technology increased average yield.

Effect of malt barley varieties and nitrogen levels on crop phenology, PAR interception, GDD, RUE and thermal use efficiency under saline water irrigation

Barley is one of the most salt tolerant crops and can be adopted in a condition where the irrigation quality of the water is saline in nature. Due to uncertainty of rainfall and scarcity of water, farmers of Haryana often irrigate the crops with poor quality water and this situation is likely to become more alarming with the depleting water resources. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 to evaluate the effect of different malt barley varieties and nitrogen levels on crop phenology, PAR interception, GDD, radiation use efficiency and thermal use efficiency. The experiment was laid out in split plot design by keeping four varieties (BH 902, BH 946, BH 885 and DWRB 101) in main plots and four nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) in sub plots with four replications. Variety BH 902 recorded significantly higher grain yield and took maximum number of days for flag leaf emergence, spike initiation and physiological maturity than variety BH 946, BH 885 and DWRB 101, respectively. Highest GDD, radiation use efficiency and thermal use efficiency was recorded by variety BH 946 which was statistical at par with DWRB 101 and significantly higher than BH 902 and BH 885. Application of 90 kg N/ha took maximum number of days for flag leaf emergence, spike initiation and physiological maturity as well as recorded higher GDD, radiation use efficiency and thermal use efficiency as compared to 0, 30 and 60 kg N/ha.

Yield Response and Barley Grain Quality to Nitrogen Fertilization in West Arsi Highland of Ethiopia

The malting industry in Ethiopia is often challenged by the availability of barley that meets the quality and quantity requirements set by the industry. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of mineral nitrogen fertilizer rates on Actual yield and quality response of malt barley varieties and, to determine economic optimum rates of nitrogen fertilizer for the productivity of the crop arranged in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments are three malt barley varieties, namely Traveler, Ibon and Local and four levels of N (0 kg N/ha, 50 kg N/ha, 100 kg N/ha and 150 kg N/ha. The study revealed that nitrogen fertilization with 150 kg ha-1nitrogen fertilizer rate improved barley yield and quality than the rest nitrogen fertilizer rates. The different barley varieties and nitrogen fertilizer has shown a highly significant (p<0.01) influence on barley yield production. On the other hand, interaction effect of barley varieties and nitrogen fertilizer didn’t show significant variation barley yield production. Moreover, the analysis of variance also revealed that barley varieties have shown a highly significant (p<0.01) influence on barley yield production. The maximum and minimum interaction mean values of actual grain yield were observed from traveler barley variety treated with 150 kg ha-1nitrogen fertilizer rate (2078.10 kg/ha) and Ibon barley variety treated with 0 kg ha-1nitrogen fertilizer rate (1136.30 kg/ha), respectively. In the present investigation, quality parameters increased with an increase in N rates, application of 150 kg N ha-1 gave the highest quality parameters studied except sieve test. While, the quality parameters was less pronounced with the tested varieties and their interaction effect. The partial budget analysis revealed maximum net benefit of (Birr 39147 ha-1) with an acceptable marginal rate of returns (MRR) of 1007.33% with the treatment traveler variety with combination of 150 kg N ha-1. However, the lowest net benefit of (Birr 22726.00 ha-1) was recorded from Ibon barley variety treated with 0 kg ha-1nitrogen fertilizer rate. Both grain yield and protein content increased with increased N rates application of 150kg N ha-1 gave the highest net benefit and marginal rate of return with acceptable grain quality (protein content < 9-12%). Therefore, production of traveler variety with a combination of 150 kg N ha-1 was economical, and uncertainly recommended for production of malt barley in the study area.

Grain size variation in two-rowed malt barley under Mediterranean conditions: Phenotypic plasticity and relevant trade-offs

In Mediterranean type environments large variability in grain plumpness, defined as the proportion of grains retained over a 2.5 mm sieve, is a critical source of uncertainty for brewers and farmers. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate grain size under stressful environments will assist breeders to promote stability and improve grain size. Using an unbiased data set ( n = 171) derived from 21 different environments (Years x Locations) and 29 European malt barley varieties, we aimed to (i) analyze the effect of genotype × environment interaction on plump grains and yield components variation from the viewpoint of phenotypic plasticity and (ii) explore the extent to which grain size associates with grain yield (GY) potential, grain number and grain protein content (GPC). Plump grains (% grains>2.5 mm), was the trait with the highest plasticity in two-rowed barley. A thorough assessment of the relationship between Thousand Kernel Weight (TKW) and the different grain size classes (i.e. > 2.8 mm; 2.5–2.8 mm; > 2.5 mm; 2.2–2.5 mm; < 2.2 mm) revealed that the stability of TKW was preserved by adjusting not only the number of seeds set, but also proportions among the different grain size classes. Our data supported the following hierarchy of plasticities: plump grains > grains/m 2 > GY > spikes/m 2 > TKW > Harvest Index > grains/spike . With decreasing GY there was also an apparent decrease in plump grains production. The number of grains/m 2 had a markedly larger negative effect on plump grains under low-yielding conditions compared to medium and high-yielding conditions. In addition, a high inherent number of grains/spike (> 26) not only had a negative effect on GY, but also undermined grain plumpness. Under the tested G × E interaction, both grain yield and plump grains were positively affected when grain yield formation was mainly based on a greater number of spikes/m 2 with fewer and heavier (≈larger) grains/spike. GPC had a relatively strong negative association with plump grains. However, when the conditions favoured plump grains formation, the risk of recording low GPC was increased. This revealed that under Mediterranean conditions the challenge is not only the high values of GPC, but the low ones as well. • Plump grains was the trait with the highest plasticity in two-rowed barley. • Direct selection for grain size under favorable conditions is questioned. • High potential of grains/spike had a negative effect on both grain yield and size. • Grain size was regulated by grain number and yield conditions. • Grain protein content was negatively associated with grain size.

Time-Course Comparative Metabolome Analysis of Different Barley Varieties during Malting.

Malt production is one of the important uses of barley, and its quality differs greatly depending on the barley varieties used. In this study, ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology was used to investigate the temporal changes of metabolites during malting in two barley varieties: Franklin (malt barley) and Yerong (non-malt barley). Also, differences in metabolite profiles were compared in the kilned malt between two other malt barley varieties (Copeland and Planet) and two non-malt varieties (ZD10 and Hua30). Results showed that degradation of trisaccharide and accumulation of UDP-glucose and mannose-1-phosphate are the key metabolic events during steeping, with Franklin showing earlier and greater changes. Earlier increase of sugars and amino acids in Franklin is associated with its faster germination rate. Comparative metabolome analysis of kilned malt from the different barley varieties indicated that malt barley accumulated more sugars, hordatine-glucoside, and oxoproline, and non-malt barley accumulated more polyphenols and monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol. These results improved the understanding of the genotypic difference in the formation of malt quality at the metabolomic level.

Performance of food barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties under different sowing windows and seeding rates

Earlier barley was cultivated for feed and malt purpose. With the development of improved varieties of food barley, its adaptability may be increased. The field experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of barley varieties under different sowing time and seeding rates. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand with low in N (182 kg/ha), high in P (30.75 kg/ha) and medium in K (172.5 kg/ha) with 7.3 soil pH. The experiment I was laid down in split-plot design with two dates of sowing i.e. 20th November and 20th December and five varieties i.e. PL 891, NDB 943, DWRB 123, DWRUB 52 and PL 807. Experiment II was conducted with two food barley varieties (PL 891, NDB 943) with five seeding rates viz. 87.5, 100.0, 112.5, 125 & 137.5 kg ha−1 along with PL 807 and DWRUB 52 at seed rate of 87.5kg ha−1 in RCBD. The 20th November sowing recorded higher grain yield, yield attributes and heat use efficiency and heliothermal use efficiency. The hulless food barley variety PL 891 gave a significantly higher grain yield (31.28 q ha−1) than NDB 943 when sown on 20th November, but less than feed and malt barley varieties. The new food barley variety PL 891 gave a significantly higher grain yield with seed rate 125 kg ha−1, whereas in malt barley varieties, DWRB 123 (45.93 q ha−1) gave the highest yield sown at recommended seed rate. The variety DWRB 123 recorded the highest heat use efficiency and heliothermal use efficiency.

Performance evaluation and stability analysis of malt barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties for yield and quality traits in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

BackgroundBarley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an annual cereal crop that belongs to the grass family Poaceae of the tribe Triticeae. It is the fifth most important cereal crop after teff, wheat, maize and sorghum in area coverage in Ethiopia. Important malting barley characteristics include kernel size, kernel protein content, extractable malt and diastatic power. Malt barely is an important crop in the study area; however, the productivity is low in the area varying from 15 kg ha−1 to 21 kg ha−1. The aim of the study was to identify high yielding, standard quality and stable malting barley variety to the study areas and similar agro-ecologies. Field experiments were conducted using eight improved malt barely varieties during the main cropping seasons (from the first week of July to end of October) in 2016 and 2017 at two selected sites Dehana (Amede work) and Lalibela (Medagai)) in north east Ethiopia. Data on grain yield and yield related traits, and quality attributes were recorded. Days to 50% heading (DH), and days to 90% maturity (DM) were recorded on plots basis. Plant height (PH, in cm), spike length (SPL, in cm), and number of seeds per spike (SPS) were measured on five randomly selected plants per plot of the central four rows. Mean grain yield (GY; grams of grain produced per plot, converted in kg ha−1), above ground dry biomass or biological yield (BY; dry weight of the above ground harvested biomass grams per plot, in kg ha−1) and thousand grain weight (TGW; weight of 1000 kernels, in grams) were measured on whole plots. Data were analyzed using SAS software program and significance of the mean difference was tested in least significant difference Test (LSD).ResultThe analysis of variance for grain yield and quality traits showed that the main effects of both genotypes and environments, and their interaction effect, were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01). The environment main effect accounted for 42%, 38% and 50% of the total grain yield, thousand kernel weight and kernel protein content variation, respectively. The average grain yield across varieties varied from 1652 kg ha−1 to 3377 kg ha−1.ConclusionsThree malting barley varieties (IBON174/03, EH1847 and Bahati) were found to be relatively high yielding, stable for grain yield and full fill the quality parameters. Therefore, these varieties are recommended for production. A further study is required on agronomic practices and brewing quality attributes in malt barley.

Performance Evaluation of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties for Yield and Quality Traits in Eastern Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an annual cereal crop that belongs to the grass family Poaceae of the tribe Triticeae. Due to the establishment and production capacity of malt and beer factories in Ethiopia, malt barley production demand increased from time to time. Eight released malt barley varieties were evaluated in four environments in Wag-himra and Lasta districts in the main production season for two years (2016 and 2017). The objective of the trial was to identify a high yielder and standard-quality malting barley variety for production. The trial was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications on a plot size of 1.2 m width with that of 2.5 m length. The results revealed that there was a highly significant difference in grain yield and quality traits ( p &lt; 0.05 ). The kernel protein and starch content of the varieties ranged from 9.85 to 11 and 63–65%. The thousand kernel weight of the varieties was in the range of 32.5 to 46.4 g. EH1847 (3340 kg ha−1), IBON174/03 (3351 kg ha−1), and Bahati (3220 kg ha−1) were the first three best performing high yielder and best varieties that fulfilled quality parameter requirements set by the National Standard Authority for malting barley. Therefore, these varieties are recommended for production in the Wag-himra and Lasta agroecologies for their high yield, kernel size, and kernel protein content. Further study is required on agronomic practices and brewing quality attributes in malt barley.

Response of Malt Barley (Hordeum Distichum L) Varieties to Different Row Spacing under Contrasted Environments of North Gondar, Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted in north Gondar to investigate the response of malt barley varieties to different inter-row spacing under contrasted environment. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were three different inter-row spacing (i.e., 20, 25, and 30 cm), six malt barley varieties (i.e., Holker, HB1963, Sabine, Ibone174/03, EH1847, and Freygebse), and two locations (Miligebsa and Kino). The result sowed that days to 50% heading, days to 90% physiological maturity, plant height, spike length, and number of kernels per spike were significantly ( p &lt; 0.01 ) affected by the main effect of location and varieties. Similarly, effective tiller number, biomass yield, grain yield, and straw yield were significantly ( p &lt; 0.01 ) influenced by the main effect of variety, inter-row spacing, and location. Important interaction was also observed between varieties × inter-row spacing × location on days to 50% heading, spike length, biomass yield, grain yield, and straw yield. Location × variety interaction significantly influences the days to 90% physiological maturity and effective tiller number. Similar significant ( p &lt; 0.05 ) trend was also observed between varieties with inter-row spacing on effective tiller number and thousand kernel weight even at p &lt; 0.01 level of significance. It was found that optimization of row spacing was found to be influenced by location and varietal difference. Hence, on the basis of the result, it can be inferred that 25 cm row spacing combined with the varieties “HB1963,” “Hollker,” and “Sabine” was optimum for maximum yielding potential under potential environment (Miligebsa).