Yield Of Winter Barley Research Articles

Straw incorporation and tillage methods: Straw decomposition, denitrification and growth and yield of winter barley

A field experiment was conducted over four seasons on a clay loam (24% clay in topsoil) in Scotland. Straw incorporation with conventional ploughing, shallow ploughing, rotary and tine cultivation was investigated for continuous winter barley. Residue treatments were either chopped straw plus stubble or stubble only. Incorporation depths ranged from 0–100 to 0–300 mm. Where stubble only was incorporated, mean grain yields were greater with ploughing (7·2 t/ha) than with shallow rotary cultivation (6·3 t/ha). Where straw and stubble were incorporated, mean grain yields were greater with ploughing (7·6 t/ha) than with non-ploughing (mean over six treatments, 7.0 t/ha). Non-ploughing incorporation with deep (200 mm) rotary cultivators gave a greater mean grain yield (7·5 t/ha) than with shallow ( Irrespective of residue treatment, no improvement in yield or soil fertility resulted from ploughing deeper than 100–150 mm. Ploughing distributed residues more uniformly with depth than non-ploughing, which concentrated them near the surface. Residue incorporated near the soil surface decomposed at the same rate as that buried more deeply by conventional ploughing. The most reliable method of minimizing primary tillage for incorporation and for preserving favourable soil conditions was shallow ploughing. Minimizing secondary cultivations and substituting broadcasting for drilling reduced compaction and reduced inputs at minimum risk to the crop. Broadcasting seed also resulted in a small yield advantage over drilling.

Effects of straw inoculum and fungicides on leaf blotch (Rhynchosporium secalis), growth and yield of winter barley

SummaryFive experiments in harvest years 1980–2 tested the effects of straw inoculum and fungicides on leaf blotch (Rhynchosporium secalis), growth and yield of winter barley. Inoculating plots with rhynchosporium-infected straw increased the rate of disease development and greatly decreased seedling growth but inoculating plots with wheat straw or sterilized barley straw had no effect. In 1982, plots inoculated with infected straw gave less grain than uninoculated plots, but in all years fungicide sprays applied in winter or early spring had mostly small effects on grain yield that were only poorly related to their effects on leaf blotch and seedling growth.

The effect of “Build-up” P-K-fertilization on the cellulolytic activity of some soil types

Summary In field experiments on 3 typical Hungarian soils (acid brown forest soil, calcareous chernozem, calcareous sandy soil) the effect of N-, P- and K-fertilization on the cellulolytic activity of the soil, furthermore the interaction between the latter and the grain yield of winter barley, winter wheat and maize were studied. It can be stated that the soil microorganisms need a similar level of nutrient supply to display a more intensive activity as the higher agricultural plants do to bring a higher yield. The one-sided fertilization with high doses causes a depression in the microorganisms, as it appears in the case of the agricultural plants, too. Thus, the biological testing of the soil may serve in some cases, under the conditions of intensive fertilization, as an index of the soil fertility level. Yet the data gained by the cellulose-test cannot be adapted to the fertilizer recommandation system, because they depend very much on soil properties, climatic conditions, etc. of the experimental places. For diagnostic purposes, however (e.g. to detect unfertile parts of field), it may be used as an index-value of soil fertility.

Effects of open‐air fumigation with sulphur dioxide on the growth and yield of winter barley

summaryAn open‐air fumigation system was used to expose a winter barley crop (Hordeum vulgare L.) to controlled concentrations of SO2 from November 1982 to July 1983. Monitoring data from a rural site were used as a basis for simulating mean concentrations of 0.023, 0.038 and 0.058 μl 1−1 SO2 at a location where background concentrations were 0.01μl 1−1 SO2. There was no evidence of a reduction or stimulation of crop growth over the winter period. During the spring, the crop in SO2 fumigated plots had a higher green leaf area and dry weight than in control plots which may have resulted from a reduction in the occurrence of the fungal pathogen brown rust (Puccinia Hordei Otth.). After car emergence a delay in senescence of leaves was observed in fumigated plots which gave the plants an extended period for assimilation during grain filling. There was no evidence that the yield of barley was reduced within the range of ambient SO2 concentration in the UK (annual mean 0.03μ1 l−1SO2). However, at 0.058μl 1−1 SO2, reductions in yield were observed. Treatment with 0.023μl 1−1 SO2 produced increased grain yield.

Interactions between fungicide, plant growth regulator, nitrogen fertiliser applications, foliar disease and yield of winter barley

SUMMARYLeaf size and foliar disease in winter barley increased with increasing total amounts of nitrogen applied to the crop: flag leaf areas increased at an average of 10% per 35 kg N ha‐1 Nitrogen top dressing applied in mid‐March (G.S. 31) resulted in larger leaves, more foliar disease, more straw, delayed ear emergence, fewer grains ear‐1 and less grain yield than nitrogen applied in mid‐April (G.S. 31). Application of chlormequat at G.S. 30 gave a variable response, but overall it increased fertile stems m‐2 and crop yield and decreased crop height but had no significant effect on straw yield. Fungicide treatments suppressed foliar disease and improved yield. Yield responses were greater when plant growth regulator and mid‐March nitrogen had been applied at sites where more disease prevailed than with April‐applied nitrogen. In one of the field experiments, on cv. Sonja, delaying the main nitrogen application until April, without fungicide treatment, gave a similar yield to that provided by nitrogen in March with two or three fungicide sprays.

Time of Sowing and the Yield of Winter Barley

SummaryDuring three growing seasons (1980–3) the influence of sowing date (early September to mid-November) on the yield of winter barley (cv. Igri) was assessed. Delaying sowing resulted in a linear decrease in maximum grain yield at a rate of 0·43 % for every day sowing was delayed. Advancing the date of sowing increased the duration of preanthesis development, increased the level of tillering and hence ear density at harvest. Yield was linearly related to the resultant higher number of grains.

Influence of Root Rot on Winter Survival and Yield of Winter Barley and Winter Wheat

Influence of Root Rot on Winter Survival and Yield of Winter Barley and Winter Wheat

The effect of sulphur on the yield and chemical composition of winter barley

The changeover from fertilizers containing calcium or ammonium sulphate to those containing little or no sulphur has led to the occurrence of sulphur deficiency in many areas of the world (McNaught & Christoffels, 1961). In the United Kingdom, it was thought that even in the absence of fertilizer sulphur, atmospheric inputs were sufficient to ensure an adequate supply for crops. Recent work in the north of Scotland has shown that this is not so, that many soils in the area are low in sulphur, and yield responses have been obtained following application of sulphur to grass (Soott et al. 1983; Scott, 1984). The purpose of the present experiments was to extend the work to cereals, in particular to examine the response to added sulphur of the grain yield of winter barley, and to measure the effect of sulphur on the chemical composition of plants.

A study of mole drainage with simplified cultivation for autumn-sown crops on a clay soil

SummaryGrain yield of winter barley in the year preceding the experiment (1978) was relatively uniform over the site. In 1978–9 after the drainage treatments had been introduced, growth and yield of winter wheat were not affected by drainage, probably due to a compact layer at 20 cm that prevented the mole drains from controlling the water table (Harris et al. 1984).In 1979–80 after disrupting this layer, root growth in undrained plots during the winter and spring was severely restricted by the presence of a water table 20 cm from the soil surface, although some root axes were able to grow down to 75–100 cm below the soil surface. The differences in root distribution patterns between drained and undrained plots disappeared after the water table declined in April. Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were less on undrained plots. Dry-matter production, leaf area index and peak number of tillers was also depressed, so that the yield of winter wheat was 0·74 t/ha greater on the drained treatment; the grain from the drained plots contained fewer impurities and weed seeds.

Effects of waterlogging and drought on winter wheat and winter barley grown on a clay and sandy loam soil

The effects of winter waterlogging and a subsequent drought on the growth of winter barley and winter wheat have been examined. We used lysimeters containing soil monoliths with facilities to control the water table and a mobile shelter to control rainfall. Winter wheat was grown on a clay and on a sandy loam, but winter barley only on the clay soil. Lysimeters were either freely-drained during the winter or waterlogged with the water table 10 cm below the soil surface from 2 December until 31 March (that could occur by rainfall with a return period of 2 to 3 years). The lysimeters then were either irrigated so that the soil moisture deficit did not exceed 84 mm, or subjected to drought by limiting rainfall (equivalent to a 1 in 10 dry year in the driest area of England) so that the deficits reached maximum values of 150 mm in the clay and 159 mm in the sandy loam by harvest. Winter waterlogging restricted tillering and restricted the number of ears for all crops; grain yield of the winter barley was decreased by 219 g/m2 (30%), and that of winter wheat by 170 g/m2 (24%) and 153 g/m2 (21% on the clay and sandy loam respectively. The drought treatment reduced the straw weight of winter barley by 75 g/m2 (12%) but did not significantly depress the grain yield. For winter wheat on the clay, where the soil was freely-drained during the winter, drought depressed total shoot weight by 344 g/m2 (17%) and grain weight by 137 g/m2 (17%), but after winter waterlogging, drought did not further depress total or grain weight. In contrast, the winter wheat on the sandy loam was not significantly affected by drought. From these results, which are discussed in relation to other experiments in the United Kingdom, it seems that winter waterlogging is likely to cause more variation in the yield of winter barley and winter wheat than drought.

The influence of cultural factors and mildew on yield of winter barley

SummaryIn experiments on winter barley in 1975–6 and 1977–8 early or late sowing, full or half seed rate, nitrogen applied in March or April and tridemorph spray applied in autumn, early spring and late spring were assessed factorially in all combinations for their effects on mildew development, crop growth and grain yield.Date of sowing had the biggest effect on yield. Early-sown crops (24 September 1975, 6 October 1977) greatly out-yielded the late-sown; by 79·8% in the first year and 53·9% in the second. Late sowing (6 November 1975, 2 November 1977) approximately halved plant emergence. Although late-sown plants developed more tillers, more grains per ear and larger grain this failed to compensate for the thinner stand.Sowing at half seed rate did not decrease yield when compared with the crop sown at the full seed rate on the same date. In contemporaneous crops extra tillering and larger ears generally compensated for fewer plants.The effect of date of applying N was variable. April N gave the best yield in the early· and late-sown crops in 1975–6 and in the late-sown crop in 1977–8. However, in the early-sown crop in the second year March N was best. Number of ears was increased in early-sown crops by March N but date of N application had no influence on number of ears in late-sown crops or on the number of grains per ear in any crop.The winter of 1975–6 was mild and mildew developed on both early· and late-sown crops throughout their growth.Single tridemorph sprays applied in autumn (14 November) to the early-sown crop or winter (25 February) to the late-sown crop or early spring (9 April) to both crops gave significant yield increases of 6·3–7·6%. Applying two sprays, one in autumn or winter plus one in early spring gave an increase equal to the sum of each applied separately. A late spring spray (14 May) had no significant effect on yield. The 1977–8 winter was colder and although mildew was moderate on the early-sown crop in autumn it was almost absent from this experiment after winter. Spraying failed to increase yield significantly.

Effects of Soil Moisture Content on the Growth and Yield of Winter Barley and Winter Wheat : Preliminary

Effects of Soil Moisture Content on the Growth and Yield of Winter Barley and Winter Wheat : Preliminary