Objective:

To evaluate the agronomic performance of experimental winter forage lines grown in northwestern Montana.

Personnel:

David Larson, Jessica Pavelka, Jessica Torrion, Jamie Sherman, Joseph Jenson

Summary:

There were 25 Forage Barley varieties planted on 26 April, 2023 and harvested on 7 September, 2023. Detailed cultural practices can be found in Table 1. It was managed under rainfall conditions receiving 5.8 inches of rain during the growing period.

Average yield was 18.1 Bu/A with MT20_F099_02 being the highest (76.5 bu/A) and Lavina the lowest (10.9 bu/A). Average dry matter production was 5.8 tons/A with MT17F02410 being the highest (7.3 tons/A) and MT20_F109_04 the lowest (4.4 tons/A). Average grain fill days was 28 days, MT16F01601 longest (35 days) and MT18F00607 the shortest (22 days). Average protein was 13.10, with MT20_F111_15 the highest average (14.51%) and MT20_F098_01 the lowest (11.91%).

Table 1. Management Information

Seeding date: 4/26/2023 (116) Field Location: Y3
Seeding rate: N/A Forage harvest date: 7/5/2023 (186)
    Harvest date: 9/7/2023 (250)
Previous crop: Peas Soil type: Creston Silt Loam
Herbicide: Axial Bold, Cleansweep Tillage: Conventional
Insecticide: N/A Soil residual nutrient (NO3-1, P, K lb/A): 140.5, 13, 117
Fungicide: N/A Nutrient fertilizer applied ( N, P2O5, K20 lb/A): 25, 30, 90

Table 2. Agronomic Performance

ID GRNFILL DM YLD PRO
  (DAYS) (TONS/A) (BU/A) (%)
MT20_F099_02 25 5.9 76.5 13.46
MT20_F110_17 28 5.9 30.8 12.93
MT20_F097_01 30 6.5 20.6 12.88
MT17F02410 24 7.3 19.7 12.90
MT19_F01_01 35 5.9 19.6 13.29
MT20_F108_13 25 6.1 19.1 12.79
MT20_F109_04 27 4.4 19.0 12.45
MT20_F109_08 27 6.7 18.8 12.50
Haymaker 28 6.9 17.9 12.92
MT20_F109_22 26 5.8 17.4 12.94
MT20_F111_15 29 6.5 17.1 14.51
MT20_F099_05 30 5.5 16.1 13.67
MT16F01601 35 4.7 14.5 14.02
MT20_F110_12 26 5.9 13.9 13.75
MT18F00607 22 5.2 13.7 12.35
MT20_F110_04 26 5.6 13.6 13.57
MT20_F098_24 28 5.8 13.3 12.45
MT Cowgirl 30 5.8 13.3 12.88
MT18F00503 29 4.8 12.7 13.26
MT18F00803 24 5.1 12.5 13.34
MT19_F04_02 29 5.9 12.1 13.23
MT20_F110_19 29 6.1 12.1 13.53
MT18F00507 25 5.5 11.5 12.91
MT20_F098_01 27 6.2 11.3 11.92
Lavina 28 4.7 11.0 12.95
MEAN 27.71 5.79 18.3 13.1
C.V. 5.4 16.5 19.8 4
LSD 2.61 1.49 4.6 0.78
P-VALUE <0.001 0.08156 <0.001 <0.001
Bold= Highest, or earliest value within the column. GRNFILL= Grain fill DM= dry matter, YLD= yield, PRO= Protein.