Objective:

To evaluate the agronomic performance of barely varieties grown in environments representative of northwestern Montana. 

Results:

Yields averaged 128.3 lb/A and ranged from 94.6 bu/A for Cowboy to 171.8 bu/A for MT100120. Tradition, the highest yielding commercially available cultivar, produced 145.3 bu/A. Heading dates averaged 182 Julian days (July 1) and ranged from 178 to 185 Julian days. Protein averaged 14.7% and ranged from 12.9% for MT100120 to 16.3% for Conrad. Test weight averaged 50.0 lb/bu and ranged from 47.5 for Tradition to 52.8 lb/bu for MT100126. Heights averaged 39.0 inches and ranged from 35.3 for Eslick to 43.0 inches for Metcalfe. Lodging averaged 33.7% and ranged from 2.0% for MT100120 to 87.3% for Cowboy. All 16 cultivars experienced lodging, 6 of these were over 50%, while 4 of them were under 5%. 

Summary:

This year’s high yield average of 128.3 bu/A compared to 93.5 lb/A in 2013, can be attributed favorable growing conditions.

Table 1. Materials and Methods.

Seeding Date: 4/30/2014 Harvest Date: 8/29/2014
Julian Date: 120 Julian Date: 241
Seeding Rate: 80 lb/A Soil Type: Creston SiL
Previous Crop: Alfalfa Soil Test: 163-14-138
Tillage: Conventional Fertilizer: 200-30-100
Irrigation: None Herbicide: Huskie 11 fl. oz/A and Axial XL 16.4 fl. oz/A

Table 2. Barley Off-Station Tests - 2014

Treatment HD Julian HT in. LOD % YLD bu/A PRO % TWT lb/bu PLMP %
MT100120 182 42.0 2.0 171.8 12.9 52.0 95.9
MT100126 183 40.7 9.0 157.4 13.2 52.8 95.8
MT090180 183 38.7 5.0 153.8 13.2 52.0 95.5
Tradition 178 41.0 5.0 145.3 14.4 47.5 83.2
Conrad 185 38.0 2.3 141.2 16.3 49.9 93.0
Craft 179 39.7 13.3 140.3 14.7 52.2 88.8
Geraldine 179 38.7 27.7 129.0 15.1 48.8 81.7
MT090190 184 39.3 18.0 125.6 15.8 51.0 96.4
Haxby 180 39.3 18.3 124.7 15.6 49.3 88.2
Eslick 184 35.3 26.7 121.7 15.1 48.5 79.4
Hockett 180 36.0 58.0 112.2 14.4 50.1 86.8
Metcalfe 184 43.0 56.7 111.8 15.0 47.6 88.3
Gallatin 178 36.3 53.3 109.9 14.7 49.1 80.3
Champion 180 38.0 82.0 109.6 14.6 50.3 82.7
Harrington 182 40.3 75.0 103.6 14.5 48.7 89.2
Cowboy 184 37.7 87.3 94.6 15.4 50.5 93.1
Mean 182 39.0 33.7 128.3 14.7 50.0 88.7
CV 108 6.5 70.0 12.5 3.2 2.7 5.8
LSD 2.4 4.3 39.9 26.7 0.8 2.3 8.6
Pr>F 0.0001 0.0418 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0007

HD: heading; HT: height; LOD: lodging; YLD: yield; PRO: protein; TWT: test weight; PLMP: percent plumps