Off-station spring barley cultivar evaluations for the Western Golden Triangle area of Montana

Principal Investigator: Gadi V.P. Reddy, Professor of Entomology/Ecology, Western Triangle Ag Research Center

Personnel: John H. Miller, Research Scientist, Julie Prewett, Research Assistant, WTARC, Conrad, MT, Jamie Sherman and Liz Elmore, MSU PSPP Dept., Bozeman, MT.

Cooperators: Mark Suta, East of Cut Bank, MT

Brian Aklestad, North of Devon, MT Aaron Killion, East of Brady, MT Inbody Farms, Northeast of Choteau, MT

Objectives: There are diverse cropping environments within the area served by Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center. Each off station location has its own unique environment and soils. Producers in the various locations are interested in variety performance in the local area.

To this end the objective is to evaluate spring barley varieties under the local conditions with respect to yield, test weight, plant height, plump seed, thin seed and seed protein. The environmental conditions at the off station nurseries can vary greatly from those at WTARC. The research center strives to provide growers of the western triangle area unbiased information of various spring barley varieties.

Methods: Off station barley nurseries consist of 25 entries replicated three times, seeded with a four row plot seeder on one foot spacing. On station barley nurseries consist of 49 entries replicated three times. All plots were planted on no-till chemical fallow. Plots were trimmed, measured for length, and then harvested with a Hege 140 or a Wintersteiger Classic plot combine. Spring barley seed was not cleaned prior to collecting yield data.

Results: Results are tabulated in Tables 1 thru 14. Table 1 and 2 are data from the dryland intrastate malt/feed barley trial. Tables 3 and 4 are for the irrigated intrastate malt/feed barley nursery. The irrigated off-station spring barley nursery data are presented in Tables 5 and 6.

Table 7 is for the Choteau location, with multi-year data presented in Table 8. Tables 11 and 12 are for the Devon location, with Table 13 and 14 representing the ‘Knees’ location. The Cut Bank data are presented in Tables 9 and 10. Table 15 is the soil test results from each location.

Overall, the crop year temperatures where cooler than the 32 year average at the research center.May, when we could have used some cooler temperatures, was 5.2 degrees warmer than the average. But the overall average temperature for the year from September to August was 3.8 degrees cooler than the 32 year average. The winter temperature, from September to March was well below average, with February being 15.5 degrees colder than the 32 year average. March and April were 9.6 and 7.1 degrees colder than the 32 year average. September through March were at or above the average precipitation for those months. Then May through August were drier than the 32 year average. Overall, precipitation was average for the year with respect to the 32 year average.

The spring barley plots were seeded into soil that had good soil moisture storage from the summer and fall 2017. Overall, the barley did not do as well as the past few years. Late seeding, a warmer, drier May and lack of summer moisture probably affected yield and seed protein.

Grain yields averaged 96.7 bu/acre for the dryland intrastate barley nursery. High yielding varieties are all Montana experimental entries: MT16M00202, MT16M01705 and MT16M01809 at 119.7, 118.1 and 117.8 bu/acre (Table 1). Seed protein was high with an average of 14.7%, this could have been caused by the dry summer. Some lines held their plumps well and other lines did not hold their plumps well (Table 1).

The irrigated intrastate barley nursery high yielding barley was a Montana experimental line, MT16M00105, with 126.3 bu/acre, followed by Hockett and MT16M06110 at 122.8 and 120.1 bu/acre. Seed protein was acceptable with an average of 12.5%, with a high of 13.6% and a low of 10.8% (Table 3).

Yields for the irrigated off station spring barley nursery, averaged 116.7 bu/ac, with Conrad, Moravian 165, and Bill Coors 100 being the top yielders at 133.0, 132.4, and 130.9 bu/ac. There was an average kernel plumpness of 97.7%, a mean protein of 12.5%, and an average test weight of 50.5 lb/bu (Table 5). Five year means for the irrigated off station nursery are tabulated in (Table 6).

Grain yields averaged 58.2 bu/acre at the Knees, 44.5 bu/ac north of Devon, 58.2 bu/ac at the Choteau site, and 52.0 bu/ac at the site east of Cut Bank. Kernel plumpness averaged 66.2 % and test weight averaged 45.5 lbs/bu at the Devon site, while kernel plumpness averaged 91.8% and test weight averaged 48.1 lbs/bu at the Knees. Choteau kernel plumpness was 80.9 % and test weight averaged 48.1 lbs/bu. The nursery at Cut Bank averaged 46.3 lb/bu, 79.0% plumps, with 12.0 % seed protein (Tables 7 thru 14).

Top yielding varieties at the Knees were Odyssey, Bill Coors 100, and Esma, yields were 70.3, 68.2, and 66.9 bu/ac. Whereas the top yielding barleys north of Devon were Lavina, Esma, and Hays yields were 51.6, 51.4 and 50.1 bu/ac. Yielding highest at the Choteau site were Odyssey, Bill Coors 100, and Esma with yields of 70.3, 68.2 and 66.9 bu/ac. High yielding varieties at Cut Bank were Hockett, 59.0 bu/ac, Hays, 58.1 bu/ac and Synergy, 57.2 bu/ac (Tables 7 thru 14).

No insect incidence (wheat stem sawfly or wireworms) was noticed in any of the barley varieties, on or off station. Insignificant amount of adult wheat midge were found at the off station locations.

Summary: The data from the off station plots is supported by the local producers and advisory committee as well as the seed industry. It is planned to continue the off station variety plots at the same locations as the environmental conditions at each location are unique to the western triangle area.

These data should be used for comparative purposes rather than using absolute numbers. Statistics are used to indicate that treatment or variety differences are really different and are not different due to chance or error. The Least Significant Difference (LSD) and Coefficient of

Variability (CV) values are useful in comparing treatment or variety differences. The LSD value represents the smallest difference between two treatments at a given probability level. The LSD at p=0.05 or 5 % probability level is usually the statistic reported, and it means that the odds are 19 to 1 that treatment differences by the amount of the LSD are truly different. The CV value measures the variability of the experiment or variety trial, and a CV greater than 15 % indicates a high degree of variability and less accuracy.

Funding Summary: Office of Special Projects will provide expenditure information. No other grants support this project.

Table 1. Intrastate barley, malt/feed variety trial, WTARC, Conrad 2018.

Planted May 7, 2018 on chemical fallow barley stubble. Harvest August 22, 2018.

Fertilizer, actual (lbs/a): 11-22.5-0 place with seed at planting, 75-0-20 side shot while seeding. Fertilizer rates are based on achieving malt grade barley.

Growing season precipitation: 4.38 inches.

Preplant sprayed with RT3 at 40 oz per acre on May 6, 2018. Then sprayed with 11 oz/ac Huskie and 16.4 oz/ac Axial XL on June 13, 2018.

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 2. 5-year Means, intrastate barley (malt/feed) varieties, WTARC, Conrad, MT, 2014-2018.

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 3. Irrigated Intrastate barley, malt/feed variety trial, WTARC, Conrad 2018.

Planted on 5/25/2018 into chemical fallow barley stubble. Harvested on 10/2/2018. Fertilizer, actual (lbs/a): 11-22-0 place with seed at planting, 88-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on achieving malt grade barley.

Growing season precipitation: 6.17 inches. Irrigation = 9.9 inches

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 32 oz/ac on 5/13/2018. The plot was sprayed with Huskie @ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 7/10/2018.

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 4. 2018 Irrigated Intrastate Barley 5 yr. Mean 2014-2018

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 5. 2018 Irrigated off station barley variety trial, Conrad, MT.

Planted on 5/25/2018 into chemical fallow barley stubble. Harvested on 9/25/2018. Fertilizer, actual (lbs/a): 11-22-0 place with seed at planting, 88-0-20 side shot while planting. Fertilizer rates are based on achieving malt grade barley.

Growing season precipitation: 6.17 inches. Irrigation = 9.9 inches

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 32 oz/ac on 5/13/2018. The plot was sprayed with Huskie @ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 7/10/2018.

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 6. 5-year Means, Irrigated off station barley varieties, Conrad, MT, 2014-2018.

Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.

Table 7. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Choteau area. Teton County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Inbody Farms, Teton County. Planted: 5/30/2018 on chem-fallow. Harvested: 9/6/2018. Fertilizer, actual lbs/a: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting.

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 28 oz/ac on 5/15/2018. Plot was sprayed with Huskie @ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 6/28/2018.

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 8. Five-year means, Barley varieties, Choteau area, Teton County 2014-2018.

Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 9. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Cut Bank area. Glacier County.

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Mark Suta, Glacier County.

Planted: 6/5/2018 on chemical fallow wheat stubble. Harvested: 9/6/2018.

Fertilizer, actual lbs/ac: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 48-0-20 side shot while planting. Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with 20 oz/ac Roundup by the farmer. Sprayed with 2 oz/ac Sharpen on 5/29/2018.

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 10. Four-year means, Barley varieties, Cut Bank area, Glacier County 2015-2018.

Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 11. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Devon, Toole County. Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Brian Aklestad Farms, Toole County.

Planted: 5/22/2018 on chemical fallow winter wheat stubble. Harvested: 9/4/2018. Fertilizer, actual lbs/a: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 53-0-20 side shot while planting.

Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 40 oz/ac on 5/21/2018. Plot was sprayed with Huskie @ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 6/29/2018.

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 12. Five-year means, Barley varieties, Devon area, Toole County 2012, 2014-2017.

Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 13. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Knees area. Western Chouteau County. Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.

Cooperator and Location: Aaron Killion, western Chouteau County.

Planted: 5/15/2018 on chemical fallow winter wheat stubble. Harvested: 08/30/2018. Fertilizer, actual lbs/a: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 50-0-20 side shot while planting. Herbicide: Sprayed with RT3 at 28 oz/ac on 5/15/2018. Plot was sprayed with Huskie @ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 6/29/2018.

1 Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 14. Six-year means, barley varieties, Knees area, Chouteau county 2012-2017.

Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.

Table 15. Soil test values for off-station and on-station plots, 2018.

1Nitrogen soil samples were to a depth of four feet in one foot increments. All other soil tests were for zero to six inches in depth.

WTARC- Western Triangle Ag. Research Center