Vegetative growth of winter barley in relation to environmental conditions and grain yield

Abstract

SummaryThe object of this study was to investigate the vegetative growth in six barley varieties grown in southern Spain (Granada) during 1979, 1980 and 1981. The results showed that crop dry weight (CDW) was dependent on environmental factors (mean temperature, rain, and radiation) which were the determinants of the two CDW components, leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area ratio (LAR). However, the effects of these climatic factors on crop growth rate (CGR) and on its components, mean leaf area index () and net assimilation rate (NAR), were partially obscured by ontogenetic drift. In addition, a highly significant relationship was demonstrated between CDW (when the LAI reaches its maximum value) and grain yield. This suggests that the pre-anthesis period has a great influence in the determination of grain yield variation in hot, dry areas, where photosynthesis is very limited after ear emergence.