Barley response to seeding date in central Alberta

Abstract

Seeding date is an important factor influencing productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). When conditions are conducive to early seeding or result in delayed seeding, producers need to know how cultivars will respond to these seeding situations. In this study, five cultivars (Abee, Harrington, Jackson, Noble and Virden) registered for western Canada were studied for 4 yr (1990 to 1993) when seeded early (late April or early May), in mid-May, in late-May, or late (mid-June) at Lacombe, AB. For all cultivars, early seeding resulted in grain yield advantages of 113 to 134% of the mean site yield, while with late seeding, grain yields were reduced to 54 to 76% of the mean site yield. The reduction in yield was least for Jackson, the earliest maturing cultivar tested. Late seeding reduced the period from sowing to emergence, vegetative period, grain-filling period, time from emergence to physiological maturity, test weight, grain yield, kernel weight, and tillers per plant; and increased plant height and percent thins. Late seeding had no significant effect on phyllochron, stand establishment, scald, lodging, protein content of the grain, kernel number per spike, and spikelet number per spike. Barley responded positively to early seeding in central Alberta, but when seeding was delayed (in this study to mid-June) the early and mid-maturing six-rowed cultivars with short phyllochrons performed better than the two-rowed and late six-rowed cultivars. Key words: Hordeum vulgare L., seeding rate, phenological development, grain quality, grain yield, components