The effect of four seed rates on the grain yield, grain N content
and grain size of Blenheim malting
barley sown on two dates in the spring was tested on three different soils
over a 4-year period
(1991–94). The four seed rates (120, 160, 200 and 240 kg/ha)
gave mean plant populations of 222,
308, 374 and 430 plants/m2, respectively, for the
first sowing date (February to early March) and 235,
340, 405 and 470 plants/m2 for the second sowing date,
3–5 weeks later (late March to mid-April).
The earlier-sown crops generally gave greater yield, lower grain N and
smaller amount of screenings,
but in two of the twelve experiments, the first sowing gave lower yield
and greater grain N.The influence of seed rate on yield and quality depended on sowing date.
The three higher seed rates
(160, 200, 240 kg/ha) had little influence on yield or grain N,
irrespective of sowing date, and there
was no significant difference in yield between the lowest (120 kg/ha)
and the three higher seed rates
when the crop was sown in February and early March. But when the crops
were sown in April, the
lowest seed rate (120 kg/ha) gave the lowest yield in all seven
comparisons and gave significantly
reduced yield in three of the seven comparisons. There was a significant
increase in grain N in three
of the comparisons. Seed rate had little effect on grain screenings or
1000-grain weight. Soil
differences did not influence the effect of seed rate on the yield and
quality of the grain.
Yield and quality of malting barley(Hordeum vulgareL. ‘Valetta') in response to irrigation and nitrogen fertilisation
