Agronomic Practices to Improve Winter Hardiness of Two-Rowed Winter Malt Barley.

Winter barley varieties offer a substantial improvement in potential yield compared to spring types, and the release of ‘Charles’, the first AMBA approved two-rowed winter malt variety, could mean higher yields with less irrigation than spring types. Limiting the adoption of Charles is its susceptibility to winter kill. Planting methods were investigated to improve winter survival. Four replications of Charles were planted in a split-split plot design with ‘Eight-Twelve,’ a winter feed barley, in 2007 and 2008. Both varieties were planted in four-row plots, drilled conventionally or planted in a 4-inch deep furrow created by shanks placed ahead of double disks.  Randomized within planting method were six seeding rates, varying from 494,000 to 2.96 million seeds/ha. Plots were planted late, October 11, 2007, and October 8, 2008, to increase the potential for winter stress. Plots were rated for spring stand, and data were collected for yield, test weight, plumps and protein. Results in 2007 showed significant differences in yield between varieties (P=0.0002), planting method (P<0.0001), and planting rate (P<0.0001). There were significant differences in spring stand between varieties (P<0.0001), planting method (P<0.0001), and planting rate (P<0.0001). Stand and yield of both varieties increased significantly when planted in deep furrows. Averaged over variety and planting rate, conventionally drilled barley yielded 3900 kg/ha and deep furrow-planted barley yielded 7600 kg/ha, and stand increased from 11 to 66%, respectively. With both seeding methods, significant increases in yield did not occur above the 988,000 seed/ha planting rate. Over all planting rates, Charles yielded 471 kg/ha when conventionally drilled, and 5649 kg/ha when furrow-planted, while Eight-Twelve yielded 7330 kg/ha and 9482 kg/ha, respectively. Winter damage was minor in 2008-2009, with spring stand significantly improving with furrow planting (Pr>F = 0.0011), with significant differences in varieties (Pr>F = 0.0498) and planting rates (Pr>F < 0.0001).