Dryland Malt Barley Yield and Quality in Response to Tillage, Cropping Sequence, and Nitrogen Fertilization.

Information is needed on the effects of management practices on dryland malt barley (Hordeum vulgaris L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) yields and quality. We evaluated the effects of tillage and cropping sequence combination and N fertilization on dryland malt barley and pea yields, grain characteristics, N uptake, and N use-efficiency from 2006 to 2011 in eastern Montana. Treatments were no-tilled continuous malt barley (NTCB), no-tilled malt barley-pea (NTB-P), no-tilled malt barley-fallow (NTB-F), and conventional-tilled malt barley-fallow (CTB-F), each with 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha^-1. As N rates increased, malt barley grain yield, protein concentration, and N uptake increased in NTB-F, NTB-P, and NTCB, but test weight, plumpness, and N-use efficiency decreased in all tillage and cropping sequence combinations. Similarly, plant stand, biomass (stems and leaves) yield, and N uptake increased with increased N rates. Grain and biomass yields, N uptake, and N-use efficiency were greater in CTB-F than in NTB-P and NTCB but tillage had no effect on these parameters. Malt barley and pea yields and N uptake varied with cropping sequences and N rates among years. Although grain yield increased with increased N rates, NTB-P with N rates between 40 to 80 kg N ha^-1 may be used to sustain dryland malt barley yield and quality (protein concentration <135 g kg^-1, plumpness >800 g kg^-1)  in the northern Great Plains. This management option also helps to decrease the potentials for soil erosion and N leaching and increase organic matter due to gr