Barley: A New Perspective on an Old Crop in Texas.

Barley: A new perspective on an old crop in Texas

Lauren Woloohojian, Masters Student, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, College Station, TX

 

Clark B Neely, Amir Ibrahim, Daniel Hathcoat, Trevor A Dickerson, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, College Station, TX

Patrick Hayes, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Kevin Smith, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

By the 1960s, barley was grown on more than 600,000 acres throughout Texas.  Today, barley is planted on only 40,000 acres and is mainly used for feed and forage for livestock.  In recent years, there has been an increased interest in craft breweries and locally grown malt ingredients along with feed barley for a growing dairy industry in the Texas High Plains.  With interest in local malt ingredients and livestock feed, testing is required to find barley varieties that are adapted to Texas climates and withstand drought, disease and pest pressure.  In this study, 503 spring, 182 facultative and 119 winter barley varieties were grown in Castroville, McGregor, Lubbock and College Station, TX.  In-field observations were taken over the course of the growing season at each location.  All viable seedheads were hand harvested during the summer and data collected on yield components in 2014.  Data collected from the four locations showed that both spring and winter lines performed similarly at all locations.  Bi-plot analysis showed a positive correlation among test weight, kernel plumpness and yield.  In addition, there was minimal occurrence of pest and disease pressure at each location.  Initial results show a wide range in adaptation from the barley lines evaluated under Texas climates.  Further screening will in the future for barley lines with superior yield and malting characteristics.