Management and Cultivar Effects on Malt-Type Barley Performance and End Use Quality in Virginia.

Craft breweries and the craft beer industry have grown significantly in Virginia, and across the country. Currently, there are over 150 craft breweries in the state of Virginia, and according to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild that number is expected to increase by 40% over the next five years; increasing demand for malt type barley varieties in the state and in the Mid-Atlantic region. In order to supply this growing industry with quality raw materials from local farmers, evaluation of the impact and value of various management practices for malt barley production is needed. Two winter barley varieties, ‘Thoroughbred’ and ‘Flavia’, received different spring nitrogen (N) rates and timings in a randomized complete block design with an incomplete factorial arrangement of treatments with three replications. Spring N rates were 0, 34, 56, 78, and 112 kg N ha^­-1 applied at Zadoks growth stages (GS) 25 and 30 such that each plot received a total of 112 kg N ha^-1 in the spring period. Flagleaf N concentration at GS 54 was measured for each plot. At grain maturity, entire plots were harvested using a small-plot combine. Grain moisture and test weight were measured for each plot and yield determined on a 14% moisture basis. Grain composition and malt quality analysis were performed on each sample to determine the effect of N rate and timing on end-use quality.