Spring Barley Variety Screening
R.L. Dovel, R.S. Karow, and G. Chilcotel
•■■••
Introduction
Spring barley accounts for about 80 percent of cereal crops grown on
over 100,000 acres in the Klamath Basin. Both feed and malting types are
important in the region. Barley variety trials planted at the Klamath Experiment Station (KES) in 1994 included: the western regional spring barley
nursery in cooperation with western states plant breeders, and a collection of
new and promising lines from the Oregon State University (OSU) barley
breeding program. The trial in cooperation with OSU was planted at KES
and at two sites in the Lower Klamath Lake area. Early selections from
Idaho, Montana, and Washington breeding programs were also screened in
nonreplicated trials.
Procedures
All small grain variety trials at the KES were on land planted to potatoes the previous year. Soils at the station include Poe, Fordney, and Hosley
series, all of which have a fine-loamy to sandy texture, and are moderately
deep and somewhat poorly drained. The off-station trials were on very deep,
poorly drained, lake bottom soils with high organic matter content. These
fields are cropped in spring cereals continuously. All plots at KES were
irrigated by a solid set sprinkler irrigation system. Only one organic soil site
was irrigated by sprinkler irrigation after planting. Both organic soil sites were
flood irrigated prior to planting.
All trials were arranged in a randomized complete block design with
four replications. Crops at the KES were planted on April 21 and 22. Irrigated and unirrigated organic soil sites were planted on May 13 and 16,
respectively. Seed was planted to a depth of one inch at a seeding rate of 100
1
/ Associate Professor, Professor, and Research Technician, respectively, Oregon State University,
Klamath Experiment Station, Klamath Falls, OR.
Acknowledgments: Henzel Farms provided the off-station sites and crop care. Trials were supported by a grant from the Oregon Grains Commission. The Experiment Station greatly appreciates
their support and participation.
Klamath Experiment Station 115
Spring Barley Variety Screening
lb/acre. All plots were fertilized with 100 lb N, 60 lb P 2 O 5 , and 44 lb S/acre
at time of seeding. Plots measured 5 x 20 feet, with a row spacing of 6 inches
(10 rows). At KES, bromoxynil and MCPA were applied at labeled rates to
control broadleaf weeds. Weed control at organic soil sites was achieved with
a mixture of2,4-D and Banvel. Plots were harvested in late September at the
KES and in late October at off-station sites using a plot combine with a 5foot wide header. Grain yield was recorded for all plots. Test weight, percent
plumps, and percent thins were measured in only one replication.
Results and
Discussion
Western Regional Spring Barley Nursery
The three highest yielding entries in the 1994 western regional spring
barley nursery, UT 1705D, BU 585-82, and UT 2144, produced over 7000
lb of grain per acre, which was significantly higher than Steptoe and other
check varieties (Table 1). When averaged over 1994 and 1993, these same
entries were among the top four producing varieties in the nursery. None of
these entries have been in the trial for three years. Additional testing of these
lines is warranted and may result in a varietal release. Over a three-year
period, WA 9593-87 produced the highest grain yields; however, there was
no significant difference between it and Steptoe over that period. Another
promising entry which has been in the trial for the last three years, 86Ab2317,
was not significantly different than Steptoe. Both experimental lines are being
considered for release and may be available to seedsmen in the near future.
Grain yields in the Western Regional Spring Barley Nursery were much
higher in 1994 than in 1993, and slightly better than in 1992 (Table 2). This is
partially due to high infestations ofboth wheat stem maggot and common root
rot in 1993. Spring in 1993 was unusually wet, encouraging the development
of common root rot and delaying planting by over three weeks. In 1993,
wheatstem maggot infestation at KES was severe with over 50 percent of
tillers affected in most small grain trials. In contrast, the spring of 1994 was
one ofthe driest on record and fields were planted earlier than normal.
Common root rot and wheat stem maggot were not serious problems in
1994. Although dry weather and higher than normal temperatures facilitated
116 Klamath Experiment Station
Spring Barley Variety Screening
early planting, low yields and tests weights were generally seen throughout the
Klamath Basin due to irrigation shortages and high temperature stress.
OSU Spring Barley Trials
OSU spring barley variety trials were established at three different
locations in 1994. The 8-entry trial was located at the KES on mineral soil,
and on two organic soil locations in the Lower Klamath Lake area (Tables 35). In general, the yield potential of the two irrigated sites is similar, as is
reflected in the three-year trial means at each site (Table 6). In contrast, the
unirrigated organic soil site is less productive and has a trial mean yield which
is only 85 percent of the irrigated organic soil site. Although the two irrigated
sites have similar yields, the relative performance of varieties at the two sites is
quite different.
Irrigated Mineral Soil Site
Yield trends over the past three years at KES were similar to those seen
in the western regional spring barley nursery discussed above. Barley yields in
1994 were significantly higher than in 1993 and 1992 (Table 6). Wheat stem
maggot damage was extensive in 1992 and 1993, and undoubtedly reduced
yields. Yields were further reduced in 1993 by late planting and a severe
infestation of common root rot. Although Baroness was the highest yielding
entry in 1993, it produced significantly less grain in 1994 than most entries in
the trial. Baroness was less effected by wheatstem maggot and possibly
common root rot than other varieties in 1993. In 1994, when higher yields
were possible due to favorable weather and the absence of pests, the relative
ranking of Baroness was reduced. Over a three-year period, Maranna
produced significantly more grain than all other entries except Columbia.
Irrigated Organic Soil Site
Colter was the highest yielding entry at the irrigated organic soil site for
four years in a row prior to 1994. In 1994, it was the second highest yielding
variety and its yield was not significantly lower than Crest, the highest yielding
variety in 1994 (Table 4). Over a three-year period at the irrigated organic
Klamath Experiment Station 117
Spring Barley Variety Screening
soil site, Colter was the highest producing variety, producing an average of
500 lb/acre more than Russell, the second highest yielding entry in the trial
(Table 6). Test weights of Colter have been higher than Steptoe for the past
three years at this site. However, Colter usually produces test weights slightly
lower than the trial average.
Unirrigated Organic Soil Site
Baroness was the highest yielding variety at the unirrigated organic soil
site in 1994 (Table 5). Baroness was ranked second at this site over a twoyear period, yielding only slightly less than Steptoe (Table 6). The difference
was not statistically significant. However, test weights of Baroness have been
consistently superior to Steptoe and most six-row feed varieties (Tables 3-5).
Russell, a six-row malt variety has also produced well at this site. Over a
two-year period, yields ofRussell were not significantly different from Steptoe
or Baroness and test weights were comparable to or better than Baroness.
Columbia, a late maturing variety that produces well at the irrigated sites, was
the lowest producing entry at the unirrigated site.
118 Klamath Experiment Station
Spring Barley Variety Screening
Table 1.
Grain yield, test weight, percent thins, percent lodging, plant height, and heading date of
spring barley varieties planted in the 1994 western regional spring barley nursery at the
Klamath Experiment Station, OR.
Variety/
Entry selection
Yield
Thins
Test
weight 6/64 5.5/64 Pan
lb/A
Ib/bu
Trebi
Steptoe
Klages
Morex
Excel
3910
4420
4980
4640
5430
50.5
51.5
54.5
53.0
52.5
85.2
83.8
90.5
85.7
85.9
10.2
10.1
5.7
9.3
10.2
6
7
8
9
10
86Ab2317
WA 9593-87
ND 11231-11
UT 1705L
UT 1705D
5880
6560
5850
6490
7370
54.5
53.5
56.5
52.0
53.0
87.4
92.8
96.5
95.4
94.0
11
12
13
14
15
UT 2144
WA 9589-87
WA 16227-85
DA 587-170
BU 585-82
7000
5870
5440
6350
7250
51.0
53.5
55.0
55.0
53.5
16
17
18
19
20
MT 890008
BA 2B89-4311
BA 2B91-4947
ND 11055
ND 13299
5000
5380
5660
4770
5350
21
22
23
24
25
ND 13300
ID 86326
WA 9605-87
WA 7758-89
WA 9908-89
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
1
2
3
4
5
Lodge Height
Heading
date
%
inches
Julian
4.7
6.1
3.8
5.0
3.9
90
83
63
65
65
38
42
44
47
46
178
174
182
174
175
9.0
5.7
2.1
3.7
4.6
3.6
1.4
1.4
0.9
1.3
15
30
13
25
0
43
42
41
41
39
177
179
173
171
173
90.0
91.7
92.9
92.5
96.2
7.2
5.6
5.0
5.2
2.7
2.8
2.6
2.1
2.3
1.1
1
20
30
15
0
38
42
42
31
33
172
179
180
180
178
54.5
57.0
54.0
53.0
56.0
94.6
98.0
89.6
89.1
97.9
3.7
1.5
7.1
7.8
1.3
1.7
0.6
3.4
3.1
0.9
83
43
40
53
0
41
43
42
45
39
182
180
181
177
173
5900
5040
6720
5590
5340
55.0
55.5
54.5
54.0
51.0
96.2
91.5
90.8
95.0
86.1
2.6
5.4
6.7
3.6
9.4
1.2
3.1
2.5
1.3
4.5
23
60
0
45
60
41
42
41
43
47
173
179
177
179
176
SDM 306B
UT 1705
UT 706A315
UT 3999
UT 4011
6710
6860
6310
5350
5810
54.0
52.0
54.0
50.0
52.0
87.9
95.8
90.8
86.7
92.0
8.2
3.3
6.1
8.3
5.4
3.9
0.9
3.0
5.0
2.5
5
1
15
26
15
38
40
41
42
42
173
172
174
174
175
MT 886610
MT 889106
5300
5870
54.0
54.0
89.0
95.2
6.7
3.3
4.2
1.4
58
38
43
43
178
173
5760
12
53.6
91.5
5.8
2.7
34
75
41
6
176
0.6
35
4
1.5
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
970
Klamath Experiment Station 119
Spring Barley Variety Screening
Table 2.
Three-year summary ofthe western regional spring barley nursery, Klamath Experiment
Station, OR, 1992-1994.
Variety/
Entry selection
Yield
2-year avg
1994
1993
1992
lb/A
lb/A
lb/A
lb/A
rank
lb/A
rank
Trebi
Steptoe
Klages
Morex
Excel
3910
4420
4980
4640
5430
3800
4730
4070
3520
3980
5390
5740
5090
5020
5360
3850
4570
4520
4080
4700
15
12
13
14
10
4370
4960
4710
4390
4920
7
2
5
6
3
6
7
8
9
10
86Ab2317
WA 9593-87
ND 11231-11
UT 1705L
UT 1705D
5880
6560
5850
6490
7370
4110
4140
4280
4580
4450
4670
5360
4990
5350
5070
5540
5910
8
5
6
3
1
4890
5360
4
1
11
12
13
14
15
UT 2144
WA 9589-87
WA 16227-85
DA 587-170
BU 585-82
7000
5870
5440
6350
7250
4110
4140
3720
3580
3580
5550
5010
4580
4970
5410
2
7
11
9
4
16
17
18
19
20
MT 890008
BA 2B89-4311
BA 2B91-4947
ND 11055
ND 13299
5000
5380
5660
4770
5350
21
22
23
24
25
ND 13300
ID 86326
WA 9605-87
WA 7758-89
WA 9908-89
5900
5040
6720
5590
5340
26
27
28
29
30
SDM 306B
UT 1705
UT 706A315
UT 3999
UT 4011
6710
6860
6310
5350
5810
31
32
MT 886610
MT 889106
5300
5870
1
2
3
4
5
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
120 Klamath Experiment Station
5760
12.0
970
4050
9.1
520
5230
11.9
860
4940
12.0
590
3-year avg
4800
12.8
500
Spring Barley Variety Screening
Table 3.
Performance of OSU spring barley varieties at the Klamath Experiment Station irrigated
mineral soil site, 1994.
Entry
Variety
Heading
date
Height
Julian
inches
Lodging Yield
ova
Test
weight
lb/A
lb/bu
1
2
3
4
Baroness
Colter
Crest
Crystal
178
171
174
178
41
44
43
40
17
53
13
43
6010
6410
7290
6280
53.9
49.6
52.0
53.7
5
6
7
8
Maranna
Russell
Steptoe
Columbia
180
173
173
182
36
42
42
34
0
0
70
0
8620
7340
5040
8090
52.2
53.9
49.9
49.9
176
1
1
40
5
4
25
110
47
6890
11
1270
51.9
2
1.9
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
Klamath Experiment Station 121
Spring Barley Variety Screening
Table 4.
Performance of OSU spring barley varieties at the Lower Klamath Lake area irrigated
organic soil site, 1994.
Entry
Variety
Yield
Test
weight
lb/A
lb/bu
6/64
Thins
5.5/64
Pan
%
1
2
3
4
Baroness
Colter
Crest
Crystal
5450
6770
6900
5700
52.5
52.0
51.5
59.0
95.3
91.1
92.4
95.9
3.3
6.2
5.5
3.0
1.4
2.6
2.1
1.0
5
6
7
8
Maranna
Russell
Steptoe
Columbia
5310
6000
6570
6590
50.0
53.0
50.0
49.5
88.3
96.2
96.5
96.6
8.7
2.8
2.5
2.7
3.1
1.0
1.0
0.7
6160
6.5
700
52.2
94
4.3
1.6
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
122 Klamath Experiment Station
Spring Barley Variety Screening
Table 5.
Performance of OSU spring barley varieties at the Lower Klamath Lake area unirrigated
soil site, 1994.
Entry
Variety
6/64
Thins
5.5/64
52.5
51.5
51.0
52.5
97.2
94.5
93.6
94.0
2.0
4.0
4.7
4.8
0.8
1.5
1.7
1.2
Yield
Test
weight
lb/A
ib/bu
Pan
1
Baroness
2
3
4
Colter
Crest
Crystal
4320
3860
4030
3570
5
6
7
8
Maranna
Russell
Steptoe
Columbia
3390
3330
4010
2880
50.0
53.5
50.5
45.0
85.5
95.5
97.0
94.9
10.8
3.3
2.1
3.8
3.7
1.2
0.9
1.4
3670
7.7
500
50.8
94
4.4
1.6
Mean
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
Klamath Experiment Station 123
Spring Barley Variety Screening
Nim........r----Three-year summary of OSU spring barley variety grain yields at three Klamath County
Table 6.
locations, 1992-1994.
Yield
Selection
Irrigated
mineral soil
Irrigated
organic soil
Unirrigated
organic soil
Average
oflocations
3-year average
lb/A
rank
lb/A
rank
lb/A
rank
lb/A
rank
Colter
Crystal
Maranna
Russell
Steptoe
Columbia
4990
4730
5920
5000
5030
5530
5
6
1
4
3
2
6340
4560
4920
5840
5070
5200
1
6
5
2
4
3
3820
2690
2950
3810
3940
2120
2
5
4
3
1
6
5050
3990
4600
4880
4680
4280
1
6
4
2
3
5
Mean:
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
5200
12
660
4580
11
400
3220
9
140
5320
11
440
2-year average
Baroness
Colter
Crystal
Maranna
Russell
Steptoe
Columbia
5350
4790
5000
6240
5210
4750
5860
Mean:
CV (%)
LSD (0.05)
5310
11
820
124 Klamath Experiment Station
3
6
5
1
4
7
2
4530
6490
4910
5230
5810
5220
5630
5400
10
750
7
1
6
4
2
5
3
3340
3030
2460
2950
3301
3670
1690
2920
9
410
2
4
6
5
3
1
7
4410
4770
4120
4800
4770
4550
4400
4550
10
510
5
3
7
1
2
4
6