Winter Barley Field Trials

Intro of Work in this Field
Planting date and nitrogen (N) fertility can have important effects on the growth and quality of barley. Later planting has been associated with increased winter survival, while increasing N rates have been shown to increase yield parameters but decrease protein levels in the grain. To increase our understanding on the combined effects of planting date and N fertility on barley productivity and quality, a field study will be conducted at two locations, the West Madison Research Station and a farmer’s field in Janesville, Rock County WI. One winter barley variety (Organic MN-Equinox 6-Row) will be planted at two different planting dates in September. Treatments will be replicated 4 times and will be arranged in a split plot randomized complete black design with planting dates as the main plots and N rates as sub-plots. The 16 treatments will consist of a combination of two planting dates, four fall N rates (0,40,80, 160 lbs N acre-1) and two spring N rates (0, 40 lbs N acre-1). Fall N will be applied at sowing and spring N at stem elongation as urea (46-0-0). At maturity grain will be harvested, a sample will be dried and ground. Nitrogen and crude protein will be determined in laboratory analyses.

Field Location: