Project Title: Off-Station barley variety performance trials in Central Montana – CARC
Project Leader: Jed Eberly Assistant Professor
Project Personnel: Jamie Sherman MAES barley breeder, Bozeman
Liz Elmore MAES Res. Assoc. barley breeder, Bozeman
Eva Magnuson Research Associate, CARC Moccasin
Jenni Hammontree Research Assistant, CARC Moccasin
Cooperators: Chuck Davis Geraldine
Richard Barber Denton
Andy and Ron Long Highwood
Objectives:
Identify top performing spring barley cultivars in central Montana.
Methods:
On-farm spring barley variety performance trials were conducted on chemical fallow or minimal
tillage during 2018 at Moccasin, Geraldine, Denton, and Highwood. Trials consisted of both
named varieties of barley and additional experimental lines. Each variety was seeded in three 5
row, 5 x 16-foot plots in a randomized experimental design. Seeding dates were April 18 at
Moccasin, April 19, at Highwood, and May 4 at Denton. Starter fertilizer, 20-30-20-10 NPKS, was
applied at seeding at a rate of 50 lb/ac. Broadleaf and grass weeds were controlled with a
burndown of glyphosate at 1.25 pt/ac prior to planting. All plots were trimmed to a harvest length
of approximately 12 feet and harvested with a small plot combine. Plots were harvested on August
21 at Moccasin, August 16 at Denton, and August 22 at Highwood.
Results:
Above-average precipitation (132% of 109-yr average) and cooler-than-average temperatures
(0.7°F below 107-yr average) characterized the 2018 crop year at the Central Ag Research Center
(CARC), leading to strong yields for both winter and spring crops. Winter crops took advantage
of above-average precipitation from October through March (167%), while both winter and spring
crops benefited from higher-than-average growing degree days (124%) and precipitation (146%)
in the month of May. The last recorded temperature below 32°F was observed on 2 May (25 days
earlier than the long-term average) while the first recorded temperature below 32°F in fall was
observed 28 August (10 days earlier than the long-term average), equating to a frost free period
of 118 days, or 105% of the 107-yr average.
Average yields were 52.5 bu/ac at Moccasin, 48.6 bu/ac at Denton and 93.0 bu/ac at Geraldine.
The trial at Highwood was terminated in early summer due to excessive volunteer spring wheat
growth in the plots. Average protein ranged from 10.5% at Geraldine to 8.6% at Denton. Protein
had not yet been measured for Moccasin at the time of this report. Average plump kernel
percentage was 81.9% at Moccasin, 85.1% at Denton to 82.7% at Geraldine.
Summary:
While July and August, experienced lower rainfall than average, above average rainfall in May
and June led to better than average yields at many of the test locations. Agronomic performance
was evaluated for 49 barley varieties and experimental lines. The average yield for all barley
varieties at Moccasin was 52.9 bu/ac and differences in yield was not significant between
varieties.