Title: Off-station spring barley cultivar evaluations for the Western Golden Triangle area of
Montana
Principle Investigators: Gadi V.P. Reddy, Professor of Entomology/Ecology, Western
Triangle Ag Research Center
Personnel: John H. Miller, Research Scientist, Julie Prewett, Research Assistant, WTARC,
Conrad, MT, and Jamie Sherman and Liz Elmore, MSU PSPP Dept., Bozeman, MT.
Cooperators: Mark Suta, East of Cut Bank, MT
Brian Aklestad, North of Devon, MT
Aaron Killion, East of Brady, MT
Inbody Farms, Northeast of Choteau, MT
Objectives: There are diverse cropping environments within the area served by Western Triangle
Agricultural Research Center. Each off station location has its own unique environment and
soils. Producers in the various locations are interested in variety performance in the local area.
To this end the objective is to evaluate spring barley varieties under the local conditions with
respect to yield, test weight, plant height, plump seed, thin seed and seed protein. The
environmental conditions at the off station nurseries can vary greatly from those at WTARC. The
research center strives to provide growers of the western triangle area unbiased information of
various spring barley varieties.
Methods: Off station barley nurseries consist of 25 entries replicated three times, seeded with a
four row plot seeder on one foot spacing. All plots were planted on no-till chemical fallow. Plots
were trimmed, measured for length, and then harvested with a Hege 140 or a Wintersteiger
Classic plot combine. Spring barley seed was not cleaned prior to collecting yield data.
Results: Results are tabulated in Tables 1 thru 10. The irrigated off-station spring barley nursery
data are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Table 3 is for the Choteau location, with multi-year data
presented in Table 4. Tables 7 and 8 are for the Devon location, with Table 9 and 10
representing the ‘Knees’ location. The Cut Bank data are presented in Tables 5 and 6. Table 11 is
the soil test results from each location.
Overall, the crop year temperatures where cooler than 32 year average at the research center,
May, when we could have used some cooler temperatures, was 5.2 degrees warmer than the
average. But the overall average temperature for the year from September to August was 3.8
degrees cooler than the 32 year average. The winter temperature, from September to March was
well below average, with February being 15.5 degrees colder than the 32 year average. March
and April were 9.6 and 7.1 degrees colder than the 32 year average. May was the only month that
had a temperature that was above the average with a temperature 5.2 degrees. September through
March were at or above the average precipitation for those months. Then May through August
were drier than the 32 year average. Overall, precipitation was average for the year with respect
to the 32 year average.
The spring barley plots were seeded into soil that had good soil moisture storage from the
summer and fall 2017. Overall, the barley did not do as well as the past few years. Late seeding,
a warmer and dryer May and lack of summer moisture probably affected yield and seed protein.
Yields for the irrigated off station spring barley nursery, averaged 116.7 bu/ac, with Conrad,
Moravial 165, and Bill Coors 100 being the top yielders at 133.0, 132.4, and 130.9 bu/ac. There
was an average kernel plumpness of 97.7%, a mean protein of 12.5%, and an average test weight
of 50.5 lb/bu (Table 1). Five year means for the irrigated off station nursery are tabulated in
(Table 2).
Grain yields averaged 58.2 bu/acre at the Knees, 44.5 bu/ac north of Devon, 58.2 bu/ac at the
Choteau site, and 52.0 bu/ac at the site east of Cut Bank. Kernel plumpness averaged 66.2 % and
test weight averaged 45.5 lbs/bu at the Devon site, while kernel plumpness averaged 91.8% and
test weight averaged 48.1 lbs/bu at the Knees. Choteau kernel plumpness was 80.9 % and test
weight averaged 48.1 lbs/bu. The nursery at Cut Bank averaged 46.3 lb/bu, 79.0% plumps, with
12.0 % seed protein (Tables 3 thru 10).
Top yielding varieties at the Knees were Odyssey, Bill Coors 100, and Esma, yields were 70.3,
68.2, and 66.9 bu/ac. Whereas the top yielding barleys north of Devon were Lavina, Esma, and
Hays yields were 51.6, 51.4 and 50.1 bu/ac. Yielding highest at the Choteau site were Odyssey,
Bill Coors 100, and Esma with yields of 70.3, 68.2 and 66.9 bu/ac. High yielding varieties at Cut
Bank were Hockett, 59.0 bu/ac, Hays, 58.1 bu/ac and Synergy, 57.2 bu/ac (Tables 3 thru 10).
No insect incidence (wheat stem sawfly or wireworms) was noticed in any of the barley varieties,
on or off station. Insignificant amount of adult wheat midge were found at the off station
locations.
Summary: The data from the off station plots is supported by the local producers and advisory
committee as well as the seed industry. It is planned to continue the off station variety plots at
the same locations as the environmental conditions at each location are unique to the western
triangle area.
These data should be used for comparative purposes rather than using absolute numbers.
Statistics are used to indicate that treatment or variety differences are really different and are not
different due to chance or error. The Least Significant Difference (LSD) and Coefficient of
Variability (CV) values are useful in comparing treatment or variety differences. The LSD value
represents the smallest difference between two treatments at a given probability level. The LSD
at p=0.05 or 5 % probability level is usually the statistic reported, and it means that the odds are
19 to 1 that treatment differences by the amount of the LSD are truly different. The CV value
measures the variability of the experiment or variety trial, and a CV greater than 15 % indicates a
high degree of variability and less accuracy.
Funding Summary: Office of Special Projects will provide expenditure information. No other
grants support this project.
Table 1. 2018 Irrigated off station barley variety trial, Conrad, MT.
Variety
Yield
1
Test Wt
1
Height
Head
Plump
Thin
Protein
Lodging
(bu/ac)
(lb/bu)
(inch)
Date
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
Conrad
133.0
50.4
22.0
195
96.9
0.8
12.1
6
Moravian165
132.4
50.3
23.3
194
98.2
0.4
13.1
17
Bill Coors 100
130.9
50.4
21.7
194
98.7
0.4
13.3
5
Metcalfe
129.9
50.2
23.0
194
96.4
1.4
12.4
14
Genie
129.3
50.6
24.0
196
98.1
1.1
12.4
11
Esma
128.8
50.6
22.3
193
97.7
0.8
12.7
15
Bow
125.9
50.4
22.0
196
96.8
1.4
12.9
6
Lavina
123.8
50.3
23.3
192
98.3
0.7
13.1
6
Champion
123.4
51.5
22.0
194
99.0
0.3
12.0
4
Hays
122.6
51.0
21.0
195
99.1
0.3
11.6
5
MT124069
121.9
50.3
22.0
196
95.6
1.5
12.2
12
Merit 57
120.0
51.1
23.7
194
97.7
0.6
12.5
16
Fraser
119.7
51.4
24.3
196
98.5
0.6
12.2
10
Copeland
118.4
50.1
22.0
195
97.9
0.9
12.4
3
Balster
114.0
52.0
24.7
193
98.8
1.1
12.1
7
MT124112
113.0
50.2
22.7
191
98.1
0.7
12.8
12
Hockett
112.9
50.9
23.7
193
98.4
0.6
12.5
15
Growler
112.5
51.0
25.0
195
98.9
0.4
12.3
11
Accordine
111.3
50.1
23.3
193
96.4
1.7
12.0
27
Haxby
111.2
50.9
24.7
191
98.4
0.5
12.2
15
Odyssey
110.2
50.9
23.3
197
98.5
0.7
12.1
6
Synergy
102.9
50.0
23.3
194
96.7
1.1
13.2
9
MT124071
95.5
49.9
24.0
191
98.9
0.6
12.3
7
Haybet
95.4
49.6
23.3
193
95.4
1.9
12.0
12
MT090134
77.9
49.0
23.3
188
95.2
1.6
13.0
27
Mean
116.7
50.5
23.1
194
97.7
0.9
12.5
11.0
LSD (.05)
16.5
1.4
9.2
0.8
2.1
84.0
8.0
98.6
C.V. (s/mean)*100
31.7
1.6
3.5
2.5
3.4
1.2
1.6
17.8
P-Value
.1515
.0518
Planted on 5/25/2018 into chemical fallow barley stubble. Harvested on 9/25/2018.
Fertilizer, actual (lbs/a): 11-22-0 place with seed at planting, 88-0-20 side shot while planting.
Fertilizer rates are based on achieving malt grade barley.
Growing season precipitation: 6.17 inches. Irrigation = 9.9 inches
Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 32 oz/ac on 5/13/2018. The plot was sprayed with
Huskie @ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 7/10/2018.
1
Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture
Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag Research Center, Conrad, MT.
Table 2. 5-year Means, Irrigated off station barley varieties, Conrad, MT, 2014-2018.
Variety
Yield
Test Wt
Plump
Thin
Protein
Heading
(bu/ac)
(lb/bu)
(%)
(%)
(%)
date
Champion
115.1
51.5
97.1
0.8
28.7
183.8
Haxby
111.7
50.9
97.2
1.0
29.7
182.6
Metcalfe
109.9
50.2
96.5
1.3
29.5
185.1
Hockett
108.8
50.9
97.0
1.1
28.3
183.6
Mean
111.4
50.9
96.9
1.0
29.1
183.8
Location: MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad, MT.
Table 3. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Choteau area. Teton County.
Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, 2018.
Variety
Yield
1
Test Wt
1
Height
Plump
Thin
Protein
(bu/ac)
(lb/bu)
(inch)
(%)
(%)
(%)
Odyssey
70.3
49.3
23.0
96.2
0.9
14.8
Bill Coors 100
68.2
49.0
19.6
93.0
1.6
15.2
Esma
66.9
48.4
21.7
77.4
3.7
14.6
Lavina
66.1
47.0
22.7
61.2
6.5
14.9
Moravian165
63.8
49.0
22.7
88.5
2.6
15.4
MT124112
62.7
48.4
22.3
94.4
1.5
12.7
Balster
62.3
47.8
21.3
82.5
3.9
15.4
MT124071
62.0
48.6
21.0
90.5
2.0
13.2
Growler
61.8
47.7
20.7
84.0
3.8
16.5
Champion
61.5
50.3
22.7
91.7
2.2
14.2
Haxby
61.3
50.6
21.7
78.4
4.3
15.0
Genie
60.0
47.8
19.0
54.9
10.7
15.9
Merit 57
59.7
47.7
21.0
76.3
5.6
15.7
MT124069
57.9
48.4
21.0
89.2
2.8
14.5
MT090134
57.6
49.9
24.0
97.3
0.7
12.6
Synergy
57.0
47.9
22.0
81.4
4.5
15.2
Accordine
56.5
49.2
24.0
89.4
2.0
15.3
Hays
55.8
46.5
20.0
69.5
10.7
16.4
Conrad
55.1
47.2
19.7
67.3
8.5
16.8
Copeland
52.4
47.2
20.0
84.3
4.5
16.0
Fraser
51.7
46.9
20.0
86.2
3.8
14.7
Hockett
48.9
49.1
22.0
89.4
2.6
15.9
Haybet
48.3
45.0
22.0
30.9
26.7
17.5
Metcalfe
47.5
47.9
22.0
81.1
5.2
16.5
Bow
41.3
46.9
21.7
86.4
.3.
15.1
Mean
58.2
48.1
21.5
80.9
5.0
15.2
LSD (.05)
15.1
1.4
1.9
9.4
3.8
0.9
C.V. (s/mean)*100
12.9
1.4
5.3
7.1
46.8
3.4
P-Value
0.0025
0.0000
Cooperator and Location: Inbody Farms, Teton County.
Planted: 5/30/2018 on chem-fallow. Harvested: 9/6/2018.
Fertilizer, actual lbs/a: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting.
Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 28 oz/ac on 5/15/2018. Plot was sprayed with Huskie
@ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 6/28/2018.
1
Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 4. Five-year means, Barley varieties, Choteau area, Teton County 2014-2018.
Variety
6-Year Mean
Or
Yield
Test weight
Plump
Thins
Height
Protein
ID
(bu/ac)
(lbs/bu)
(%)
(%)
(inch)
(%)
Champion
83.2
50.8
81.5
4.6
13.3
26.1
Haxby
78.1
50.6
79.9
8.0
13.8
25.5
Hockett
71.8
48.4
82.5
14.2
14.1
25.5
Metcalfe
69.6
48.0
80.7
7.7
14.6
25.3
Mean
75.7
49.4
81.2
8.6
13.9
25.6
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 5. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Cut Bank area. Glacier County.
Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, 2018.
Variety
Yield
1
Test Wt
1
Height
Plump
Thin
Protein
(bu/ac)
(lb/bu)
(inch)
(%)
(%)
(%)
Hockett
59.0
48.4
21.0
88.2
2.3
11.4
Hays
58.1
44.2
21.7
72.9
7.9
12.8
Synergy
57.2
46.0
23.0
80.3
4.5
11.6
Odyssey
56.5
46.8
21.7
89.7
1.3
12.3
MT124112
55.1
47.6
21.7
93.9
0.8
11.1
Genie
54.4
47.0
17.0
50.0
13.0
11.1
Metcalfe
54.3
47.2
23.0
78.9
4.0
12.8
MT124071
54.0
47.3
22.0
87.8
2.6
11.2
Balster
53.6
45.5
21.3
70.9
4.5
12.1
Esma
53.6
46.1
21.3
81.9
2.3
11.7
Haxby
53.6
49.1
21.3
66.0
6.4
11.7
MT090134
53.6
49.2
21.7
95.1
0.4
11.0
MT124069
53.0
46.7
22.3
85.3
2.9
11.7
Moravian165
52.8
46.8
23.3
85.8
2.1
12.3
Champion
51.1
48.3
22.3
83.7
3.4
12.4
Fraser
51.1
44.4
21.3
85.5
3.8
12.1
Growler
50.9
45.4
22.0
78.7
5.4
11.7
Accordine
50.6
47.3
22.7
84.6
2.0
12.4
Lavina
50.6
44.6
22.3
75.7
9.4
11.5
Bill Coors 100
50.0
46.7
18.7
88.1
2.0
12.3
Merit 57
49.6
44.1
21.7
68.3
9.9
12.2
Copeland
49.0
45.1
22.3
81.9
5.0
12.4
Conrad
48.0
45.6
20.0
81.9
3.8
12.5
Bow
42.7
43.9
22.3
88.5
3.4
12.2
Haybet
38.3
44.0
23.7
31.4
14.7
12.6
Mean
52.0
46.3
21.7
79.0
4.7
12.0
LSD (.05)
5.4
0.8
1.9
14.5
2.6
1.1
C.V. (s/mean)*100
6.37
1.1
5.3
11.1
33.2
5.6
P-Value
.0000
.0000
Cooperator and Location: Mark Suta, Glacier County.
Planted: 6/5/2018 on chemical fallow wheat stubble. Harvested: 9/6/2018.
Fertilizer, actual lbs/ac: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 48-0-20 side shot while planting.
Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with 20 oz/ac Roundup by the farmer. Sprayed with 2 oz/ac
Sharpen on 5/29/2018.
1
Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 6. Four-year means, Barley varieties, Cut Bank area, Glacier County 2015-2018.
Variety
4-Year Mean
Or
Yield
Test weight
Plump
Thins
Height
Protein
ID
(bu/ac)
(lbs/bu)
(%)
(%)
(inch)
(%)
Champion
83.7
51.2
88.3
2.9
12.9
26.0
Haxby
69.5
51.7
89.6
2.7
12.7
25.8
Hockett
75.9
50.6
93.5
2.0
12.9
25.9
Metcalfe
70.5
50.0
91.5
2.4
13.4
26.1
Mean
74.9
50.9
90.7
2.5
13.0
25.9
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 7. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Devon, Toole County. Western
Triangle Ag. Research Center, 2018.
Variety
Yield
1
Test Wt
1
Height
Plump
Thin
Protein
(bu/ac)
(lb/bu)
(inch)
(%)
(%)
(%)
Lavina
51.6
43.6
24.7
51.3
17.7
14.6
Esma
51.4
43.5
22.3
45.6
20.4
13.6
Hays
50.1
43.3
24.0
58.6
15.4
14.0
Accordine
48.9
46.4
23.7
75.4
6.8
13.3
MT090134
48.9
48.2
24.0
88.6
3.3
12.8
MT124112
47.0
46.2
23.0
76.7
9.3
13.2
Haxby
46.4
46.3
24.3
36.6
18.9
13.4
Champion
45.7
48.2
24.0
80.0
4.8
13.0
Odyssey
45.7
42.7
21.3
66.4
10.2
14.5
MT124069
45.5
46.4
24.0
69.8
10.0
13.4
MT124071
45.3
46.0
24.3
78.5
6.9
13.9
Growler
45.0
44.0
21.7
80.5
6.3
14.1
Conrad
44.4
52.7
20.0
71.0
8.7
15.5
Metcalfe
44.4
45.3
24.3
66.5
10.3
15.9
Fraser
43.8
44.2
19.7
79.6
5.9
14.3
Bill Coors 100
43.7
45.0
20.0
70.3
10.9
15.3
Balster
43.6
45.0
22.3
60.2
15.9
15.6
Moravian165
43.6
46.3
23.3
65.9
11.9
14.5
Synergy
42.9
45.0
21.0
72.7
9.1
14.6
Genie
41.9
45.7
19.3
41.8
26.4
15.1
Hockett
40.8
47.5
22.3
72.7
9.2
14.2
Merit 57
40.6
44.5
21.0
61.2
13.9
15.7
Copeland
37.8
43.8
20.7
71.2
8.6
16.0
Bow
37.7
46.3
24.3
89.6
3.0
14.4
Haybet
35.6
42.1
24.6
24.1
33.4
14.1
Mean
44.5
45.5
22.6
66.2
11.9
14.4
LSD (.05)
9.4
4.0
2.6
18.7
7.0
2.0
C.V. (s/mean)*100
12.8
5.4
7.0
17.2
48.5
8.5
P-Value
0.1117
0.0051
Cooperator and Location: Brian Aklestad Farms, Toole County.
Planted: 5/22/2018 on chemical fallow winter wheat stubble. Harvested: 9/4/2018.
Fertilizer, actual lbs/a: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 53-0-20 side shot while planting.
Herbicide: Pre-plant sprayed with RT3 at 40 oz/ac on 5/21/2018. Plot was sprayed with Huskie
@ 11 oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 6/29/2018.
1
Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 8. Five-year means, Barley varieties, Devon area, Toole County 2012, 2014-2017.
Variety
5-Year Mean
Or
Yield
Test weight
Plump
Thins
Height
Protein
ID
(bu/ac)
(lbs/bu)
(%)
(%)
(inch)
(%)
Champion
58.9
49.7
85.2
6.0
20.7
12.6
Haxby
49.7
48.6
68.5
12.0
21.5
13.0
Hockett
48.6
48.1
82.7
6.5
21.1
13.2
Metcalfe
44.2
47.1
82.7
6.3
21.5
13.9
Mean
50.4
48.4
79.8
7.7
21.2
13.2
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 9. Off-station spring barley variety trial located in the Knees area. Western Chouteau
County. Western Triangle Ag. Research Center. 2018.
Variety
Yield
1
Test Wt
1
Height
Plump
Thin
Protein
Lodging
(bu/ac)
(lb/bu)
(inch)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
Odyssey
70.3
49.2
27.7
93.4
1.6
13.2
0
Bill Coors 100
68.2
49.0
27.0
95.7
1.4
11.6
0
Esma
66.9
48.4
27.0
70.4
7.5
12.8
0
Lavina
66.1
47.0
35.7
85.8
3.8
12.7
3
Moravian165
63.8
49.0
35.3
93.2
2.0
13.1
3
MT124112
62.7
48.4
32.0
98.6
0.4
11.3
0
Balster
62.3
47.8
32.7
88.8
3.9
13.2
0
MT124071
62.0
48.6
33.0
97.0
0.7
11.7
0
Growler
61.8
47.7
33.7
94.1
1.8
12.7
0
Champion
61.5
50.3
32.0
98.3
0.4
12.9
0
Haxby
61.3
50.6
33.0
96.9
0.9
12.1
3
Genie
60.0
47.8
28.3
77.6
8.3
13.1
0
Merit 57
59.7
47.7
33.0
94.2
1.5
11.6
0
MT124069
57.9
48.4
32.3
98.6
0.4
11.1
0
MT090134
57.3
49.9
30.3
98.6
0.4
11.1
0
Synergy
57.0
47.9
34.0
89.3
3.3
13.0
3
Accordine
56.5
49.2
29.3
87.7
2.9
12.5
0
Hays
55.8
46.5
32.7
90.7
2.9
12.5
7
Conrad
55.1
47.2
29.7
93.3
1.7
13.5
0
Copeland
52.4
47.2
36.0
95.8
1.0
13.5
13
Fraser
51.7
46.9
32.7
93.9
1.6
12.1
7
Hockett
48.9
49.1
33.0
89.7
3.2
12.6
10
Haybet
48.4
45.0
37.7
84.2
2.8
14.1
3
Metcalfe
47.5
47.9
33.7
96.5
0.8
13.0
0
Bow
41.3
46.9
33.0
91.8
2.3
13.4
3
Mean
58.2
48.1
32.2
91.8
2.3
12.6
2.3
LSD (.05)
15.1
1.4
2.4
11.4
4.0
1.2
7.3
C.V. (s/mean)*100
12.9
1.4
197.3
7.6
104.5
5.8
197.3
P-Value
0.0025
0.0000
Cooperator and Location: Aaron Killion, western Chouteau County.
Planted: 5/15/2018 on chemical fallow winter wheat stubble. Harvested: 08/30/2018.
Fertilizer, actual lbs/a: 11-22.5-0 with seed at planting, 50-0-20 side shot while planting.
Herbicide: Sprayed with RT3 at 28 oz/ac on 5/15/2018. Plot was sprayed with Huskie @ 11
oz/ac and 16.4 oz/ac of Axial XL on 6/29/2018.
1
Yield and test weight are adjusted to 13% seed moisture
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 10. Six-year means, barley varieties, Knees area, Chouteau county 2012-2017.
Variety
6-Year Mean
Or
Yield
Test weight
Plumps
Thins
Height
Protein
ID
(bu/ac)
(lbs/bu)
(%)
(%)
(inch)
(%)
Champion
69.8
46.8
78.1
9.1
27.9
13.2
Hockett
67.9
48.3
80.5
6.8
28.4
13.3
Haxby
68.0
47.7
86.8
5.0
28.0
13.2
Metcalfe
65.5
45.5
84.6
5.0
28.3
14.1
Mean
67.8
47.6
84.6
6.5
28.1
13.5
Conducted by MSU Western Triangle Ag. Research Center.
Table 11. Soil test values for off-station and on-station plots, 2018.
Location
N
(lbs/ac)
1
Olsen-P
(ppm)
K (ppm) pH OM (%)
EC
(mmhos/cm)
Cut Bank
19.1
13
449
7.9
2.7
0.55
Devon 5.1 21 400 6.4 1.2 0.19
Knees
23.8
19
568
7.4
3.4
0.55
Choteau 57.8 10 556 8.1 2.7 0.75
WTARC-Var
Fall
21.1 17 257 8.1 2.8 0.29
WTARC-N
Fall
15.5 30 421 7.5 2.6 0.57
WTARC
Spring
15.9 30 528 7.4 2.6 0.36
1
Nitrogen soil samples were to a depth of four feet in one foot increments. All other soil tests
were for zero to six inches in depth.
WTARC- Western Triangle Ag. Research Center