Production practices for improved grain yield and quality of soft wheats in Western Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. K. Anderson ◽  
D. Sawkins

Summary. The aim of our experiments was to determine whether the soft-grained, club-head wheats used for the Australian Soft grade (cvv. Tincurrin and Corrigin), required different management to maximise grain yield and quality than the standard-head wheats used for other grades. Two series of field experiments were conducted in the 300–500 mm rainfall zone in the southern wheatbelt of Western Australia between latitudes 32 and 34°S from 1989 to 1993. Agronomic variables examined in the experiments included sowing time, nitrogen (N) fertiliser and seed rate. Grain yield, grain protein concentration, hectolitre weight and small grain sievings (below a 2 mm slotted screen) were measured on the grain samples. It was concluded that the optimum time for sowing the soft wheats, both of which are of mid-season maturity, was May. Small grain sievings and grain proteins of the soft wheats exceeded the receival standards for the grade when sown outside this period and were more sensitive to earlier or later sowings in this regard than the other wheats. The soft wheats had smaller kernels and were more likely than other cultivars to produce grain samples with high levels of sievings associated with sowing at inappropriate times and the use of N fertiliser. They had consistently 1–1.5% lower grain protein concentrations than the other cultivars used in the experiments. Hectolitre weights seldom fell below the receival standard of 74 kg/hL for any of the grain samples. Increasing seed rate did not increase the level of sievings at all sites. Although sievings were affected by sowing time, N fertiliser and cultivar, there were large influences associated with site factors that also caused excessive sievings. Fertile sites where the crop did not respond to N fertiliser and sites where the crop was infected by leaf rust were associated with high levels of sievings. Standard-head wheats were less susceptible to dockages, but lower yielding than the club-head, soft wheats. Seed rates for the soft wheats should be chosen to maximise yield rather than to attempt to avoid price dockages at receival.

2002 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. GOODING ◽  
A. PINYOSINWAT ◽  
R. H. ELLIS

Four field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of seed rate on yield and quality of wheat. Despite some small and inconsistent effects of seed rate on radiation-use efficiency and harvest index, the responses of PAR interception, above-ground biomass and grain yield generally followed similar asymptotic increases as seed rate increased. In one experiment, when nitrogen fertilizer was withheld, biomass and grain yields did not respond to increases in seed rate despite increases in PAR interception. In one experiment, grain yield followed a parabolic response to seed rate with apparent reductions in yield at very high seed rates. Plants compensated for low population densities by increased production and survival of tillers and, to a lesser extent, increased grain numbers per ear. Net tiller production continued until the main stems flowered or later. Effects of seed rate on grain specific weight and thousand grain weight were small and inconsistent. Hagberg falling number increased linearly with seed rate in three experiments, associated with quicker maturation of the crop. Grain protein concentration declined with increase in sowing rate according to linear divided by linear or linear plus exponential models depending on whether the grain yield response was asymptotic or parabolic. Discolouration of the grain with blackpoint increased with seed rate in the most susceptible cultivar, namely Hereward. The economic consequences of these effects on yield and quality are discussed.


1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dill-Macky ◽  
RG Rees ◽  
GJ Platz

The effects of inoculum pressure on the development of epidemics of Puccinia graminis tritici in two barley cultivars with different levels of resistance were examined in two field experiments. Treatments were established by inoculation of foci within plots and/or the strategic use of fungicides. Additional 'rust-free' treatments were maintained to provide comparisons of grain yield and quality. Relationships between rust severity, rust incidence and grain yield and quality were also examined. Initial inoculum levels were important in determining disease severity and incidence for individual epidemics; however, severe epidemics developed under most 'rusted' treatments of the susceptible cultivar Galleon and reduced grain yield by up to 58%. Epidemics under corresponding treatments of the moderately resistant cultivar Grimmett were less severe, and the value of the resistance was evident with yield losses not exceeding 12%. Yield reductions were usually associated with reduced grain size and weight.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1177
Author(s):  
Yuncai Hu ◽  
Gero Barmeier ◽  
Urs Schmidhalter

Cultivation of malting barley is particularly challenging as the requirements of growers, for high yield, and that of the brewing industry, seeking a specific quality criteria, must be met simultaneously. Furthermore, significant genotypic and environmental variations in grain yield and quality properties may occur. To investigate the relationships between grain yield and quality parameters of spring malting barley, a 2-year experiment was carried out in order to characterise the genotypic and year effects on grain yield, quality properties, and yield components of 23 high-yielding varieties of spring malting barley under optimal nitrogen (N) fertilisation. Compared to the grain quality properties of the grain protein content and the grain retention fraction of grain size >2.5 mm, less genotypic and environmental variation in grain yield was observed. Grain yield was closely related to spikes per m2, suggesting the importance of tiller formation and establishment as a decisive factor influencing malting barley yields. A major interactive effect of genotypes and year on grain size was observed. Regarding weather effects, the global radiation intensity during the post-anthesis phase was the major factor affecting the final grain size in this study. Grain protein content was primarily dependent on the year effect, suggesting that optimal N fertilisation levels must vary between years to ensure the correct protein content required for the needs of the brewing industry is met. Therefore, we recommend further development strategies addressing N fertilisation and soil N mineralisation to optimise the production of spring malting barley.


1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
WK Anderson ◽  
GB Crosbie ◽  
K Lemsom

Field experiments were conducted at 18 sites over 4 years in the eastern and north-eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia where average annual rainfall is <400mm, to investigate suitable techniques for the production of high protein (>13%) wheat in an area that traditionally produces grain of a much lower average protein percentage. Wilgoyne yielded as well as, or better than, any of the cultivars accepted into the Special Hard (SH) grade in Western Australia but 5-10% less than cultivars suitable for the Australian Standard White (ASW) grade. Differences between cultivars were greatest at the optimum sowing time in late May. Lower yields in early May were attributed to water stress during early growth or to frost damage during grain filling. The addition of nitrogen (N) fertiliser to crops sown after 1 June was less effective in increasing grain yield and grain protein than N added to earlier sowings. Most crops that produced >13% protein followed medic or field peas. The addition of N fertiliser was seldom required to produce this concentration of protein in crops that followed medic or peas. Crops following pasture with a low legume content or wheat had lower grain protein concentrations. Friable red-brown earth soils in a medic or pea rotation were able to achieve the required grain protein, but other combinations were not extensively tested. From these experiments, cultivars with inherently small grains due to their propensity to produce high levels of small grain screenings (whole grain through a 2-mm, slotted sieve) may be less able to increase yields economically by increasing kernel numbers per unit area under conditions in Western Australia.


2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 585 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Del Cima ◽  
M. F. D'Antuono ◽  
W. K. Anderson

Seventeen experiments were conducted in 1996, 1997 and 1998 in the central and northern wheatbelt of Western Australia, covering a range of soil types, seasonal rainfall, cultivars and sowing times. The objective of the experiments was to investigate how these factors affect the range of optimum seed rates derived from seeding rate experiments and, thus, to improve advice to farmers. Our results suggest that soil type and seasonal rainfall were the major factors influencing the differences in optimum seed rate. Regression tree methods were used to show that experiments in clay loam soils had higher optimum seed rates (52–76 kg/ha, depending on the cultivars used). In sandier soils, the optimum seed rate was lower (35–60 kg/ha, depending on cultivar and sowing time) but higher (67�kg/ha) at higher seasonal rainfall (>450 mm). We found some cultivars were grouped into consistent response patterns. Sowing time also influenced optimum seed rate; later sowing required higher seed rates, to maximise grain yield. A positive correlation was not observed between grain yield and optimum seed rate, possibly due to the narrow range of yields recorded in the experiments. Our data showed that the percentage of establishment fell off rapidly at higher seed rates. This implies that lower establishment percentages should be used when calculating the seed rates required to produce high plant populations in the field.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. McLean ◽  
Grant J. Hollaway

Net form of net blotch (NFNB), caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres, is a major foliar disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) worldwide that can cause grain yield and quality loss in susceptible varieties. Seed- and foliar-applied fungicides were evaluated in six field experiments infected with NFNB during 5 years, for suppression of NFNB severity and protection of grain yield and quality. Suppression of NFNB severity varied between treatments and experiments. Grain yield and quality improvements were recorded in two experiments. Foliar fungicide applications at stem elongation (Zadoks growth stage Z31) and flag leaf emergence (Z39) or ear emergence (Z55) significantly reduced NFNB severity, increased grain yield by up to 23%, and improved grain-quality measurements of retention, screenings and weight. The seed-applied fungicide fluxapyroxad provided significant reductions in NFNB severity, improvements in grain yield of up to 20%, and improved grain quality. Where NFNB was severe, none of the seed or foliar fungicide application strategies provided complete control of NFNB, indicating that more than two applications were necessary when conditions were favourable for disease development in susceptible varieties.


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