Barley response to seed placement and herbicide timing

A field experiment was conducted at Lacombe and Beaverlodge, AB, and Melfort, SK, in 1999 and 2000 to evaluate the effect of seed placement and herbicide application timing on productivity of a general purpose (AC Lacombe) and hull-less (Falcon) barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars. Barley plant density was often less and dockage greater when seed was spread in a 20-cm band with 28-cm sweeps spaced 23 cm apart compared to seeding in distinct rows with hoe openers spaced 23 or 30 cm apart. Method of seed placement had little effect on barley grain yield or yield was significantly lower with the sweep compared to the distinct rows. Herbicide application timing effects were variable for barley grain yield. Grain yield was often greater and dockage less when herbicides were applied at the one- to two- or three- to four-leaf stage of barley compared to the five- to six-leaf stage. Method of seed placement did not influence barley responses to time of herbicide application with either cultivar. Barley silage yield was mainly higher with the distinct 23-cm row spacing than with the other seed placement methods. Herbicide application timing did not affect silage yield. Key words: Hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), row spacing, seed-bed utilization, silage, sweep, hoe openers