Recipient Organization
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
1680 MADISON AVENUE
WOOSTER,OH 44691
Performing Department
Horticulture and Crop Science
Non Technical Summary
Currently, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is predominately produced in the U.S. Northwest and Northern Rockies and Plains (USDA-NASS, 2018). However, there is increasing interest in malting barley production in Ohio, driven by growth in the craft brewery industry because many craft brewers prefer to source local ingredients (Hmielowski, 2017). Sixty-four percent of the peer-reviewed literature on agronomic production of malting barley involved studies conducted in the Northwest and Northern Rockies and Plains (Shrestha and Lindsey, 2019), which has a much different growing environment than Ohio. Currently, there are very few research-based agronomic recommendations for winter malting barley growers in the eastern U.S.A major limitation to successfully growing winter malting barley in Ohio is winterkill. In winter malting barley trials conducted during the 2017-2018 growing season, grain yield and quality was high throughout the state. However, during the following growing season, winter malting barley winterkill was extremely high due to wet weather, late planting, and polar vortex temperatures with no snow cover. An estimated 50% of commercial malting barley acres were destroyed due to poor stand. Barley survival was improved in areas with snow cover or that were protected (e.g., along a tree line). Barley planted at a high seeding rate also experienced less winterkill.Another limitation of malting barley production is identifying N application rate to maximize grain yield and quality. Nitrogen fertilizer application rate is the most influential agronomic factor, controlling both grain yield and quality of malting barley (Reisenauer and Dickson, 1961; Zubriski et al., 1970; Varvel and Severson, 1987; McKenzie et al., 2005; Sainju et al., 2013). Grain yield increases with N application rate (Lauer and Partridge, 1990). However, grain protein concentration increases and kernel plumpness decreases with N fertilizer application (Zubriski et al., 1970; Pomeranz et al., 1976; Weston et al., 1993; Sainju et al., 2013). Barley grain protein increases with increasing N application rate because barley plants continue to use available N even after yield requirements are met (Batchelder, 1952; Reisenauer and Dickson, 1961; Jackson et al., 1962; Zubriski et al., 1970; Pomeranz et al., 1976; McGuire et al., 1979; Weston et al., 1993; Castro et al., 2008; Sainju et al., 2013). In addition to N application rate, N application timing also influences grain protein concentration, with later applications increasing protein (Christensen and Killorn, 1981).This Hatch Project involves two experiments aimed at improving winterhardiness of malting barley and identifying N application rates to increase yield and maintain grain quality. These experiments will be conducted over several years and locations within Ohio. As a result of these experiments, an extension bulletin will be revised to help farmers overcome limitations of winter malting barley production in Ohio.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this Hatch Project is to develop agronomic recommendations for winter malting barley produced in Ohio. The objectives of this project are to: 1) identify management practices that improve winter malting barley survival, 2) identify N fertilizer application rate and timing to maximize grain yield and quality, 3) disseminate results to barley growers and industry by developing a Malting Barley Production Guide.
Project Methods
Objective 1: Identify management practices that improve winter malting barley survival. A two-year study will be established at the Northwest Agricultural Research Station (NWARS) near Custar, OH, the Western Agricultural Research Station (WARS) near South Charleston, OH, and on-farm near Marysville, OH. Each trial will be a randomized complete block design with four replications of treatments. Treatments will include:Control- Malting barley planted at the normal seeding rate of 1.5 million seeds/acreIncreased seeding rate- Malting barley planted at a higher than normal seeding rate of 2.5 million seeds/acreControl + crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) seeded early- Malting barley planted at 1.5 million seeds/acre plus crimson clover at 10 lb/acre Control + oat (Avena sativa L.) seeded early- Malting barley planted at 1.5 million seeds/acre plus oats at 32 lb/acreControl + radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeded early- Malting barley planted at 1.5 million seeds/acre plus radish at 5 lb/acreControl + crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) seeded late- Malting barley planted at 1.5 million seeds/acre plus crimson clover at 10 lb/acre Control + oat (Avena sativa L.) seeded late- Malting barley planted at 1.5 million seeds/acre plus oats at 32 lb/acreControl + radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeded late- Malting barley planted at 1.5 million seeds/acre plus radish at 5 lb/acreIn the "early seeded" treatment, cover crops will be aerially seeded just prior to soybean harvest. In the "late seeded" treatment, cover crop seed will be mixed with barley seed and planted concurrently.The malting barley cultivar 'Puffin' will be used in trials to be representative of the industry standard. Winter malting barley will be planted using a custom-made planter equipped with a Great Plains 20 series row unit equipped with Singulator-PlusTM precision seed meters and high-rate seed discs (Great Plains, Salina, KS). Plots will be 4.3 ft wide consisting of seven rows spaced 7.5-inches apart. Plot length will vary by field size, but will be a minimum of 20 ft. Winter malting barley will be planted after soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] harvest as soon as possible after the county Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor)-safe date. All seed will be treated with a fungicide and insecticide. Foliar fungicide and insecticide will be applied as needed.In the fall, biomass, stand, and canopy cover will be evaluated. Above ground biomass will be collected from two 2.5 ft2 sections from each plot. Barley and cover crops will be separated, dried at 140°F for 72 hr, and weighed. Stand will be evaluated by counting the number of barley stems (main stem + tillers) and cover crop plants from three 1 ft linear section of each plot. Fractional green canopy cover will be calculated using the mobile device application, Canopeo (Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK). In the spring at Feekes 5 growth stage (leaf sheaths strongly erect), biomass, stand, and canopy cover will be evaluated using the methods previously outlined. In addition to barley and cover crop biomass, weed biomass will be measured. At Feekes 10.5 (flowering), Fusarium head blight incidence (mean proportion of diseased spikes) and severity (mean proportion of diseased spikelets) will be measured at Feekes 11.2 growth stage (soft dough). A group of 20 spikes will be arbitrarily selected at five locations/plot for a total of 100 spikes rated/plot (Engle et al., 2000).Plots will be harvested with a Wintersteiger plot combine equipped with a Harvest Master Classic GrainGageTM. Barley grain samples will be collected for quality analysis, including test weight, protein, moisture, pre-harvest sprout, DON, germination, and plumpness. Test weight, protein, and moisture will be measured by near infrared transmittance technology using a Foss NIR whole grain analyzer. Pre-harvest sprout will be quantified by visually inspecting 100 seeds from each plot for an emerged radicle (Bhatt et al., 1981). Deoxynivalenol will be measured using a Reveal Q+ for DON quick strip test kit according to methods in Vander Fels-Klerx and De Riik (2014). Germination will be measured according to methods outlined by the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC, 2011). Plumpness will be measured as number of kernels retained on a 6/64 screen and passing through a 5/64 screen using a Sortimat.Proc Mixed in SAS will be used to test treatment effects. Cover crop treatment will be treated as a fixed effect. Site-year, replication, and site-year x replication will be treated as random effects. Means will be separated using Fisher's Protected LSD at α = 0.05.Objective 2: Identify N fertilizer application rate and timing to maximize grain yield and quality. Objective 2 will be evaluated in a two-year study conducted at three locations NWARS, WARS, and on-farm in Marysville, OH. The study will be a randomized complete block design with four replications of treatments. Treatments will include:Control- No N fertilizer applicationFall N- Fall N application of 20 lb/acreSpring N (Feekes 5)- 40 lb N/acreSpring N (Feekes 5)- 80 lb N/acreSpring N (Feekes 5)- 120 lb N/acreFall N + Spring N (Feekes 5)- 40 lb N/acreFall N + Spring N (Feekes 5)- 80 lb N/acreFall N + Spring N (Feekes 5)- 120 lb N/acreFall N + Spring N (Feekes 7)- 40 lb N/acreFall N + Spring N (Feekes 7)- 80 lb N/acreFall N + Spring N (Feekes 7)- 120 lb N/acreThe malting barley cultivar 'Puffin' will be used in trials to be representative of the industry standard. Winter malting barley will be planted using a custom-made planter equipped with a Great Plains 20 series row unit equipped with Singulator-PlusTM precision seed meters and high-rate seed discs. Plots will be 4.3 ft wide consisting of seven rows spaced 7.5-inches apart. Plot length will vary by field size, but will be a minimum of 20 ft. Barley will be planted after soybean harvest as soon as possible after the county Hessian fly-safe date at a seeding rate of 2.0 million seeds/acre. All seed will be treated with a fungicide and insecticide. Foliar fungicide and insecticide will be applied as needed. Nitrogen fertilizer treatments will be topdressed by hand as urea.In the fall, stand and canopy cover will be evaluated according to the methods outlined in Objective 1. Just prior to N application at Feekes 5 and Feekes 7 growth stage, a handheld GreenSeeker sensor will be used to measure normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI). At Feekes 9 growth stage (ligule of flag leaf visible), approximately 50 flag leaves/plot will be collected, dried at 140°F, and measured for total N concentration according to the Dumas method (Bremner, 1996). Additionally, a chlorophyll meter will be used to assess the N content of flag leaves.Plots will be harvested with a Wintersteiger plot combine. Barley grain samples will be collected for quality analysis, including test weight, protein, moisture, DON, germination, and plumpness according to the methods listed above.Proc Mixed in SAS will be used to test treatment effects. Nitrogen treatments will be treated as a fixed effect. Site-year, replication, and site-year x replication will be treated as random effects. Means will be separated using Fisher's Protected LSD at α = 0.05. Additionally, regression analysis will be used (likely quadratic) to determine the agronomic optimum nitrogen rate (AOSR) or seeding rate where grain yield was greatest.Objective 3: Disseminate results to barley growers and industry by developing a Malting Barley Production Guide. At the completion of the field studies, data will be analyzed and compiled in a Malting Barley Production Guide to be used by barley growers and industry. The production guide will be available free online at www.stepupsoy.osu.edu. Hard copies of the guide will be distributed at field days and winter extension meetings.