Seeding rate effect on winter malting barley yield and quality

Abstract

Growth in the craft brewing industry has increased the demand for locally sourced malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain in the Eastern United States. However, most malting barley seeding rate recommendations are from the Northern Great Plains, the Pacific Northwest, and Western Canada. Therefore, seeding rate research was needed in the humid growing environment of the Eastern United States. The objective of this research was to identify the agronomic optimum seeding rate (AOSR) where grain yield is maximized, and identify the seeding rate that met or exceeded grain quality parameters. An experiment with five seeding rate treatments ranging from 1.9 to 6.2 million seeds ha–1 was established at eight site-years in Ohio. Under normal growing conditions, the AOSR was 3.8–6.2 million seeds ha–1 (average 4.5 million seeds ha–1). When plants experienced winter injury, the AOSR was greater at 5.3–5.4 million seeds ha–1. Grain quality parameters of protein, germination, and deoxynivalenol all tended to improve with increasing seeding rate. Seeding rates of 4.5–4.7 million seeds ha–1 should maximize yield most years while meeting grain quality parameters. However, regions that experience winter temperatures <15°C without snow coverage should increase seeding rates due to increased chance of winter injury reducing plant stand.