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Nitrogen research to boost malt barley


Western Australia
September 19, 2014

Barley growers sowing two new malting varieties aimed at the premium malting market will have to consider their nitrogen applications carefully, new research by the Department of Agriculture and Food has shown.

While it is generally accepted that there is an inverse relationship between barley yield and grain protein concentration, department investigations have shown that Bass and Commander barley deviate from the mean. (See Figure 1.)

Department research officer Raj Malik (pictured above) said the results suggested there was a significant difference in grain protein concentrations between these two new varieties, after eliminating the influence of yield.

“For any given yield level, Commander is expected to achieve a lower grain protein concentration, while Bass has a higher grain protein concentration compared with current commercial malting varieties,” Dr Malik said.

“The grain protein difference between Commander and Bass was about one per cent.”

The research, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, analysed the grain protein responses from Crop Variety Trials, National Variety Trials and DAFWA Barley Agronomy trials conducted between 2006 to 2013.

Dr Malik said the discovery would have significant management implications for growers – particularly for nitrogen fertiliser applications.

“Western Australian malt barley receival standards require a grain protein concentration between 9.5 and 12.5 per cent for delivery as Malt1,” he said.

“Our research is looking at the practical implications of these varieties’ deviation from the mean so growers can tailor their nitrogen program to target the required protein levels.”

The department has sown agronomy trials at York, Katanning and Kojonup this year, where the nitrogen rate varied between 0 to 120 kilograms per hectare, either as a single rate or evenly split at three different timings – seeding, mid-tillering and at stem elongation.

“While our focus is on the influence on grain protein, we are also measuring the impact of these nitrogen applications on grain yield, other grain receival traits and on the risk of lodging,” Dr Malik said.

“This research will enable the department to improve our nitrogen fertiliser recommendations for Bass and Commander barley growers to achieve malting requirements.

“It could mean later applications for Commander at stem elongation so there is more nitrogen available for the grain, while growers might put more of their nitrogen on up-front for Bass so there is less residual nitrogen available for the grain.”

The research will also examine if the differences in grain protein accumulation apparent when there is sufficient nitrogen applied, like in NVT trials, is also apparent when lower levels of nitrogen are applied.

“It is important that we understand this response to ensure any fertiliser recommendations for normal production systems do not result in inadequate grain protein levels in systems where less nitrogen fertiliser is applied,” Dr Malik said.

“Our ultimate research objective is to optimise nitrogen management of these new varieties to get their protein levels right into Malt1 grade without sacrificing grain yield, grain plumpness or affecting lodging.”

Growers can view trials designed to test grain protein responses to different nitrogen rates and timings at field days at the Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute (GSARI) on 9 October and the Southern DIRT agronomy day on 17 October.

Watch local media for details about upcoming field days profiling field trials.



More solutions from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


Website: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

Published: September 19, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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