Performance of some new malting barley varieties – Spring Ridge and Gurley 2012

Abstract

Key findings • Skipper[PBR] and IGB1101 performed well at Gurley in a tough finish to the season and may provide options for a quick maturing malt variety in the future. • Despite yielding well at Spring Ridge, Grange[PBR] was the lowest yielding variety at Gurley, while the variety appears to produce higher screening and lower retention levels than other varieties under high starting N conditions and a hot dry finish to the season. • Bass[PBR] and Wimmera[PBR] were the most protein responsive varieties to applied N producing 2.0% and 2.5% higher protein levels than Commander[PBR], respectively, which achieved the lowest protein levels of the varieties examined. • All new varieties provided a straw strength advantage over Commander[PBR] and Buloke[PBR] under high lodging risk conditions (high plant populations, large residual soil N and large crop canopies) at Spring Ridge.