Malting Barley Variety Trial 2016 Results
Malting Barley Variety Trial 2016 Results (PDF)
Ellen Mallory and Tom Molloy, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Twenty five varieties of two- and six-row spring malting barley were trialed at two locations in Maine in 2016 (Table 1). The trials were conducted in collaboration with 10 other institutions as part of the Eastern US Spring Malting Barley Evaluation project, organized by North Dakota State University and funded in part by the Brewers Association.
Table 1. Spring malting varieties evaluated in Old Town and Presque Isle, Maine 2016.
| Variety |
Type |
Developer |
| 2ND28065 |
2-row |
North Dakota State University |
| AAC Synergy |
2-row |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Brandon) |
| AC Metcalfe |
2-row |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Brandon) |
| Acorn |
2-row |
Ackermann (Germany) |
| Bentley |
2-row |
Field Crop Development Center (Lacombe, Alberta, Canada) |
| CDC Copeland |
2-row |
Crop Development Center (University of Saskatchewan) |
| CDC Meredith |
2-row |
Crop Development Center (University of Saskatchewan) |
| Cerveza |
2-row |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Brandon) |
| Conlon |
2-row |
North Dakota State University |
| Explorer |
2-row |
Secobra (France) |
| Innovation |
6-row |
Busch Agricultural Resources, LLC |
| KWS Beckie |
2-row |
KWS (Germany) |
| KWS Fantex |
2-row |
KWS (Germany) |
| Lacey |
6-row |
University of Minnesota |
| LCS Odyssey |
2-row |
Limagrain Cereal Seeds (United Kingdom) |
| LCS Genie |
2-row |
Limagrain Cereal Seeds (United Kingdom) |
| ND Genesis |
2-row |
North Dakota State University |
| Newdale |
2-row |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Brandon) |
| Pinnacle |
2-row |
North Dakota State University |
| Pioneer |
2-row |
Secobra (France) |
| Quest |
6-row |
University of Minnesota |
| Robust |
6-row |
University of Minnesota |
| Steffi |
2-row |
Ackermann (Germany) |
| SY Sirish |
2-row |
Syngenta |
| Tradition |
6-row |
Busch Agricultural Resources, LLC |
METHODS
The trials were conducted at the University of Maine Rogers Research Farm, in Old Town, and the Aroostook Research Farm, in Presque Isle. Agronomic practices for both locations are described in Table 2. Agronomic and basic grain quality data were collected by the University of Maine and grain samples were submitted to North Dakota State University for comprehensive grain and malt quality analysis.
Table 2. Agronomic practices in Old Town and Presque Isle, Maine in 2016.
|
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
| Previous Crop |
Fallow/fall-planted oat cover crop |
Potato |
| Soil Type |
Nicholville very fine sandy loam |
Caribou gravely loam |
| Fertility |
20 tons/acre solid dairy manure |
200 lbs/acre of 30-0-6 |
| Planting Date, Rate |
April 28, 1.25 million live seeds/acre |
May 24, 1.25 million live seeds/acre |
| Weed Control |
Tine harrow, May 17 and 21 |
MCPA Rhomene – 0.75 pt/acre, June 22 Harmony – 1 oz/acre, June 22 |
| Harvest Date |
August 3 |
August 17 |
RESULTS
Grain yield was well above the historical state average of 59 bu/acre at both sites (Table 3; National Agricultural Statistic Service). Three of the highest yielding varieties at both sites were SY Sirish, Bentley, and LCS Odyssey, while lower yielding varieties were Conlon, Pinnacle, CDC Meredith, and CDC Copeland.
Varieties that dry down quickly after reaching physiological maturity are advantageous in humid climates like Maine, especially for growers with limited or no capacity to dry grain after harvest. Grain moisture measured at time of harvest averaged 14.7% at the Old Town location and all of the varieties were within about 1% of each other (Table 3). In contrast, grain moisture at the Presque Isle location, which was harvested 10 days later, averaged 18.1% and there was a wider range among varieties. Conlon had the lowest moisture (15.4%); Robust, Innovation, and Tradition had the highest (20.7–22.5%).
Leaf diseases were moderate among varieties due to dry growing conditions with the exception of Pinnacle, which had severe foliar disease symptoms at both locations (Table 3). Pinnacle also exhibited extremely high levels of the DON mycotoxin produced by Fusarium head blight at the Presque Isle site, as did AAC Synergy, Bentley and ND Genesis, making these poor variety choices for Maine (Table 4).
Pre-harvest sprouting is another key challenge for growing malting barley in Maine. RVA, Falling number, and germination energy, all measures of sprouting damage, were within the acceptable range in Old Town, but not in Presque Isle where most varieties showed evidence of severe sprouting damage, most likely due to not drying down the high moisture grain samples quickly enough after harvest (Table 4). Many varieties showed greater tolerance to sprouting damage than Newdale, a popular variety in Maine. Grain from the Old Town site was suitable for malting; malt quality results are reported in Table 5.
Table 3. Agronomic characteristics of malting barley varieties grown in Old Town and Presque Isle in 2016.
|
Yield† (bu/acre) |
Grain Moisture
at Harvest‡
(%) |
Foliar Disease Severity
(1 – 9) §
|
Height
(in)
|
Stem Breakage
(1 – 9) §
|
Spike Density (num/ft2) |
Heading date
(days after 5/31)
|
| Variety |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
| 2ND28065 |
104 |
96 |
15.4 |
17.9 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
41 |
28 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
65 |
78.3 |
20 |
36 |
| AAC Synergy |
127 |
107 |
14.7 |
17.4 |
2.3 |
3.7 |
38 |
29 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
67 |
71.3 |
22 |
41 |
| AC Metcalfe |
93 |
91 |
14.8 |
18.3 |
4.7 |
4.7 |
38 |
30 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
59 |
66.0 |
22 |
36 |
| Acorn |
105 |
114 |
14.6 |
18.4 |
5.3 |
4.3 |
30 |
26 |
1.7 |
2.7 |
78 |
102.7 |
32 |
36 |
| Bentley |
125 |
110 |
15.0 |
17.4 |
2.3 |
4.7 |
39 |
32 |
1.0 |
1.7 |
58 |
60.7 |
22 |
36 |
| CDC Copeland |
92 |
78 |
14.8 |
17.3 |
4.3 |
5.0 |
38 |
31 |
1.3 |
2.3 |
46 |
65.3 |
29 |
48 |
| CDC Meredith |
80 |
85 |
15.1 |
18.3 |
4.7 |
3.7 |
36 |
29 |
2.0 |
2.7 |
60 |
60.3 |
32 |
48 |
| Cerveza |
122 |
101 |
14.5 |
17.0 |
3.0 |
4.7 |
37 |
27 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
65 |
81.7 |
27 |
36 |
| Conlon |
89 |
70 |
14.8 |
15.5 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
37 |
26 |
1.0 |
2.3 |
69 |
67.7 |
20 |
31 |
| Explorer |
109 |
94 |
15.1 |
18.0 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
29 |
22 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
81 |
77.3 |
29 |
36 |
| Innovation |
117 |
87 |
14.1 |
20.9 |
2.0 |
5.0 |
39 |
27 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
36 |
50.0 |
20 |
31 |
| KWS Beckie |
111 |
108 |
14.4 |
16.8 |
5.7 |
6.0 |
27 |
22 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
84 |
95.7 |
32 |
36 |
| KWS Fantex |
126 |
109 |
14.4 |
17.5 |
5.7 |
4.3 |
29 |
21 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
85 |
93.3 |
29 |
36 |
| Lacey |
116 |
89 |
14.9 |
19.0 |
2.0 |
4.3 |
41 |
29 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
35 |
41.3 |
20 |
31 |
| LCS Odyssey |
125 |
114 |
14.3 |
18.5 |
4.3 |
5.0 |
31 |
25 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
82 |
92.3 |
32 |
41 |
| LCS Genie |
108 |
110 |
14.6 |
17.5 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
30 |
26 |
1.7 |
2.7 |
83 |
83.7 |
31 |
41 |
| ND Genesis |
108 |
78 |
15.4 |
17.9 |
3.7 |
5.3 |
37 |
26 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
71 |
65.7 |
20 |
36 |
| Newdale |
115 |
105 |
14.6 |
16.7 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
35 |
27 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
77 |
76.3 |
27 |
41 |
| Pinnacle |
73 |
83 |
15.2 |
17.7 |
9.0 |
6.3 |
38 |
29 |
3.0 |
4.7 |
49 |
72.7 |
20 |
36 |
| Pioneer |
113 |
87 |
14.7 |
17.1 |
5.7 |
6.3 |
28 |
23 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
72 |
75.3 |
32 |
41 |
| Quest |
105 |
81 |
14.5 |
19.5 |
2.7 |
3.3 |
43 |
31 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
39 |
49.3 |
20 |
36 |
| Robust |
108 |
86 |
15.1 |
22.5 |
2.3 |
4.7 |
46 |
30 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
36 |
40.3 |
20 |
36 |
| Steffi |
110 |
90 |
14.5 |
16.4 |
4.7 |
5.7 |
35 |
25 |
1.3 |
2.3 |
66 |
80.7 |
22 |
36 |
| SY Sirish |
130 |
112 |
14.6 |
18.6 |
5.0 |
4.3 |
31 |
23 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
83 |
93.3 |
29 |
41 |
| Tradition |
110 |
82 |
14.3 |
20.7 |
2.7 |
4.3 |
37 |
29 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
41 |
45.3 |
20 |
36 |
| Site average |
109 |
95 |
14.7 |
18.1 |
4.2 |
4.8 |
36 |
27 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
64 |
71 |
25 |
38 |
| LSD (0.05) |
17 |
17 |
0.4 |
2.3 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
4 |
3 |
0.9 |
1.3 |
22 |
23 |
– |
– |
| CV% |
15.4 |
16.8 |
2.6 |
10.3 |
42.8 |
22.5 |
15.2 |
12.1 |
49.3 |
60.2 |
32.0 |
29.1 |
– |
– |
† Yield is reported at 13.5% moisture.
‡ Measured at time of harvest.
§ Scored visually using a scale from 1 = none to 9 = high. Disease pressure was scored on July 18 in Old Town and Aug 4 in Presque Isle. Stem breakage was scored at harvest.
Table 4. Grain quality characteristics of malting barley varieties grown in Old Town and Presque Isle in 2016.
|
Test Wt.
(lbs/bu)
|
TKW†
(g)
|
DON‡
(ppm)
|
Protein§
(%) |
Plump Kernels≠
(%) |
RVA#
(stirring
number)
|
Falling Number#
(seconds)
|
Germ. Energy¥
(%) |
| Variety |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
Old Town |
Presque Isle |
| 2ND28065 |
53 |
48 |
49 |
51 |
0.0 |
1.4 |
10.6 |
9.5 |
96 |
96 |
182 |
106 |
403 |
251 |
99 |
76 |
| AAC Synergy |
52 |
44 |
52 |
54 |
0.1 |
9.4 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
99 |
98 |
174 |
20 |
388 |
79 |
97 |
26 |
| AC Metcalfe |
52 |
47 |
46 |
50 |
0.0 |
0.9 |
10.3 |
10.4 |
93 |
95 |
176 |
7 |
393 |
60 |
99 |
25 |
| Acorn |
47 |
44 |
44 |
52 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
8.5 |
9.3 |
92 |
98 |
182 |
96 |
404 |
231 |
99 |
84 |
| Bentley |
51 |
45 |
51 |
56 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
9.9 |
10.1 |
98 |
98 |
190 |
43 |
419 |
125 |
99 |
32 |
| CDC Copeland |
48 |
45 |
47 |
48 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
9.9 |
8.9 |
93 |
93 |
192 |
25 |
424 |
90 |
98 |
57 |
| CDC Meredith |
48 |
43 |
45 |
48 |
0.0 |
2.9 |
10.3 |
9.4 |
91 |
92 |
129 |
15 |
297 |
70 |
99 |
47 |
| Cerveza |
51 |
44 |
47 |
50 |
0.0 |
3.2 |
10.5 |
9.1 |
92 |
97 |
135 |
4 |
311 |
60 |
100 |
26 |
| Conlon |
52 |
47 |
56 |
56 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
11.4 |
11.5 |
99 |
98 |
133 |
32 |
306 |
104 |
99 |
60 |
| Explorer |
49 |
43 |
54 |
54 |
0.0 |
2.4 |
9.4 |
10.1 |
95 |
95 |
142 |
49 |
323 |
138 |
99 |
61 |
| Innovation |
51 |
46 |
44 |
48 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
11.4 |
12.0 |
98 |
98 |
184 |
107 |
407 |
254 |
100 |
65 |
| KWS Beckie |
46 |
42 |
46 |
51 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
8.8 |
9.3 |
95 |
97 |
191 |
108 |
422 |
256 |
100 |
85 |
| KWS Fantex |
49 |
44 |
50 |
51 |
0.1 |
1.9 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
97 |
96 |
176 |
89 |
392 |
217 |
99 |
49 |
| Lacey |
51 |
46 |
43 |
47 |
0.0 |
1.7 |
10.5 |
10.8 |
97 |
98 |
172 |
78 |
384 |
196 |
100 |
70 |
| LCS Odyssey |
49 |
45 |
48 |
53 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
8.9 |
9.3 |
96 |
97 |
148 |
107 |
337 |
254 |
98 |
66 |
| LCC Genie |
48 |
45 |
46 |
50 |
0.3 |
2.2 |
8.3 |
9.1 |
94 |
96 |
157 |
105 |
355 |
249 |
97 |
56 |
| ND Genesis |
53 |
45 |
52 |
52 |
0.0 |
9.6 |
9.9 |
10.4 |
98 |
95 |
192 |
35 |
423 |
110 |
99 |
30 |
| Newdale |
51 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
0.0 |
1.8 |
9.8 |
9.6 |
94 |
94 |
203 |
47 |
446 |
133 |
100 |
51 |
| Pinnacle |
47 |
45 |
47 |
54 |
0.0 |
17.2 |
10.2 |
9.3 |
88 |
96 |
240 |
43 |
519 |
126 |
99 |
56 |
| Pioneer |
48 |
44 |
53 |
51 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
9.3 |
9.4 |
95 |
96 |
184 |
110 |
408 |
260 |
98 |
91 |
| Quest |
50 |
46 |
39 |
44 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
10.6 |
10.6 |
88 |
95 |
171 |
104 |
382 |
248 |
99 |
74 |
| Robust |
51 |
46 |
42 |
46 |
0.0 |
2.1 |
11.6 |
11.3 |
97 |
97 |
171 |
139 |
383 |
317 |
100 |
66 |
| Steffi |
50 |
47 |
50 |
51 |
0.0 |
2.4 |
9.3 |
10.0 |
96 |
97 |
173 |
111 |
385 |
263 |
99 |
70 |
| SY Sirish |
49 |
46 |
49 |
53 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
10.2 |
10.0 |
98 |
99 |
176 |
95 |
393 |
229 |
100 |
91 |
| Tradition |
51 |
46 |
43 |
47 |
0.0 |
1.8 |
10.8 |
11.5 |
97 |
97 |
210 |
117 |
460 |
273 |
100 |
55 |
| Site average |
50 |
45 |
48 |
51 |
0.0 |
2.9 |
9.9 |
10.0 |
95 |
96 |
175 |
72 |
391 |
184 |
99 |
59 |
| LSD (0.05) |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| CV% |
4.1 |
3.3 |
8.8 |
6.8 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
† Thousand kernel weight. ‡ Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin caused by Fusarium head blight. § Protein is reported on a dry matter basis. Acceptable range is 9.5-12.5%.
≠ Kernel plumpness is measured as the percentage of barley that remains on top of a 6/64” by 3/4” slotted sieve after shaking.
# Rapid Visco-Analyzer (RVA) and Falling number are both indicators of pre-harvest sprout damage. Samples with RVA>120 and Falling number >250 are considered sound with high probability of maintaining germination energy in storage. Values below these levels indicate sprout damage with severity increasing as values decrease.
¥ Germination energy is the percentage of kernels that germinate over 3 days under standard moisture and temperature conditions. >95% is considered acceptable.
Table 5. Malt quality results for malt made from the barley varieties grown in Old Town in 2016.
|
Friability |
Fine Grind Extract† |
Diastatic Power‡ |
Alpha-Amylase≠ |
Soluble Protein§ |
Soluble N/Total N |
Wort Color |
Wort Viscosity |
FAN# |
Beta-glucan¥ |
| Variety |
(%) |
(%) |
(°L) |
(DU) |
(%) |
(%) |
(ASBC) |
(mPa.s) |
(ppm) |
(mg/L) |
| 2ND28065 |
68.5 |
81.5 |
103.3 |
81.1 |
5.56 |
52.5 |
2.1 |
1.59 |
231 |
613 |
| AAC Synergy |
78.5 |
82.6 |
99.3 |
95.7 |
5.39 |
57.0 |
2.6 |
1.57 |
225 |
384 |
| AC Metcalfe |
70.0 |
81.4 |
131.4 |
98.2 |
5.26 |
51.1 |
2.7 |
1.51 |
217 |
397 |
| Acorn |
85.1 |
84.0 |
96.7 |
87.3 |
3.93 |
46.2 |
2.6 |
1.51 |
186 |
376 |
| Bentley |
71.8 |
81.9 |
93.7 |
84.0 |
4.88 |
49.4 |
2.6 |
1.60 |
218 |
547 |
| CDC Copeland |
78.5 |
81.0 |
105.2 |
89.7 |
5.93 |
60.2 |
3.3 |
1.49 |
241 |
248 |
| CDC Meredith |
73.3 |
80.5 |
106.0 |
87.3 |
5.62 |
54.6 |
3.5 |
1.51 |
226 |
434 |
| Cerveza |
60.7 |
82.7 |
103.2 |
87.5 |
4.86 |
46.4 |
2.5 |
1.69 |
190 |
737 |
| Conlon |
65.4 |
81.9 |
112.3 |
77.6 |
4.45 |
39.1 |
2.4 |
1.72 |
190 |
733 |
| Explorer |
83.3 |
81.4 |
97.4 |
96.2 |
4.81 |
51.4 |
2.8 |
1.47 |
221 |
260 |
| Innovation |
73.1 |
81.5 |
151.5 |
89.2 |
5.02 |
43.8 |
2.0 |
1.71 |
239 |
620 |
| KWS Beckie |
82.0 |
83.4 |
95.9 |
79.5 |
4.85 |
55.4 |
2.9 |
1.48 |
203 |
279 |
| KWS Fantex |
81.2 |
83.3 |
96.0 |
78.4 |
4.31 |
48.3 |
2.7 |
1.51 |
195 |
435 |
| Lacey |
82.1 |
81.5 |
137.0 |
69.1 |
4.78 |
45.7 |
2.0 |
1.54 |
222 |
376 |
| LCS Genie |
89.1 |
83.1 |
105.0 |
77.8 |
4.75 |
57.1 |
2.9 |
1.49 |
200 |
237 |
| LCS Odyssey |
78.5 |
82.9 |
94.5 |
85.6 |
4.89 |
54.7 |
2.8 |
1.51 |
200 |
441 |
| ND Genesis |
70.4 |
81.1 |
124.6 |
95.8 |
5.19 |
52.5 |
2.4 |
1.64 |
223 |
727 |
| Newdale |
73.8 |
81.9 |
105.1 |
90.5 |
4.71 |
48.0 |
2.7 |
1.56 |
205 |
489 |
| Pinnacle |
63.0 |
80.1 |
111.2 |
61.2 |
4.16 |
41.0 |
2.0 |
1.62 |
185 |
698 |
| Pioneer |
83.9 |
81.5 |
94.4 |
96.7 |
4.99 |
53.5 |
2.9 |
1.47 |
224 |
248 |
| Quest |
79.1 |
81.3 |
127.9 |
73.0 |
4.78 |
44.9 |
2.0 |
1.64 |
225 |
557 |
| Robust |
75.9 |
80.5 |
155.9 |
52.7 |
5.17 |
44.7 |
2.2 |
1.57 |
233 |
502 |
| Steffi |
65.3 |
81.3 |
93.6 |
74.5 |
4.55 |
44.5 |
2.5 |
1.51 |
201 |
476 |
| SY Sirish |
83.7 |
82.8 |
105.8 |
83.8 |
5.26 |
56.9 |
2.7 |
1.46 |
221 |
299 |
| Tradition |
72.4 |
81.1 |
159.7 |
65.8 |
4.84 |
44.7 |
1.9 |
1.72 |
219 |
602 |
| Site average |
75.5 |
81.8 |
112.3 |
82.3 |
4.92 |
49.7 |
2.5 |
1.56 |
214 |
469 |
† Indicator of the maximum yield of soluble components in the wort (hot water mixed with ground malt). Soluble components are primarily carbohydrates, the source of fermentable sugars, and proteins. Reported as a percentage of original malt weight on a dry matter basis. Minimum acceptable level is 80%.
‡ Indicator of the strength of all starch-degrading enzymes in the malt. Reported in “°Lintner”.
≠ Indicator of the strength of the alpha-amylase enzyme. Reported in dextrinizing units (DU). Acceptable levels for an all-malt mash is >30%.
The amount of soluble proteins in the wort expressed as a percentage of malt weight. Acceptable range is 4.5-5.5%.
# FAN = Free amino nitrogen. A measure of amino acids and small peptides available in the malt to support yeast during fermentation.
¥ The concentration of beta glucan (cell wall material) is associated with lautering issues.
Updated June 30, 2017
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