Malting Barley Variety Trial 2017 Results

Malting Barley Variety Trial 2017 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 2017 (Table 1).  The trials were conducted in collaboration with 9 other institutions as part of the Eastern Spring Barley Nursery project (ESBN), organized by North Dakota State University and funded in part by the Brewers Association.  Results from the Maine sites are reported here. For a report summarizing results from all of the states, click HERE.

Table 1. Spring malting varieties evaluated in Old Town and Presque Isle, Maine in 2016.
Variety Type Developer
AAC Synergy 2-row Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Brandon)
Acorn 2-row Ackermann (Germany)
Bettina 2-row Secobra (France)
Conlon 2-row North Dakota State University
Esma 2-row Ackermann (Germany)
Explorer 2-row Secobra (France)
KWS Beckie 2-row KWS (Germany)
KWS Fantex 2-row KWS (Germany)
KWS Josie 2-row KWS (Germany)
KWS Tinka 2-row KWS (Germany)
LCS Genie 2-row Limagrain Cereal Seeds
LCS Odyssey 2-row Limagrain Cereal Seeds
Manta 2-row Ackermann (Germany)
ND Genesis 2-row North Dakota State University
Newdale 2-row Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Brandon)
Pinnacle 2-row North Dakota State University
Quest 6-row University of Minnesota
Sangria 2-row Ackermann (Germany)
SY Sirish 2-row Syngenta
Tradition 6-row Busch Agricultural Resources, LLC
2ND28065 2-row North Dakota State University experimental line
2ND33710 2-row North Dakota State University experimental line
2ND33757 2-row North Dakota State University experimental line
2ND33760 2-row North Dakota State University experimental line
2ND33821 2-row North Dakota State University experimental line

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 2017.
Old Town Presque Isle
Previous Crop Pea cover crop Potato
Soil Type Nicholville very fine sandy loam Caribou gravely loam
Fertility 20 tons/acre solid dairy manure (approx. 60 lb available N per acre) 200 lb/acre of 32-0-0 topdressed on July 11
Planting Date, Rate April 30, 1.3 million live seeds/acre June 6 at 1.3 million live seeds/acre
Weed Control Tine harrow, May 25 MCPA Rhomene – 0.75 pt/acre & Harmony – 1 oz/acre, July 14
Harvest Date August 3 September 15

RESULTS

Yields were lower in 2017 than in the previous two years of the Maine EBSN trials. Site averages were 75 bu/acre in Old Town and 67 bu/acre in Presque Isle (Table 3), as compared with 109 and 95 bu/acre in 2016, respectively.  Wet weather during emergence in Old Town and delayed planting in Presque Isle contributed to lower yields.  The highest yielding varieties at both locations were KWS Tinka, Esma, AAC Synergy, and Explorer, while the lowest yielding variety was Pinnacle, which experienced early and severe foliar disease pressure.

Grain moisture at the Old Town location (Table 3) averaged 14.1% and was uniform across varieties with the exception of 2ND33821 which was at 19.3%.  Foliar diseases were moderate at both locations with the exception of Pinnacle.

Grain quality data is summarized in Table 4. Of note:

  • DON levels were low for all varieties at both sites this year.
  • Sprout damage, as measured using RVA, was minimal with only three varieties, LCS Odyssey, KWS Tinka and AAC Synergy showing moderate sprout damage.
  • Germination energy (GE) was high at the Old Town location, averaging 97%, but a few varieties still had GEs below the 95% optimal level. In contrast, in Presque Isle site, where average GE was 87%, many varieties had good GEs. Newdale performed poorly at this site.
  • Protein levels in Old Town were low, averaging 8.3%, and have been consistently low in prior years. AT this site, manure is applied at a rate to supply approximated 60 pounds of available N per acre. In the future, we plan to either increase the manure rate or topdress additional N.

Malt quality results are forthcoming.

Table 3. Agronomic characteristics of malting barley varieties grown in Old Town and Presque Isle in 2017.
Yield† (bu/acre)
 Grain Moisture at Harvest‡ (%)
 Foliar Disease Severity (1 – 9) §
 Height (in)
 Stem Breakage (1 – 9) §
 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≠
AAC Synergy 89 74 14.1 – 1.7 3.3 31.2 – 1.0 1.3 29 –
Acorn 83 67 13.8 – 2.0 1.7 26.3 – 1.7 1.0 27 –
Bettina 70 60 14.2 – 2.7 3.0 24.9 – 1.3 1.0 27 –
Conlon 76 58 13.6 – 2.0 2.3 30.4 – 2.7 2.0 23 –
Esma 92 81 13.6 – 2.0 2.7 23.5 – 2.0 1.3 27 –
Explorer 87 79 13.4 – 2.0 2.3 24.1 – 2.3 1.0 24 –
KWS Beckie 76 56 13.7 – 3.0 4.3 22.5 – 1.7 1.0 27 –
KWS Fantex 83 73 13.7 – 2.3 2.0 23.2 – 1.3 1.0 30 –
KWS Josie 81 58 14.4 – 2.7 4.0 23.5 – 1.3 1.0 29 –
KWS Tinka 98 75 14.2 – 1.7 3.0 26.9 – 1.7 1.0 27 –
LCS Genie 60 59 14.6 – 4.0 4.7 25.4 – 1.0 1.0 27 –
LCS Odyssey 65 68 13.8 – 3.3 3.7 26.0 – 1.3 1.0 27 –
Manta 80 68 14.5 – 2.7 2.7 25.9 – 2.7 1.3 25 –
ND Genesis 78 79 14.3 – 2.7 3.7 31.5 – 1.0 1.0 22 –
Newdale 75 65 13.7 – 2.0 2.7 27.7 – 1.0 1.0 27 –
Pinnacle 25 40 14.2 – 9.0 9.0 28.5 – 5.0 5.0 25 –
Quest 81 75 13.1 – 1.7 2.3 34.8 – 1.0 1.3 26 –
Sangria 80 59 14.0 – 2.7 2.0 24.7 – 1.3 1.0 29 –
SY Sirish 56 63 13.6 – 3.0 2.0 23.2 – 2.7 1.0 29 –
Tradition 75 75 13.5 – 3.3 4.0 31.6 – 1.0 1.0 25 –
2ND28065 69 73 14.3 – 2.7 2.7 32.4 – 2.3 1.3 26 –
2ND33710 70 66 14.0 – 2.0 1.0 32.1 – 2.0 1.0 24 –
2ND33757 67 64 13.7 – 3.4 3.0 32.4 – 2.7 1.0 23 –
2ND33760 81 74 13.3 – 2.7 3.7 34.0 – 2.3 1.0 26 –
2ND33821 77 60 19.3 – 1.3 1.0 34.2 – 1.0 1.0 26 –
Site average 75 67 14.1 – 2.7 3.1 28.0 – 1.8 1.3 26 –
LSD (0.05) 11.1 11.1 0.9 – 1.3 1.2 2.0 – 1.0 0.2 — –
CV% 20.2 17.1 9.08 – 58 54.2 14.7 – 57.8 67.9 — –

† 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 June 26 in Old Town and Aug 8 in Presque Isle. Stem breakage was scored at harvest.
≠ Data not collected at this location

Table 4. Grain quality characteristics of malting barley varieties grown in Old Town and Presque Isle in 2017.
Test Wt. (lbs/bu)
 TKW† (g)
 DON‡ (ppm)
 Protein§ (%)
 Plump Kernels≠ (%) RVA# (stirring number)
 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
AAC Synergy 50 49 41 44 0.0 — 7.9 — 97 — 117 99 73
Acorn 47 48 41 39 0.0 — 7.8 — 95 — 134 — 97 94
Bettina 49 48 45 41 0.0 — 7.6 — 95 — 136 — 97 85
Conlon 52 49 47 45 0.0 — 9.8 — 98 — 164 — 99 85
Esma 50 49 46 45 0.0 — 7.4 — 96 — 190 — 97 88
Explorer 49 48 47 44 0.0 — 7.5 — 97 — 140 — 99 94
KWS Beckie 45 46 38 38 0.0 — 7.6 — 92 — 134 — 98 83
KWS Fantex 48 48 40 41 0.1 — 7.6 — 92 — 164 — 98 83
KWS Josie 48 48 42 40 0.0 — 8.2 — 93 — 148 — 99 92
KWS Tinka 49 48 48 46 0.0 — 7.9 — 95 — 112 — 96 79
LCS Genie 50 49 42 39 0.1 — 9.2 — 95 — 183 — 94 86
LCS Odyssey 46 49 38 42 0.0 — 8.1 — 90 — 106 — 94 95
Manta 50 49 40 41 0.0 — 7.5 — 89 — 163 — 98 86
ND Genesis 51 48 46 43 0.0 — 8.5 — 96 — 154 — 97 83
Newdale 50 48 41 41 0.0 — 7.6 — 87 — 182 — 99 69
Pinnacle 46 47 37 40 0.0 — 9.8 — 69 — 207 — 98 92
Quest 50 49 37 37 0.0 — 9.7 — 89 — 190 — 99 95
Sangria 50 49 40 44 0.0 — 7.7 — 90 — 142 — 98 89
SY Sirish 47 49 37 41 0.0 — 7.8 — 92 — 173 — 98 91
Tradition 50 49 39 41 0.0 — 9.3 — 94 — 194 — 98 94
2ND28065 52 49 41 43 0.0 — 8.9 — 93 — 170 — 99 91
2ND33710 51 49 44 43 0.0 — 8.7 — 94 — 180 — 99 91
2ND33757 51 49 42 44 0.0 — 8.9 — 89 — 170 — 99 83
2ND33760 52 49 45 47 0.0 — 8.2 — 94 — 170 — 99 82
2ND33821 49 48 48 48 0.0 — 8.6 — 98 — 149 — 78 85
Site average 49 48 41 42 0.0 — 8.3 — 92 — 159 — 97 87
LSD (0.05) 1.3 1.7 2.4 3.5 — — — — — — — — 2.9 8.1
CV% 4.1 2.5 9.1 8.2 — — — — — — — — 3.9 8.9

† 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) indicator pre-harvest sprout damage. Samples with RVA>120 are considered sound with high probability of maintaining germination energy in storage.  Values below this level indicate sprout damage with severity increasing as values decrease.
¥ Germination energy is the percentage of kernels that germinate over 3 days under controlled moisture and temperature conditions. >95% is considered acceptable.

Updated June 30, 2017

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