SARDI Crop Performance Report 2014 Funded by Glencore Grain Compass provides new direction in 2013 barley trials By Rob Wheeler, Leader, New Variety Agronomy, SARDI For the first time since its protein declined marginally from 11.6 percent in 2012 commercial release, the new to 11.2 percent in 2013. Average test weights were potential malt barley Compass, down, from 70.7 to 67.8 kg/hl, screenings declined surpassed all others for grain yield from 4.0 percent to 3.4 percent and retentions in 2013 barley trials across SA. improved, from 73.1 to 75.7 percent in 2013. Compass produced the highest Early to midseason flowering varieties were average yield of 4.2 t/ha among generally those most favoured by the dry spring 29 released varieties tested at 20, Rob Wheeler conditions in 2013 with the new release from the SARDI managed, NVT sites across University of Adelaide Barley Breeding program, South Australia. The trials, funded Compass, leading when averaged across all sites. by GRDC, also tested a further 10 advanced lines from barley Compass led LaTrobe, a new release from the WA breeding programs operating throughout Australia. based Intergrain Breeding program by 2 percent, with both having a significant yield advantage over Timely opening rains in most districts, resulted in Hindmarsh, Fathom and Skipper which ranged the 2013 trials being sown during the period May from 5 to 7 percent below Compass respectively. 10th to June 9th, with the majority sown in the Midseason flowering Commander and Fleet and second half of May. Seeding was followed with above a group of later flowering and maturing varieties average winter rainfall and warm temperatures comprising Bass, GrangeR and Oxford averaged leading to rapid crop development. However, 9 to 10 percent below Compass with Buloke and conditions deteriorated later in the season and Scope well below, at 14 and 17 percent respectively. spring was very warm and dry in most districts. Compass and Latrobe formed the leading two varieties Overall the warm and wet conditions over winter within most cropping regions except for the South were favourable for development of both spot East where, not surprisingly, they were marginally and net forms of net blotch which were the most prevalent diseases seen in barley trials in 2013. Low out-yielded by the later maturing varieties, Navigator incidences of leaf rust and rhizoctonia were also seen and Oxford. Although now an older variety, Keel also and black point was noted in grain from Arthurton featured in the top list within Central Eyre Peninsula and Cummins. Several trials were sprayed to control and Murray Mallee sites. There its very early maturity net blotch and leaf rust, preventing significant was an advantage under very dry spring conditions. damage. This management strategy was introduced in 2012, and all sites have been additionally treated However the leading variety, Compass, which with fertilizer amended fungicides since 2012. has now been tested for two seasons in SA NVT, produced consistent and very high yields in all Following the success of 2012, it was another districts. With the final outcome of malting and very good year for the barley NVT program with brewing accreditation of Compass expected in early good results from all sites except at Wharminda 2016, it offers an agronomic package similar to where storm damage caused excessive head loss Commander albeit with much improved yield and and the abandonment of the trial. The remaining disease resistance. Compass has good resistance to 19 trials recorded an average yield of 3.7 t/ CCN, net form net blotch, powdery mildew and root ha, well above the 3.23 t/ha produced in 2012, lesion nematode. It produces very plump grain with with site average yields ranging from 1.42 t/ good retention and low screenings but moderate test ha at Lameroo to 5.63 t/ha at Bordertown. weight like Commander and susceptibility to black While barley trial grain yields in 2013 improved point like Buloke and Schooner. Irrespective of its relative to 2012, all aspects of grain receival quality final malt status, Compass will be a very profitable were generally similar. Across all trials, average grain variety for most districts in southern Australia. 62 BARLEY SARDI Crop Performance Report 2014 Funded by Glencore Grain The second ranked variety, LaTrobe is also awaiting and overall, could be considered an alternative final malt status due in early 2015 and has now been to established feed varieties in most districts. widely evaluated across three years in SA NVT. Latrobe is derived from Hindmarsh showing similar Ranking just behind Fathom across all trials in 2013 wide adaptation and like Hindmarsh, is less suited was Skipper, another new potential malt variety to the sandy Mallee soils. LaTrobe performed well awaiting accreditation due in early 2015. Skipper out- across all regions except the Mallee in 2013 and in long yielded Commander in all regions in 2013 and data term results shows yields generally similar or slightly from NVT in SA since 2009 has shown Skipper to higher than Hindmarsh in most areas. LaTrobe has a yield similarly to Commander and would be a useful similar disease resistance profile to Hindmarsh but alternative in lower rainfall environments. Skipper is more resistant to root lesion nematode but more has good resistance to both forms of net blotch, susceptible to leaf rust. LaTrobe has a short coleoptile, powdery mildew and CCN but is highly susceptible like Hindmarsh, and grain generally has good test to some strains of leaf rust and is susceptible to leaf weight but moderate plumpness and screenings. scald. It has very plump grain with improved test weight, retention and protein relative to Commander. Hindmarsh, the most widely grown commercial variety in SA, was third ranked in 2013 NVT and performed Two widely grown varieties in SA, Fleet and well throughout Mid North and Yorke Peninsula trials. Commander produced moderate yields in 2013 Hindmarsh has established itself as a widely adapted, trials when compared to the leading varieties. Fleet high yielding variety, suitable for most districts, continues to lead Commander in the drier Mallee and although its short height and slow early vigour may Central Eyre Peninsula environments and elsewhere preclude it from drier areas such as the Mallee and yields were similar with Commander leading in Lower Central and Upper Eyre Peninsula. Hindmarsh has a Eyre Peninsula. Fleet has early to mid season maturity, food grade classification that may attract a premium performs well across a range of soils including light over feed and as such Hindmarsh will be one of sandy soils and has an excellent spectrum of foliar the most profitable options for most districts. and root disease resistances although now shows high susceptibility to net form net blotch. Fleet Growers are reminded that Hindmarsh has a remains a good option for districts not at risk of short coleoptile and its establishment and yield net form net blotch, and across several years of can be compromised by deep sowing, fungicide NVT, has produced moderate test weights and low amended seed treatments and pre-emergent screenings. Fleet is also suitable for stubble situations herbicides that affect coleoptile length. and deeper sowing, by virtue of its long coleoptile. Fathom, the highest yielding commercial variety While trailing Compass by an average 10 percent, in 2012 trials, performed well across all districts in Commander was still the highest yielding malting 2013 except the South East where, not surprisingly, variety in 2013 trials. It again showed wide adaptation it was out-yielded by the later flowering varieties. across regions and was much superior to Buloke on As a new feed variety recently released from the average. Based on its longer term yield performance, University of Adelaide Breeding Program, longer Commander has been the better option in all term yield data shows Fathom to be comparable districts and particularly the Mallee and Central to Fleet and Hindmarsh in most districts and more Eyre Peninsula. Commander has CCN resistance particularly the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula. and modest foliar disease resistance and therefore Fathom competes well against weeds, has high levels should not be grown on barley stubble. However of resistance to CCN and most foliar diseases, but it has excellent grain plumpness, low screenings is quite susceptible to some new strains of net form and high retentions albeit with slightly lower test net blotch and leaf rust, and is susceptible to black weights and grain protein, which were again seen point. Fathom has grain quality similar to Fleet with in 2013 trials. Until the new potential malt varieties moderate test weight and generally low screenings are accredited, Commander’s yield and grain 63 BARLEY SARDI Crop Performance Report 2014 Funded by Glencore Grain characteristics will ensure that it is one of the most was a popular choice for sowing in 2013 as growers profitable varieties to grow in many districts, with a held widespread concerns over “imi” herbicide greater likely-hood of achieving malt grain quality. residues leading into the 2013 sowing season. Contrary to ‘on farm’ reports of high head loss in Scope, NVT Well behind the leading varieties in 2013 and amid high trials where head loss was noted did not reveal any interest due to its imidazolinone tolerance and newly additional weakness with Scope relative to high head acquired malting status, Scope produced moderate loss varieties like Schooner and SloopSA.