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Comparison of spring barley varieties grown in England and Wales between 1880 and 1980

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. J. Riggst ,
P. R. Hanson ,
N. D. Start ,
D. M. Miles ,
C. L. Morgan  and
Margaret A. Ford
T. J. Riggst
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Trumpington, Cambridge, GB2
P. R. Hanson
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Trumpington, Cambridge, GB2
N. D. Start
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Trumpington, Cambridge, GB2
D. M. Miles
Affiliation:
Guinness Barley Research Station, Codford, Warminster, BA12 0JX
C. L. Morgan
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Trumpington, Cambridge, GB2
Margaret A. Ford
Affiliation:
Plant Breeding Institute, Trumpington, Cambridge, GB2
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Summary

Five experiments, involving 37 varieties, were carried out over three seasons to estimate the increase in yield potential in spring barley achieved by plant breeding during the last 100 years. Most of the important spring barley varieties grown in Britain between 1880 and 1980 were represented. In three experiments disease was controlled by a fungicide while in the other two experiments fungicide application was a main treatment. To prevent yield loss due to lodging, plants were supported as a main treatment in two trials.

In all experiments most of the modern varieties yielded more than the older ones. The genetic gain in yield was 0·39% per year during the 100-year period and 0·84% per year between 1953 and 1980.

Modern varieties had higher grain yields, shorter straw, and higher harvest index denned as the proportion of grain dry weight to total above-ground dry weight; more of the tillers they produced survived to give ears. There was a weak association between biological yield (total above-ground dry weight) and grain yield.

It is suggested that although much of the improvement in yield described here could be attributed to increased harvest index, the scope for further improvement in this character may be limited. Further yield improvements might be achieved by combining high biological yield with high harvest index.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 3 , December 1981 , pp. 599 - 610
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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