Influence of genotype, nitrogen fertilisation and weather conditions on yield variability and grain quality in spring malting barley

Abstract

Production traits and grain quality of spring malting barley as the major raw material in malt and beer production were evaluated over a period of three years (2012–2014) in the region of Požarevac, Serbia. Four cultivars of two-rowed spring barley released in the Republic of Serbia (‘Novosadski 448’, ‘Novosadski 456’, ‘Dunavac’ and ‘Jadran’) were used. The objective of this research was to assess variability in grain yield and yield components in genetically divergent cultivars of two-rowed spring barley grown at different nitrogen application rates, as dependent on precipitation and air temperature during the growing season. The results showed significant variations in grain yield, yield components and grain protein content across genotypes (G), N application rates (N) and experimental years (E). Significant interdependence was found between grain yield and yield components. Increasing the N application rate up to 135 kg/ha had a positive effect on grain yield, plant height, number of spikes per unit area, spike length and grain protein content. Number of grains per spike and 1,000-kernel weight increased significantly at N application rates up to 105 kg/ha and 75 kg/ha, respectively.