Response of certain malting barley varieties to nitrogen fertilization

Authors

• E. I. Kivi Hankkija Plant Breeding Institute, Tammisto, Helsingin pit.
• S. Hovinen Hankkija Plant Breeding Institute, Tammisto, Helsingin pit.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71805

Abstract

The Barley Committee of the Laboratory of Brewing in Helsinki, carried out a series of field trials from 1967 to 1969 to investigate the effect of the timing and the quantity of nitrogen fertilization on properties of malting barleys grown in Finland. This paper deals with a part of this project. The varieties were the two-rowed brewing barleys Ingrid, Arvo and Karri and the six-rowed enzyme barley Pirkka. As a basic fertilizing 59 kg phosphorus and 99 kg potassium per hectare were administered. Varying nitrogen levels (30 or 60 kg N per hectare) were given as saltpetre at harrowing (early) or on the sprouts (late). The nitrogen given early increased the yield in all varieties more than the late spreading. The treatment on sprouts increased the protein content of the yield. The difference in protein contents between the two spreading times was as big as the difference between the two nitrogen doses given at the same point of time. Ingrid and Pirkka reacted very sensitively to the late nitrogen fertilizing. Karri was least sensitive to the changes in nitrogen supply. The yearly fluctuations of the protein contents were bigger than the differences between varieties in each year. The order of varieties in regard to the protein content was the same in all trial years: Pirkka, Ingrid, Arvo and Karri. Besides the cultivation technique, e.g. placement of fertilizers, attention must be paid to the sensitivity of the varieties in increasing their protein content under changeable conditions.