Spring Barley Responses to Nitrogen Fertilizer and Ethephon in Regions with a Short Crop Growing Season |
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| Authors: | B L Ma S Leibovitch W E Maloba D L Smith |
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| Institution: | Department of Plant Science, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada H9X 1C0 |
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| Abstract: | Aspects of intensive management practices such as high N fertilization inputs and plant growth regulator use could potentially increase cereal yields in regions with a short crop-growing season and occasionally dry and hot weather. A field experiment was carried out for four years (1987 to 1990) at Agronomy Research Centre of McGill University, Canada to evaluate the response of spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. Cadette, Laurier and Leger to N rates (0, 70 and 140 kg N ha?1) and ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) growth regulator treatment. The application of higher than conventional N level (70 kg N ha?1) did not increase barley yields under dry weather conditions and when the soil N resources were high. The high levels of N did increase the grain crude protein concentration by 2 to 10 g kg?1, as did ethephon treatment. The feed quality of spring barley was improved. Ethephon treatment reduced grain yield due to a severe reduction in the number of grains spike?1, and/or 1000-grain weight, although the number of spikes m?2 was increased. Thus, the overall effect of ethephon treatment on yield was inconsistent and was influenced to a large extent by the prevailing weather conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Spring barley nitrogen fertilizer ethephon intensive management photosynthesis protein |
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