Field research conducted by Birchip Cropping Group last year has suggested that the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) may benefit barley yields in seasons of high production.
In seasons with high yield potential, the risk of barley losses increases due to heavy head development relative to plant height, stem strength and subsequent lodging. The use of PGRs is one strategy that farmers have looked at to mitigate these losses in susceptible varieties.
A field trial conducted at Longerenong in 2016 specifically examined the effect of PGR (in this instance Moddus Evo® was used) and fungicide application on barley lodging and head loss.
In this trial, barely achieved the greatest yield increase when two applications of Moddus Evo were used in conjunction with fungicides at GS31 and GS37.
Speaking at BCG’s Trials Review Day at Birchip on February 17, BCG commercial services manager Cameron Taylor reported a 14.4 per cent yield increase when two PGR applications were applied, in addition to the fungicide.
“While fungicides did not seem to have a particularly large effect on yield, it had a large effect on grain quality,” he said.
“Disease was a significant factor in this trial.”
The research also showed that the timing of PGR application was an important factor with the product having more influence on stem strength and subsequent lodging when applied earlier.
BCG research investigating PGR use over the last three seasons has returned varied results, indicating that a positive yield effect is highly dependent on seasonal conditions.
“The 2016 season was one out of the box with yields topping 7t/ha in the trial,” Mr Taylor said.
“There were many advantages to the application of PGRs in 2016 due to the high rainfall and subsequent heavy crops.
“While a yield benefit was achieved last year, farmers need to carefully consider the use of PGRs in their farming system and weigh up the agronomic versus economic consequences, particularly when grain prices are poor.”
The results from this and other BCG research has been published in the 2016 BCG Season Research Results compendium and are available here.
This article was published in the Stock and Land on February 23, 2017.
