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Testing of Barley Varieties for Greenfeed and Silage - Regional Silage Variety Trial (RSVT) 2015

Trial Location: Fairview Research Farm, NW-5-82-3-W6 on RR#35, MD of Fairview

Research Coordinator: Dr. Akim Omokanye

From: Peace Country Beef & Forage Association 2015 Annual Report


To identify barley varieties that have superior forage production in the Peace, PCBFA took part in the Regional Variety Testing program (Regional Silage Variety Trials (RSVT) in 2015. The program includes testing of new barley varieties as they become available for adaption, forage yield and quality. In addition to the findings presented here from our trial, the results from the RSVTs across the different trial sites in the province will also be reported in the Alberta Seed Guide (www.seed.ab.ca).


Methods

The study site was at the Fairview Research Farm (NW5-82-3W6) on RR #35, MD of Fairview. The site had been in alfalfa hay for several years. The site was sprayed with Roundup the fall before and worked in the spring before seeding . Soil tests at 0-6” showed an organic matter of 3.0 % and a pH of 6.9.


Eight (8) forage type barley varieties were arranged in a randomized complete block design in 4 replications in small plots. Seeding was done on May 25 with a 6-row plot drill at 9 inch row spacing. Fertility according to soil test recommendations for balanced crop nutrition was 200 lb N + 96 lb P + 62 lb K + 75 lb S and applied at seeding. Roundup was used for burn off. In-crop spraying was done with 0.44 L/ha Prestige A + 1.98 L/ha Prestige B. The 8 barley varieties tested include:

  1. CDC Austenson– rough awn variety

  2. CDC Maverick– a new smooth-awned forage barley

  3. Canmore– rough awned general purpose (feed & forage) barley

  4. CDC Meredith – malting barley

  5. Champion– rough awned feed barley

  6. TR12733– general purpose (feed & forage) barley

  7. TR13740– general purpose (feed & forage) barley

  8. Amisk – rough awned, semi-dwarf, general purpose (feed & forage) barley

Forage harvest was done on August 6, 2015 at the soft-dough stage. Four rows per plot were harvested by hand and weighed fresh. Sub-samples (about 500 grams per plot) were dried for some days and later re-weighed for dry matter (DM) content and DM yield estimation. Forage samples were analyzed for quality using standard procedures for wet chemistry by Central Testing Laboratory Ltd., Winnipeg.


Fairview was generally dry in 2015, and grasshopper infestation was very high. Moisture received from seeding to harvest was 4.32”, with 1.19 inches received from August 3 to 5, just a few days before forage harvest.