UK: Results of Recommended List winter barley varieties trials are announced by HGCA

Results from seven trials of Recommended List winter barley varieties are presented this week ranging from Devon in the west, Edinburgh to the north and Norfolk to the east, HGCA reported on July 28.

Average yields remain buoyant in 2014 at 10.02 t/ha which compares well to the five year average of 8.98 t/ha. This is over a tonne/ha better than average at this stage. The Devon site has performed exceptionally well at 10.55 t/ha

Six-row varieties on the HGCA Recommended List still head the table on yields, with the hybrid variety Volume achieving 106% compared to the control varieties, and the conventional variety KWS Meridian 105%.

Two-row feed varieties also continue to perform well. Higher yielding varieties in 2014 include California (103%), KWS Glacier (102%) and KWS Tower (101%). Malting varieties are more about quality than yield, but Talisman have achieved yields 97% and SY venture 95% to date in 2014.

Candidate varieties are also performing well in 2014 trials, including the six-row conventional variety Daxor (105%) and the two-row feed varieties KWS Infinity (101%) and Perseus (100%).

The five year average yields provide a better representation of variety performance over a range of seasons. The six-row hybrid Volume (107%) remains the top performer, followed by the two-row feed varieties KWS Glacier (104%) and KWS Tower (104%), and Tetris (103%). The six-row conventional variety KWS Meridian’s five year average is also 103%.

30 July, 2014