Effects of Depth Phases of the Clonroche Soil Series and Farming Skill on Spring Barley Yields

Abstract

This study was carried out in the south-east of Ireland (Co. Wexford) over a four-year period (1984-7) to determine the factors responsible for the variation in yield of spring barley obtained by growers whose farms were situated on the Clonroche Soils Series. The results show that the level of management skills had a significant effect (P<0.00l Jon yield variance in all four years. The mean difference in yield over the four-year period between the most skilled growers (Class 1) and the least skilled growers (Class 3) was 1.13 t/ha. Soil depth differences within the Clonroche Series gave significant difference (P<0.001) in yield only in 1984. when the soil moisture stress was sufficiently great to expose the difference in moisture-holding capacities of the three depth phases within the Series. Key Index Words: Clonroche Soils Series, yields, management skills.