Effect of selected herbicides on yielding and malting quality of spring barley cultivars

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of herbicides on yields, yield components and malting quality of the grains of barley cultivars. Literature worldwide lacks works on the impact of herbicides on the brewing quality of barley. This work presents the results of field experiments and laboratory studies concerning the evaluation of the impact of herbicides, differing in terms of an active substance, on the yields, weed control and malting quality of selected cultivars of barley. The research was conducted in Poland. The herbicides affected the increase in grain yields of barley, due to their high effectiveness of weed control, resulting in an increase in the number of ears per area unit. Certain herbicides increased grain protein content and grain filling. As for malt extractivity, Kolbach index, Q index, diastatic power and beta-glucans content in wort, there were interactions between herbicides and cultivars. The impact of herbicides on parameters varied depending on cultivars. The herbicides, especially Chwastox Turbo 340 SL (MCPA + dicamba) and Secator 125 OD (amidosulfuron + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium), worsened several (not many) malt quality parameters, depending on cultivars, but it did not contribute to disqualifying malting quality of grains. Therefore, all tested herbicides can be recommended for use by farmers.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultivars
• grain yield
• herbicides
• malting quality
• spring barley

Notes on contributors

Kazimierz Noworolnik is a professor of agricultural sciences in the field of agronomy. He works in the Department of Cereal Crop Production, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Puławy, Poland. He has above 200 research articles on crop and soil management. Presently he is involved in research on the cultivation technology as well as the quality of spring barley and spring cereal mixtures.

Danuta Leszczyńska is a habilitated doctor of agricultural sciences in the field of agronomy. She works as an assistant professor in the Department of Cereal Crop Production, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Puławy, Poland. Presently she is involved in research on the cereal biology of growth and development, cultivation technology, the quality of grain as well as allelopathy in cereal mixtures.