New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Nitrogen and dry matter partitioning of barley grown in a dryland
environment
J. M. de RUITER
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food
Research Limited
Private Bag 11030
Palmerston North, New Zealand
I. R. BROOKING
The Horticulture and Food Research Institute
of New Zealand
Private Bag 11030
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Fifty-eight spring malting barley crops (Hordeum
vulgare L. `Triumph') were monitored in the Rangitikei district, New
Zealand (40deg.20'S), over three seasons beginning 1987/88 and covering a wide
variation in soil moisture conditions during grain filling but small deficits
before anthesis. The objectives were to: (1) document the range of variability
of grain yield among locations and years; (2) determine if systematic patterns
occurred in the dry matter (DM) accumulation and nitrogen (N) uptake; and (3)
evaluate the effects these processes have on the partitioning of DM and N
between the grain and the rest of the plant. Mean yearly grain yields (14%
moisture) were 6.85, 5.12, and 5.07 t/ha, respectively. Grain number/m2
accounted for 79% of the variation in grain yield. On average, 63% of the N in
the above ground crop was derived from soil reserves, and 87% of the total N
uptake occurred before anthesis. Pre-anthesis processes had a major effect on
crop characteristics at maturity. For example, the level of crop N at anthesis
(indicative of pre-anthesis N uptake) was a good predictor of the extent of
post-anthesis partitioning of N to the grain (r = -0.75). Conversely,
high post-anthesis N uptake was generally not related to grain N concentration.
Therefore, under dryland conditions, there is scope for improving yield by late
applications of N without causing grain quality reductions. Management options
for obtaining high yields of malting barley under non-irrigated conditions are
discussed. These include the use of crop N concentration at anthesis as an
indicator of crop N status.
Keywords Hordeum vulgare L.; barley; nitrogen uptake;
malting quality; yield variation; grain nitrogen
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