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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410313
Research Project: Developing Resilient Irrigated Cropping Systems in Concentrated Dairy Production Areas of the Semi-arid West

Location: Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research

Title: Barley residue biomass, nutrient content, and relationships with grain yield

Author
item Rogers, Christopher
item Adams, Curtis
item MARSHALL, JULIET - University Of Idaho
item HATZENBUEHLER, PATRICK - University Of Idaho
item THURGOOD, GARRETT - University Of Idaho
item DARI, BISWANATH - North Carolina A&t State University
item LOOMIS, GRANT - University Of Idaho
item Tarkalson, David

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2024
Publication Date: 5/15/2024
Citation: Rogers, C.W., Adams, C.B., Marshall, J., Hatzenbuehler, P., Thurgood, G., Dari, B., Loomis, G., Tarkalson, D.D. 2024. Barley residue biomass, nutrient content, and relationships with grain yield. Crop Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21263.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21263

Interpretive Summary: Uptake of plant nutrients was determined in feed, food, and malt barley genotypes. These values directly impact wide-ranging end-uses, including human and animal nutrition, brewing, on-farm fertility, and regional environmental assessments. Increased understanding of grain yield, straw production, and nutrient uptake relationships are needed to improve these assessments. Therefore, grain yield, straw biomass, and nutrient uptake were determined in 2018 and 2019 from trials of four barley classes (spring animal feed, human food, malting barley, and winter malt), including three commonly grown cultivars of each, conducted in five locations in southeastern Idaho. Among treatment factors tested, location was most important in determining straw nutrient uptake. Research developed equations that predicted straw nutrient removal based on grain yield estimates. Economic analysis indicated that fertilizer replacement costs for straw nutrients could greatly exceed the sale value of the straw itself, even at current prices. Thus, these relationships and value estimates can be used to improve on-farm decision making and economies, as well as regional assessments of crop nutrient uptake and removal.

Technical Abstract: Determination of barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) nutrient uptake in grain and straw is important for agronomic, economic, and environmental decision making. These values directly impact wide-ranging end-uses, including human/animal nutrition, brewing, distilling, on-farm fertility, and regional environmental assessments. Improved understanding of grain yield, straw production, and nutrient uptake relationships are needed to improve these assessments. Therefore, grain yield, straw biomass, nutrient uptake, and their inter-relationships were determined in 2018 and 2019 from trials of four barley classes (spring animal feed, human food, and malting barley, and winter malt), using three commonly grown cultivars of each, conducted in five locations in southeastern Idaho. Among treatment factors tested, location was most important in determining straw nutrient uptake. Integrating all barley classes and site-years of data, correlation of grain yields to nutrient uptake in both grain and straw (excluding Fe and Zn), ranged from r2 of .67 to .99. Regressions described the yield-nutrient uptake relationships and provide estimates of variability. Economic analysis indicated that fertilizer replacement costs for straw nutrients could greatly exceed the sale value of the straw itself in specific scenarios. Thus, these relationships and value estimates can be used to improve on-farm decision making and economies, as well as regional assessments of crop nutrient uptake and removal.