Protocol Status
Section Title
Barley Seeding Rate
Trial Information
The purpose of this project is to quantify the agronomic and economic impacts of reducing and increasing targeted plant stands from normal seeding rate in Barley.
- The grower will seed their normal seeding rate in 4 strips, alternating with 4 strips each of a lower and a higher seeding rate.
- The width of a strip must be at least as wide as a complete combine pass, preferably wider. The harvested length should not be less than 1,000 feet.
- The alternating strips of the barley seeding rates can be planted by using GPS to plant every other strip with one seeding rate and then filling in the skipped passes with the second seeding rate.
- Take a seed sample from the seeder (about ½ an ice cream bucket).
- Harvesting must ensure at least one “pure” combine pass from each treatment (no mixing of yields from two different treatments)
Results
At 8 of 17 sites, seeding rate had a significant effect on plant counts. In these cases, the highest seeding rates resulted in the highest plant population. At 2 of 17 trial sites there were significant differences between seeding rates, however differences were marginal and did not result in increased profit, in once case the lower seeding rate resulted in higher overall yield . Overall, at most sites, grain yield was not affected by a change in seed rate from normal practice.
Manitoba farmers are achieving recommended plant densities of 22-25 plant/ft2. Manitoba farmer have a good idea of the appropriate seeding rate on their farm.
Additional Considerations: Lower seeding rate and plant populations can reduce crop competitiveness to field pest. Uniformity of crop maturity will be more variable with lower seeding rates, reducing crop protection product efficiencies.