(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2007) Boss, Darrin Lewis; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Philip L. Bruckner; Robert Stougaard (co-chair)
The objective of the experiment was to evaluate barley management options by varying seed band width, seeding rates, and harvest endpoint under dryland production conditions in Northern Montana. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a factorial arrangement and was conducted for three years. Treatments consisted of two cultivars ('Harrington' and 'Haybet'), two band widths (125 mm and 193 mm), and three seeding rates (140, 184 and 226 seeds m-2). Year effects were significant. All established plant populations were lower than planned. Band width was confounded with seeding rate. Established plant populations increased from the narrow to the wide band width, any effect attributed to band width appears to be more what would be expected for increasing the seeding rate. Malt quality was never achieved and no treatment combination aided in moving the quality towards an acceptable malt grade of barley. Feed barley production was greatest in 2001 for the lowest seeding rate where as in 2002 and 2003 no difference existed between seeding rates.
