LAMONT SPRING BARLEY – 2005 WSU VARIETY TESTING DATA 

1.       2005 Spring Barley data from the WSU Variety Testing nursery at the Lamont location averaged 4954 lbs/acre that was 95% higher than the previous 3-year average of 2533 lbs/acre.  Just like spring wheat at this location, this nursery was planted on summer fallow which undoubtedly contributed to higher average yields, especially considering the 2005 growing conditions.  In previous years, the nursery generally followed winter wheat.  TEST WEIGHT values were also very good in this nursery – again, grown on summer fallow conditions.

2.       Yield rankings typically followed 3-year historical trends at this location with Baronesse and new varieties with Baronesse parentage having the highest average yields.  6-row spring barley varieties appeared to suffer most from the 2005 growing conditions.  Much of this may have been a result of the tendency for 6-row barley varieties to have develop fewer tillers and have taller growth habits that may not have been as favorable for yields in 2005.

3.       It is worth noting that the majority of varieties/experimental lines in this nursery had yields that were fairly close to each other and from a statistical standpoint were not statistically different.  The historical 3-year average data set probably best represents spring barley performance at this location.