Effect of shading and nitrogen application on yield, grain size distribution and concentrations of nitrogen and water soluble carbohydrates in malting spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L)

Experiments to investigate the effects of periods of low radiation, combined with different rates of nitrogen fertilization, on growth, grain yield, mean grain weight, grain size distribution and concentrations of nitrogen and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) were carried out in 1991 and 1993. The low radiation (60% of ambient radiation) was achieved by placing shading nets in fields of barley (cv. Prisma). There was an unshaded control (S1), plus three shading period treatments during the main phenological phases, with three rates of nitrogen fertilization (unfertilized control, 90 kg ha(-1) minus soil nitrogen and this rate plus 60 kg ha(-1) at the flag leaf stage). It was found that total grain yield was 5% lower after shading during tillering (S2), 35% lower after shading during stem elongation (S3) and 45% lower after shading during grain filling (S4). Treatments S2 and S3 considerably reduced the concentration of WSC in plant organs and increased the nitrogen concentration and, in general, the concentrations returned to the values of the control after the shading period. The S3 treatment markedly reduced the number of grains m(-2), mainly because there were 35% fewer grains per spike. This treatment resulted in a mean grain weight 14% above that of the control, but only in 1991. Weather was probably responsible for this disparity: in 1991, the spring was cold and wet and the summer was warm and dry, but in 1993 the spring was warm and dry and the summer was cool and wet. The S4 treatment reduced mean grain weight by 40% in 1991 and by 25% in 1993 and shifted the median of the size distribution towards smaller grains in both years. In S4, the N concentration in the grains was markedly increased, resulting in unacceptably high protein concentrations (14-21%) for malting quality. Higher rates of nitrogen fertilization increased leaf area index (LAI), total dry matter production and grain N concentration. Nitrogen had a positive effect in establishing yield potential because it increased grain number per unit area; however, it did not improve assimilate supply during grain filling, and hence grain number and mean grain weight were negatively correlated. Only in 1993 did nitrogen increase grain yield. It is concluded that shading during the growing period and high rates of nitrogen fertilization adversely affect the quality (in terms of grain size, size distribution and grain nitrogen concentration) of malting barley. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.