Arable New varieties look set to forge
better future for winter barley • Improvements to two-row varieties
• More profitable than second wheat
• Helps to spread summer workload
A
new generation of win- ter barley varieties could boost rotations and mar- gins while helping growers achieve greater crop diversity. Investment is delivering vari- eties with higher yield potential, says Kirsty Richards of breeders KWS. The leading two-row varie- ties now offer yields comparable to those achieved by the best six- rows with improved agronomic features as well, she says. “KWS Tardis created a bit of a stir when it was added to the 2021/22 RL at the end of last year. Not only was it the highest yield- ing two-row on the list, it was also producing yields equivalent to many six-row hybrids.” For many growers, this means
there’s no reason why a conven- tional two-row barley cannot now be a more profitable cropping op- tion than a second wheat – so long as the management and variety choice are correct. Variable costs for barley can be 75% of wheat, says Dr Rich- ards. Then there is the additional revenue from barley straw which, at about £65/t baled ex-field, can add an extra £180/ha to the sale price of grain. “Winter barley is often the first crop to be harvested, helping to spread the summer workload and make way for cultivations so for many there is no better entry for oilseed rape.”
Increasing yields In addition, Dr Richards says fungicide timings are typically a week earlier than wheat, helping to spread the sprayer workload – and reduce the pressure on wheat application timings. KWS Tardis follows a line of two-row barleys that have been steadily pushing yields higher in
KWS Tardis is the highest yielding two-row on the 2021/22 Recommended List
recent years. Varieties like KWS Cassia and KWS Orwell are prov- ing very popular with growers, she explains. “With over 10 years of service under its belt, KWS Cassia has served feed barley growers well but many realise the newer vari- eties can deliver so much more,” says Dr Richards. “KWS Hawking, for example, is an ultra-reliable high-yield- ing low-risk variety, with strong straw and no agronomic weak- nesses that takes two-row feed yields up a notch. “At 103% of control in 2021/22,
it is a variety recommended for the whole of the UK, but experience
has shown it’s at its best in the east where it has delivered 105% of control in KWS trials. “Not only does it deliver on
straw strength over KWS Gim- let, it has better lodging resist- ance than LG Mountain and Jor- dan, and at a score of 5, better mildew than KWS Orwell.” An added benefit is that KWS
Fungicide timings are typically a week earlier than wheat, says Kirsty Richards
Hawking is earlier maturing. In KWS UK trials for the past two seasons, the variety was way ahead of its stablemates by reach- ing ear emergence in May. “At 106% of control in the cur- rent UK RL, it’s the highest yield- ing two-row barley by some mar- gin but it’s only 1% behind the highest yielding six rows and hy- brids,” says Dr Richards. “It absolutely flies in the east, being beaten by just one hybrid six-row variety on the entire RL and then only by 1%. In the field KWS Tardis is very vigorous get- ting out of the blocks quickly with good standing power.” KWS Hawking is the only va- riety on the recommended list with 1% lodging without PGR. Its overall lodging resistance score is 8, which Dr Richards says plays a key role in its performance on heavier soils. This is 110% of con- trol in the list, where it outields everything bar one hybrid.
“Agronomically, it’s a medium height variety at 92cm with a re- ally strong disease package in- cluding a 7 for Rynchosporium resistance and a 5 for net blotch plus it’s BYMV resistant.”
BYDV tolerance As for the future, it isn’t all about high yielding two-row barley vari- eties. KWS Feeris – the latest va- riety – is a conventional six-row winter barley that brings BYDV tolerance to the market in a re- alistic package. “It’s a variety suited to all re- gions of the UK. Like other six- row barleys, KWS Feeris has ex- cellent yield potential but really stands out in the west.
“It has a good all-round dis-
ease package including 7 for Rhy- nchosporium and 8 for net botch coupled to BYMV resistance and BYDV tolerance. “KWS Feeris is reasonably
tall-strawed at 94cm but a good 5-10cm shorter than commercial hybrid 6-rows. “It’s a great variety in itself but when coupled with the added benefit of BYDV tolerance, it pro- vides excellent risk management for barley growers in high pres- sure hotspots – and those look- ing to push drilling as early as possible.”
JUNE 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 17
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