LUARS Research 2023 – Results from Cereal Varieties Trials
Dr. Tarlok Singh Sahota CCA
Our spring and summer were pretty dry (Rainfall during May, June, July and August was 46.8, 56.4, 71.7 and 41.7 mm, respectively; a total of 216.6 mm rainfall during the four months – the main growing season) – lowest ever! But for that, crop yields could have been better. Spring wheat was much more affected than the other crops and had dismally low grain yields. GDD and CHU during May to September were 2,513 (higher than normal) and 1,511, respectively.
1 Spring Cereals:
√Barley Varieties:
• Eighteen barley varieties were compared for their production potential.
• Chambly (5.70 MT/ha), AAC Cranbrook (4.90 MT/ha) and CDC Bow (4.67 MT/ha) were the three top grain yielding varieties.
• CH1209-1 had the highest straw yield (4.74 MT/ha). AAC Bell (4.68 MT/ha) and CDC Bow (4.31 MT/ha) were the two next best varieties for straw production.
• Biomass yield was highest with Chambly (8.92 MT/ha); followed by AAC Bell (8.56 MT/ha), and CDC Bow (8.46 MT/ha).
• Averaged over 2021-2023, out of 14 common varieties during all these years, Chambly (4.97 MT/ha), Synasolis (4.89 MT/ha) and Amberly (4.84 MT/ha) were the three top grain yielding varieties. Synasoils produced the highest straw yield (5.42 MT/ha), followed by AB Tofield (5.04 MT/ha) and AB Advantage (4.95 MT/ha). Biomass yield was highest with Synasoils (10.14 MT/ha).
• Disease rating in 2023 was relatively high; BYDV 6.5 in CDC Bow to 7.5 in AAC Cranbrook, Esma, Synasoils and AAC Bell; Spot Blotch 5.75 in TR1867 to 6.75 in AAC Ling, Chambly and Synasoils.
• Lodging score ranged from 5.25 in AAC Sorel to 6.75 in Synasoils.
• Chambly, Synasolis and Amberly could be recommended for cultivation on farms. Synasolis could be preferred over others because of its highest straw yield (in addition to high grain yield).
Comparative Performance of PSL Kerns with CDC Bow and Synasolis:
• PSL Kerns, a new barley variety, was compared with CDC Bow and Synasolis.
• PSL Kerns resulted in the highest grain (5.35 MT/ha), straw (7.18 MT/ha) and biomass (11.8 MT/ha) yields.
• Grain yield was in the order of PSL Kerns (5.35 MT/ha) ≥ CDC Bow (4.65 MT/ha) ≥ Synasolis (4.18 MT/ha).
• Straw yields from CDC Bow and Synasolis were 6.73 MT/ha and 6.41 MT/ha, respectively.
• PSL Kerns and Synasolis were taller than CDC Bow and hence had higher lodging index (8.3/8.5) than CDC Bow (6.5).
• Farmers can start growing PSL Kerns on their farms!
Malting Barley Varieties:
• Fifteen varieties were evaluated for grain and straw production. AAC Prairie was the new variety.
• Three top grain yielding varieties were Torbellino (4.78 MT/ha), CDC Bow (4.75 MT/ha) and and CDC Copper (4.74 MT/ha). UC Capay recorded the highest 1000 kernel weight (60), followed by CDC Bow (52).
• UC Capay recorded the highest straw yield (5.71 MT/ha), followed closely by CDC Bow (5.58 MT/ha).
• Averaged over 2021-2023, CDC Bow produced the highest grain yield (5.10 MT/ha). The next two best varieties for grain production, over three years, were AAC Synergy (4.90 MT/ha) and CDC Copeland (4.84 MT/ha).
• Averaged over 2021-2023, CDC Copeland registered the highest straw yield (7.32 MT/ha). The next two varieties for high straw yield were CDC Copper (6.23 MT/ha) and AAC Connect (6.17 MT/ha).
• UC Capay and CDC Bow produced the highest biomass (both 9.8 MT/ha) in 2023. Averaged over 2021-2023, CDC Copeland produced the highest biomass yield (12.3 MT/ha). Biomass yield from CDC Copper, AAC Synergy and CDC Bow was 11.1-11.2 MT/ha.
• While there was no serious lodging in any of the varieties, disease(s) ratings seemed to be high; BYDV 6.3 – 7.0 and Spot Blotch 5.8 – 6.3. May be because of this reason, grain yield was relatively low (Trial mean 3.79 MT/ha).
• Considering the grain yield, from the past three years, CDC Bow, AAC Synergy and CDC Copeland are recommended for cultivation on farms.
• Only three varieties (Butta12 – 14.49 % grain protein, CDC Kindersley – 13.3 % grain protein and TR14617 – 13.2 % grain protein) exceeded the grain protein content limit of 13.0 %. In all other varieties, grain protein content ranged from 10.5 % in CDC Copper to 12.9 % in KWS Kellie. For other malt quality parameters please refer to the main report.
Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) Wheat Varieties:
• Fifteen CWRS wheat varieties were evaluated for their production potential.
• Wheat was most affected by the drought during spring and summer. Hence wheat grain and straw yields were very poor.
• Grain yields in the highest yielding varieties were in the order of AAC Wheatland VB (2.77 MT/ha) ≥ SY Gabbro (2.59 MT/ha) = AAC Starbuck (2.58 MT/ha). Grain yield in other varieties ranged from 1.63 MT/ha in CS Daybreak to 2.39 MT/ha in Rednet.
• AAC Wheatland VB produced the highest straw yield (4.43 MT/ha) – up to 1 MT/ha higher than the three next best varieties for straw production (Rednet 3.54 MT/ha, AAC Starbuck 3.44 MT/ha and SY Gabbro 3.43 MT/ha). Straw yield in all other varieties varied from 1.83 MT/ha in AAC Leroy to 3.23 MT/ha in PT786. AAC Wheatland VB had the highest biomass yield (6.75 MT/ha).
• Disease ratings were relatively high; Septoria 6.5-7.5 and Spot Blotch 5.3-5.8.
• Averaged over 2021-2023, three top grain yielding varieties were AAC Starbuck (3.99 MT/ha), Brandon (3.86 MT/ha) and Rednet (3.76 MT/ha). Only AAC Starbuck (5.60 MT/ha), AAC Wheatland VB (5.08 MT/ha) and AAC Leroy (5.00 MT/ha) gave 5 MT/ha or more than 5 MT/ha straw yield.
• Three varieties that were common during 2019-2023, had similar average grain yields over these years; Brandon 4.28 MT/ha, AAC Wheatland 4.24 MT/ha and AAC Starbuck 3.94 MT/ha.
• Area producers could grow AAC Starbuck, Brandon, Rednet and AAC Wheatland VB. AAC Starbuck and AAC Wheatland could be preferred if high straw production is a consideration.
New Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) Wheat Varieties:
• Six CWRS wheat varieties (AAC Wheatland, Brandon, Rednet, AAC Redberry, AAC Leroy and Redcliff) were compared for their production potential.
• Highest grain yield (3.55 MT/ha) was obtained with AAC Wheatland followed by Brandon (3.08 MT/ha) and Rednet (3.01). AAC Leroy gave the highest straw (4.64 MT/ha) and AAC Wheatland the highest biomass yield (7.42 MT/ha).
• Averaged over 2022 and 2023, there was no significant difference between the grain (3.34-3.73 MT/ha), straw (4.62-5.18 MT/ha) and biomass (7.96-8.68 MT/ha) yields of different varieties. Though in numerical terms, AAC Wheatland recorded the highest grain, straw and biomass yields.
• Farmers could grow any of the six wheat varieties though they could prefer AAC Wheatland.
Effect of Mixed Cultivation of Spring Wheat Varieties:
• Three varieties (AAC Wheatland, Brandon and Rednet) were compared singly and in mixtures with each other in different proportions in 10 treatments.
• Grain yields were dismally low due to very dry spring and summer. Last year, Rednet recorded the highest grain (5.36 MT/ha) yield in this experiment and this year Brandon (2.56 MT/ha) gave the highest grain yield. Other varieties or blends of the varieties didn’t yield as much as Brandon.
• Straw (6.50 MT/ha) and biomass yields (7.89 MT/ha) were the highest with AAC Wheatland.
• Averaged over 2022 and 2023, Rednet produced the highest grain (3.63 MT/ha) and Biomass (9.49 MT/ha) yields. Rednet and AAC Wheatland equaled in the straw yield (6.76 MT/ha).
Oat Varieties:
• Nine oat varieties were evaluated for their yield potential. CDC Endure, which has good milling qualities and high beta glucan levels that end users require to make heart healthy products like breakfast cereals, was one of these varieties. Kalio, a new variety this year, is also a milling variety.
• Three varieties that gave more than 5 MT/ha grain yield were AAC Kongsore (5.27 MT/ha), Kalio (5.14 MT/ha) and AAC Excellence (5.04 MT/ha). Grain yield from AC Rigodon, an old timer good performer, was 4.45 MT/ha.
• AAC Reid recorded the highest straw (5.29 MT/ha) and the biomass (8.47 MT/ha) yields.
• Disease rating for BYDV was relatively high (6.0-7.3) and that for Spot Blotch was medium (4.3-4.8) for all varieties.
• Averaged over 2020 to 2023, there was no significant difference in the grain, straw and biomass yields of the four varieties (AAC Douglas, AC Rigodon, Akina, and CDC Endure) common during these years.
• Oat growers could try growing AAC Kongsore, Kalio, and AAC Excellence in 2024.
2. Winter Cereals:
Winter Wheat Varieties:
• Seven winter wheat varieties were compared for their production potential including two new varieties AAC Vortex and Coldfront.
• Grain yield ranged from 4.23 MT/ha (PRO 81) to 5.17 MT/ha (AAC Vortex). However, the grain yield differences between the varieties were not significant.
• Straw yield was highest (10.4 MT/ha) with Coldfront followed closely by AAC Vortex (9.6 MT/ha).
• Plant height ranged from 86 cm in AAC Gateway to 88 cm in AAC Vortex/ and Coldfront.
• Averaged over 2019-2021 and 2023, AAC Gateway gave 1.30 MT/ha higher grain yield than the old variety CDC Falcon.
Winter Barley Varieties:
• Three winter barley varieties (McGregor, McKeller and Scala) were tested for their winter survival and yield.
• Scala didn’t survive the winter this time and McGregor and McKeller had very poor winter survival (18 % and 28 %, respectively).
• Despite poor survival, McKeller gave good grain yield (5.33 MT/ha). Grain yield of McGregor was 3.81 MT/ha.
• Surprisingly, McGregor recorded higher straw yield (4.38 MT/ha) than McKeller (3.36 MT/ha).
Winter Rye Varieties:
• Five winter rye varieties were compared for their production potential including a new variety KWS Serafino.
• Bono recorded the lowest (6.98 MT/ha) and Hazlet the highest (7.83 MT/ha) grain yield. Grain yield of Serafino was (7.71 MT/ha). However, the grain yield differences between the varieties were not significant.
• Straw yield was highest (~12 MT/ha) with Hazlet, followed closely by Brasetto (11.1 MT/ha).
• Hazlet produced the tallest (130 cm) and Bono the shortest plants (110 cm).
• Averaged over 2019-2021 and 2023, grain yield ranged from 4.85 MT/ha in Bono to 5.12 MT/ha in Guttino. Hazlet (7.79 MT/ha) and Brasetto (7.76 MT/ha) recorded higher straw yield than Bono (6.62 MT/ha) and Guttino (6.36 MT/ha). Serafino was not in the picture then.
