To assess the performance of winter and spring barley germplasm managed under four different management intensities (mid-April to early May sown) at two levels of fungicides.

ï‚· In a season with a wetter than average growing season and timely rainfall, the fast-developing spring barley Rosalind significantly out yielded RGT Planet (7.80t/ha) and the slower developing winter barley Cassiopee (7.70t/ha).
ï‚· There were significant visual differences in disease protection between the standard and high fungicide inputs which translated to yield increases of 0.93t/ha in the most susceptible cultivar RGT Planet and 0.49t/ha in Rosalind respectively. This means they require a more robust fungicide strategy whereas cultivars with improved resistance such as Cassiopee achieved similar yields with the standard management.
ï‚· Extra N increased yields but only when significant canopy management was adopted, however the management strategy depended on cultivar. When extra N was applied the plant growth regulator intervention increased yield by 0.9t/ha in the winter cultivar Cassiopee but not in other cultivars RGT Planet and Rosalind. RGT Planet and Rosalind benefited from defoliation
and both yielded 0.7t/ha higher when defoliated an extra N was applied where as Cassiopee did not benefit from defoliation.
ï‚· Defoliation was more effective at reducing lodging than the PGR strategy in all cultivars.
ï‚· These results highlight the importance of canopy management to improve the crop structure in the higher rainfall zone to maximize the yield and benefit of inputs such as fungicide and nitrogen.

Rotation position: 1st cereal following canola
Soil Type: Grey clay loam