To investigate barley management options to close the yield gap and reduce pre-harvest losses

This investment will deliver a series of field trials and extension activities to reduce the yield gap between attainable yield and water limited yield potential in barley in the low – medium rainfall zones alongside virtual trial treatments derived by crop models to determine new attainable yield benchmarks for barley growers.

• In 2022, a cooler and wetter than average year, higher intensity of management (through increased nitrogen supply and fungicide use) significantly increased yields.
• RGT Planet was the highest yielding variety at both sites, yielding 5.85 t/ha at Nullawil (BCG) and 6.16 t/ha at Hart (HART).
• Higher average yields were achieved by all cultivars at a later May sowing at the Nullawil site whereas Cyclops and Leabrook averaged higher yields at an earlier time of sowing when grown at the Hart site. This highlights the importance of matching variety and sow date to the critical period to achieve actual yields closer to potential yield.
• Neither site saw a yield response to the application of plant growth regulators (PGRs), however Hart did see a yield increase to simulated grazing.