GENOTYPE, SEED RATE AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS INFLUENCE ON WINTER BARLEY AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCES

Abstract

During 2017-2019 period a study was performed at NARDI Fundulea to assess the influence of genotype, seed rate and climate conditions influence on yield and three quality indices of winter barley (six-rows) grains. Two seeding rates (SR) were compared: SR1 = 500 seeds/m2 and SR2 = 350 seeds/m2, and the optimum target seed density was suggested for winter barley genotypes in order to maximize grain yield response. Analysis of variance for studied traits showed differences among the genotypes, seed rates and climatic conditions of the growing seasons (years), as well as: a significant influence of genotype and interactions of year climate conditions x genotype on yield, grain weight, protein and starch content; year climatic conditions influenced grain weight, protein and starch content while seed rate had effect on yield, grain weight and starch content; interaction between year climatic conditions and seed rate influenced significant only yield and grain weight; interactions between seed rate x genotype and year climate conditions x seed rate x genotype were significant only for grain weight. Seeding rate of 350 seeds/m2 (SR2) produced a higher yield, ranging from 6064 to 8082 kg/ha, comparing to seeding rate of 500 seeds/m2 (SR1), where the yield ranged from 5840 to 7791 kg/ha. There was a slightly decrease in grain protein content and an increase of starch content associated with a lower seed rate. Grain weight parameter (expressed as thousand grain weight) had a significant variation, ranging between 46.6 and 53.6 g under SR2, with an average increase of 3.5 g comparing with SR1.