Dry matter accumulation and remobilization in winter barley as affected by genotype and sowing date

Abstract

Knowledge about the effect of genotypic variation and sowing date on dry matter accumulation, remobilization and partitioning in winter barley is important for crop management. Therefore, in field studies, six winter barley genotypes of various origin and maturity groups were studied across four sowing dates. In general, grain yield and dry matter content decreased with delayed sowing, after mid-October, and average grain yield in late October and November sowing was lower 14.2% and 16.9%, respectively, compared to the yield in the optimal sowing date. Among the tested genotypes, high grain yield and dry matter content was obtained from late and medium early barley genotypes. Delayed sowing dates, on average, reduced dry matter remobilization and contribution of vegetative dry matter to grain yield. In years characterized by high spring precipitation, late September and early October sowing of medium early and late barley genotypes enable increased accumulation and remobilization of dry matter and obtainment of high grain yield.