Impact of Nitrogen and Water on Barley Grain Yield and Malting Quality

Abstract

Barley is among the most important crops in northern latitudes especially for malting and distilling. Inter-annual weather variability in terms of rainfall and temperature patterns can impact crop uptake of soil water and nitrogen, which influences the crop growth and development. The present study shows the effects of nitrogen and water applied on: (i) specific grain quality traits necessary for distilling; (ii) plant biomass, nitrogen, and yield; and (iii) farmer’s marginal net return. The experiment was conducted during the growing seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the James Hutton Institute (UK) with two nitrogen fertilizers and two irrigation levels. During the growing season soil mineral nitrogen and soil water content and plant biomass and nitrogen were measured. At harvest yield, yield component, and grain quality traits were determined.2018 was a very dry growing season, as opposed to the wetter 2019 respect to the long-term growing season rainfall (1974–2017). Grain yield in 2018 was higher for the irrigated treatment, but in 2019 the irrigation, due to high rainfall, had lower yield. Environmental conditions impacted grain quality, and the patterns of soil water and mineral N affecting the final quality traits. Despite variable weather conditions the grain quality requirements from the industry of either beer or whisky are met.