Journal of NACAA

Sustainable fungicide and nitrogen management to malting barley

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 14, Issue 1 - June 2021

Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott

Abstract

Malted grains, principally barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), are essential raw materials for brewing. Demand is increasing for more sustainable crop production practices and locally grown brewing ingredients, including malting barley for a nationally expanding microbrewing industry. At the same time, climate change makes it imperative to identify new production zones and cropping systems for malting barley using sustainable production practices.  Sustainable malting barley management when added to an existing cropping system rotation such as corn, soybean, and alfalfa can provide an alternative crop in many of the cooler growing areas of the nation.  The purpose of the two studies were to determine sustainable economic application rates of nitrogen and fungicides to malting barley varieties.  University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension faculty investigated production practices of nitrogen and fungicide applications to ten malting barley varieties and their effect on yield over three years.  One study tested specific varieties with nitrogen rates at 0, 30, 60, and 90 pounds per acre.  The other study investigated the application timing and fungicide product efficacy to eight malting barley varieties for control of Fusarium Head Blight and the effect on yield.  The studies were conducted at two locations at Buffalo County and Chippewa County in 2018, 2019, and 2020.  Results indicated significant differences within the nitrogen and fungicide applications to specific varieties during specific years and locations.