Effects of Fungicide on Grain Yield and Quality of Barley Grown in the Southern Cape (Dry Land)

The effect of fungicides and their combination on the yield of barley was investigated during this study. Various fungicide treatments (No fungicide, Artea, Abacus and Strobilurin A) and combinations of these were applied at different growth stages. The results presented and discussed here are from only one location over a three year period. The results may not be representative of the whole dry land barley producing area. During 2007, net blotch only established late in the season which explains why the treatments with a second application of strobilurin performed better. In 2008 the disease pressure have was extremely low, and the results confirmed the beneficial effects of fungicides in the absence of fungal diseases. Leaf blotch was the predominant fungal disease in 2009 and all treatments only delivered positive results.

Cocktail Production Practices Trials

Since the 2008 winter season SABM Agricultural Services Department in the irrigation area decided to investigate alternative production practices for the cultivation of the new malting barley variety, Cocktail.

The first objective is to evaluate and establish optimum nitrogen fertilization guidelines for the variety, Cocktail. The second objective will be to evaluate and establish optimum planting density guidelines for the high yielding variety. The trial will run over a minimum period of three years per locality.