Influence of simulated spring frost on growth and yield of three barley cultivars

Abstract

Spring barley was sown on 4 dates between 28 April and 21 May to evaluate the effect of a simulated frost at the 2-leaf stage on growth and yield. A portable field freezing chamber was used to subject the plants to a -5.6 deg C stress. The frost caused 49, 64 and 68% injury to the leaves and delayed heading by 2.4, 1.4 and 2.4 days in cv. Galt, Atlas and Olli, resp. Frost also reduced the number of tillers/plant, ripe ears/plant and plants/plot in all cv. Although the late-maturing cv. Galt had the most leaf frost resistance, the av. yield reduction (13.8%) was similar in all 3 cv. Complete defoliation by clipping resulted in no further reduction in yield than that which occurred from partial defoliation by freezing. Delayed sowing reduced yield by 8.6%. Frost reduced yield by 9.8% at the 2 early sowing dates and by 17.1% at the 2 later sowing dates