Ethephon effects on barley in central Alberta

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Abstract
Ethephon, a plant growth regulator used to prevent lodging in cereals, was tested on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars representing a cross-section of types grown in Alberta, Canada over a period of 5 yr. The study was conducted in two parts: in the first part (1983–1985), ethephon at 0.48 kg ha−1 was applied at Zadoks growth stage 45 to four cultivars growing under natural-rainfall conditions. In the second part (1986–1987), a more extensive variety test was conducted (12 cultivars), natural rainfall was supplemented with irrigation when necessary, and ethephon was applied at 0.28 kg ha−1 at Zadoks 45. The effect of ethephon on height, lodging, tillering, days to maturity, grain and straw yield, harvest index, 1000-grain weight, and seeds spike−1 was analysed. Ethephon reduced height in all of the cultivars. Where lodging occurred, it was reduced by ethephon treatment. During the first 3 yr under relatively dry conditions, grain yield was reduced and straw yield increased in 2 out of the 3 yr. In the second part of the study, in which moisture levels were non-limiting during the growing season, ethephon increased yield in 1 yr due to an increase in productive tillers. The yield component consistently affected by ethephon was the number of seeds spike−1. In the 4 yr that this component was examined, a significant decrease in seeds per spike was noted following ethephon treatment. Under conditions of natural rainfall, ethephon effects on days to maturity (Zadoks 91) were variable; under irrigated conditions, ethephon increased the number of days required for the barley to reach maturity by 2 d. Differences among the various cultivars in their response to ethephon are discussed. Key words: Barley, Hordeum vulgare L., cultivars, ethephon, lodging, grain yield, tillering

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