AgroPages-UK: AHDB harvest results 2017: winter oilseed rape and winter barley-Agricultural news

Harvest Results 2017 - First OSR trial results are published online.

Winter oilseed rape

The first AHDB Harvest Results for trials of winter oilseed rape (OSR) have been published online. OSR trials can be more variable than cereals and care must be taken when drawing conclusions on limited data. The four-year average gross output yields are a better measure of variety performance over several seasons, since this week’s oilseed rape results have information from just two trials from Oxfordshire and Suffolk. Yields are reported as a gross output, which is the seed yield adjusted for oil content. The values are represented as a percentage of the control varieties – Trinity, Campus, PT211 and PR46W21. This year oilseed rape gross output yields are represented as UK yields as opposed to the east/west and north regions in previous years.

The 2017 gross output value of 5.41t/ha is the same as the four year average. The Oxfordshire site has a gross output of 5.68t/ha and the Suffolk site has an average gross output of 5.14t/ha.

In 2017 at these two sites, the restored hybrid varieties Wembley (110%), Windozz (109%), and Alizze (106%) and the conventional variety Flamingo (106%) have performed well.

Based on the four-year average values, where new 2017 data is available, the highest-yielding varieties to date are V316 OL (108%), Alizze (108%), Windozz (108%), Elgar (107%) and Flamingo (107%).

Looking at the four-year averages, the clubroot resistant variety Mentor has a gross output of 99% and the turnip yellows virus resistant variety Amalie has a gross output of 97%. The semi-dwarf variety DK Secret has a gross output of 98%.

Gross output values for the candidate varieties in 2017 based on the limited information show good yields from Django (109%) in 2017 and 108% on four-year averages. This variety is a conventional variety up for recommendation for the UK. The turnip yellows resistant candidate Architect has also performed well at 105% in 2017 and 103% on the four-year averages.

Winter barley 2017 Harvest Results – trials follow the five-year average

The winter barley trial results include sites from Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Cheshire and Morayshire.

The overall yield average from five trials in 2017 is 9.58 t/ha, contributing to a five-year average yield of 9.60 t/ha. Yields in 2017 therefore look to be performing similarly to the five-year average.

Calculating yield results

Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2017, the control varieties comprise two malting varieties, Talisman and SY Venture, the six-row hybrid variety Volume, the six-row conventional variety KWS Meridian (no longer on the Recommended List) and the two-row feed variety KWS Glacier. The average of the yields from these varieties is represented as 100%. The current 2017 values now show yields based on one season from nine sites, giving us a better picture of yields in 2017. The five-year average remains a better measure of their performance over a range of seasons.

In 2017, the six-row hybrid feed varieties Belfry (113%), Bazooka (112%), and Sunningdale (111%) are all performing well, as is the conventional six-row variety, Funky (110%).

The two-row feed varieties with the top yields are California (107%), and KWS Orwell (105%) and KWS Infinity (103%). The 2017 season seems to have favoured California at a range of sites.

Two-row malting varieties are judged more on their quality than outright yield. Based on this information, Craft has a yield of 98%, Talisman 95% and SY Venture 92%.

Using the five-year average

When selecting varieties for next season, the five-year average values give a better representation of performance in different seasons. The six-row hybrids Bazooka (109%), Sunningdale (109%) and Belfry (108%) and the six-row conventional variety Funky (107%) are performing well. Looking at the two-row feeds, KWS Orwell (104%) Surge (103%) and KWS Infinity (102%) continue to headline on yield. KWS Creswell which is recommended for the north has performed well at 102%.

Five-year average results also provide a better measure of new varieties. The candidate six-row varieties are also achieving good yields in the five-year average figures, with Libra (six-row hybrid) at 107% and KWS Astaire (six-row conventional) at 108%. New candidate malting varieties compare favourably with established varieties based on the five-year figures, with Coref at 99% and Hiverac at 98%.