Grain losses due to delayed harvesting of barley and wheat

Abstract

In field experiments over three consecutive years (1979- 1981) near Esperance, Western Australia, the harvested grain yields of two barley cultivars and two cultivars and a breeders' line of wheat were measured when the grain was mature (moisture content about 17%), and then at approximately weekly intervals for about two months. Grain yields of Clipper and Dampier barley decreased with increasing delay in harvest, the rates of decrease (%/d) in the three years being 0.67, 0.75 and 0.46, respectively, for Clipper, and 0.65, 0.42 and 0.25 for Dampier. Grain yields of Egret and 70W 18- 14 wheat decreased with delayed harvest in 1979 and 1980, the rate of decrease being (%/d) 0.53 and 0.49, respectively, for Egret, and 0.53 and 0. 18 for 70W 18-14. In 198 1, harvested grain yields for Egret and Madden wheat did not change significantly when harvesting was delayed up to 63d.