Thesis
Optimizing plant population densities for chickpeas and lentils in the Pacific Northwest & [beta]-glucan in hulless barley genotypes and its relationship to protein, agronomic traits, and environmental factors
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102947
Abstract
The Pacific Northwest is an important agricultural region, well-known for high value wheat production. To maintain overall soil quality and crop productivity, it is critical that Pacific Northwest farmers use beneficial and well-suited rotational crops, and have access to useful resources that aid in the successful management of those crops. Grain legumes provide that opportunity as they are well-suited to the region's climate and fit easily into rotation with cereals. Grain legumes are high value crops, and when managed properly can provide attractive returns. Crop productivity and quality in grain legumes can be influenced through seeding rate selection, which establishes in-field plant population density. Understanding the effects of plant population density and determining optimal plant densities can help farmers increase their profits. In a multi-location trial, select varieties of chickpea and lentil were evaluated at six plant densities for yield, one-hundred seed weight and seed size in chickpea. Results suggest that in certain cases adjusting seeding rates to reflect more optimal seeding rates may increase yield and help maximize profits. Barley is also an important crop in the Pacific Northwest that is beneficial in rotation with wheat and grain legumes. Growing interest in the health benefits associated with barley consumption, in particular high [beta]-glucan cultivars, has encouraged research and plant breeding efforts to focus on producing high quality food barleys. Six hulless breeding lines from the WSU barley breeding program were grown in a multi-location variety trial in eastern Washington and analyzed for [beta]-glucan concentration and its relationship to protein, agronomic traits and environmental factors. Genotypic variation among genotypess was observed for all traits, however in many cases variation in trait values was more pronounced across locations than genotypes, suggesting significant influence from environmental factors. Correlations between [beta]-glucan and other traits suggest progress toward the development of competitive, high quality hulless barley cultivars. These projects all center on the improvement of Pacific Northwest cropping systems. Expanding on what is known about crop management and the influence that environmental factors have on crop productivity and quality provides agronomists and plant breeders with valuable resources to assist the farmers in their region.
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Details
- Title
- Optimizing plant population densities for chickpeas and lentils in the Pacific Northwest & [beta]-glucan in hulless barley genotypes and its relationship to protein, agronomic traits, and environmental factors
- Creators
- Kelsey Marie Highet
- Contributors
- Stephen O. Guy (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Crop and Soil Sciences, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525131401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis