The high yielding winter hybrid barley with big, bold grains
Yield potential
Boost is a very high yielding six-row hybrid feed barley with good disease resistance and excellent standing power.
Source: HGCA Winter Barley Recommended List 2008–2009
Disease resistance
Boost has an outstanding disease resistance profile, including resistance to barley mild and barley yellow
mosaic virus.
Source: HGCA Winter Barley Recommended List 2008–2009
Fungicide use
- T0 - Only needed in extremely high risk disease pressure situations.
- T1 - T1 timing is the key for protecting the canopy during the plants' main spring growth period, as during this time competition from disease reduces the development of potential grain sites. The use of Kayak + a triazole or strobilurin based product gives a broad-spectrum of disease control. Triazole should be added in a curative situation or the where the crop is showing high levels of brown rust.
- T2 - T2 application is to protect green leaf and prolong grain filling as premature senescence caused by disease and abiotic leaf spotting reduces yield and increases loss through screenings and specific weight. Bravo has been demonstrated to have affect against biotic and abiotic leaf spotting, good disease control and prolonged green leaf retention.
Core fungicide programme
- T0 - Kayak + Tern (only needed in high risk disease pressure situations)
- T1 - Kayak + Triazole or Strobilurin
- T2 - Amistar Opti + Triazole
Note: Amistar Opti is a co-formulation containing azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil (Bravo).
Agronomic information
Boost is an early maturing variety with medium/tall but very stiff straw, providing excellent resistance to lodging.
Source: HGCA Winter Barley Recommended List 2008–2009
Growth habit
- Over winter: Semi-prostrate
- Tillering ability: High
- Spring vigour: Rapid
- Maturity: Early
Drilling dates
- Suitability for early drilling: Good
- Optimum drilling date: Late September
Recommended sowing rate
Hybrid barley is drilled at a lower seed rate to maximise the potential of hybrid vigour.
Boost should be sown at 250 seeds per square metre.
Nitrogen application
Boost should receive the same amount of spring nitrogen fertiliser as a conventional winter barley feed crop for the site. However, an early application is advised to maintain and promote tiller growth.
As a general rule we advise:
- 20% of the total middle to end February (GS21-25)
- 50% of the total in mid-March (mid tillering, GS26-29)
- 30% of the total in mid-April (GS30-31)
If a drought reduces N uptake, then consider the application of a further 20% in mid-May (flag leaf emerged).
PGRs
Hybrid barley is drilled at a low seed rate, which reduces the risk of lodging, and appears no different - other than a high tiller number - to conventional barley drilled at this rate right up until GS30. However, from GS30 onwards growth is rapid as with spring barley varieties and conventional winter barleys are left behind. Given its spring barley like growth pattern in the spring, it is important to start any PGR programme EARLIER than for conventional winter barleys.
Site to site recommendations vary but a PGR program should be based around:
- GS32: Moddus 0.2 lt/ha + chlormequat 1.25 lt/ha
- GS37: Moddus 0.3 lt/ha or ethephon + mepiquat chloride 0.1 lt/ha
Grain quality
Boost has excellent grain characteristics that are similar to 2-row types, with very high specific weight and big, bold grain resulting in very low screenings.
Source: HGCA Winter Barley Recommended List 2008–2009
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If you require any more information about this variety, please contact Syngenta Seeds on 01223 883400
Disclaimer
The information given in these pages is for general guidance only. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure it is accurate, it is out of necessity, of a general nature and variation in growing environment or climate and/or changes to legislation, regulations and best practice can render it inaccurate. Syngenta Seeds Limited cannot accept any liability arising out of or in conjunction with the use of this information. Crop protection products should be used in conjunction with manufacturers’ recommendations. Use pesticides safely – always read the label. Consult your agronomist for the most current advice.
