Abstract:
The relationships between growth, development, and grain yield were examined in 3 phenologically different and commercially available barley cultivars over 2 growing seasons with very different weather patterns. Favourable conditions for crop growth in 1994 were followed by intensifying soil moisture stress over the second half of the season. In 1995, unfavourable conditions for crop growth due to saturated soils over the first half of the season were followed by favourable conditions and the growing season was extended by 1 month. Floral initiation was delayed, and the duration of the vegetative phase extended, when conditions were favourable for initial crop growth, but durations from sowing to anthesis and maturity were advanced when conditions for favourable crop growth were reversed. Differences in seasonal conditions over different portions of the growing seasons were reflected in corresponding differences in growth occurring over those periods. Favourable conditions up to the time of awn appearance in 1994 resulted in higher maximum leaf area indices than in 1995 (5.36