Field programs for the cultivation of barley and wheat hybrids

In the current context of increasing global food demand and environmental constraints, it is of critical importance to improve the potential yield of cereals and the efficient use of resources. This study evaluated the agronomic performances of barley and wheat hybrids and compared them with conventional genotypes over three growing seasons (2013–2016) in North-west Italy. Field experiments were designed to compare different N fertilization rates and fungicide treatments, and were focused on assessing their impact on crop development, yield components, and overall productivity. Despite being sown at lower seeding densities, the hybrids consistently outperformed the conventional genotypes, achieving 8 % and 10 % higher grain yields for barley and wheat, respectively. This yield advantage was primarily attributed to an improved tillering ability, which partially compensated for the initial lower plant density (−67 %), larger ear size (+23 % and +22 % of the kernels per ear for the barley and wheat hybrids, respectively), and kernel weight (+3 % and +4 % for barley and wheat hybrids, respectively). In addition, the hybrids’ canopy stayed green for longer, indicating a prolonged period of active photosynthesis and improved biomass accumulation. The wheat hybrid reached a higher grain yield with fewer N inputs than the conventional genotype, and it demonstrated an improvement in N use efficiency (NUE), while the barley hybrid showed a higher yield potential and improved tolerance to foliar diseases. Overall, the increased yield potential and better NUE of the hybrid genotypes, together with tailored agronomic practices, underscore their potential in promoting a sustainable intensification of cereal cropping systems, thus making them a viable option to meet future food production challenges while mitigating environmental impacts.