Genotypic differences in manganese efficiency:: field experiments with winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Eight different winter barley genotypes were grown in a plot experiment in northern Denmark, on soil where Mn deficiency had been previously demonstrated, to assess field performance and grain yield under two treatments: with foliar Mn fertilisation and without foliar Mn fertilisation. A high Mn efficiency was demonstrated for two of the genotypes and a low Mn efficiency was observed for one of the genotypes in three consecutive years; highly variable results were obtained for other genotypes. Mn efficiency based on grain yields could not be related to whole shoot Mn concentration, biomass or Mn uptake at various vegetative growth stages. Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis was able to differentiate between the two Mn treatments up to 7 weeks after the last Mn application, whereas Mn concentrations, shoot biomass and Mn accumulation could not. It was not possible to fully alleviate Mn deficiency by repeated foliar spraying on the control plots. Given the growing conditions at the trial site and the low Mn in plant tissue, it is possible that Mn deficiency was extreme enough that Mn efficiency mechanisms broke down.