Annual cool‐season grain legumes grown in mixtures with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), may offer advantages over barley sole crops for forage production. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of intercropping ‘Snowbird’ tannin‐free faba bean (Vicia faba L.), ‘Arabella’ narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), and ‘Cutlass’ field pea (Pisum sativum L.), along with legume planting densities (LPD) on forage yields, nutritive value, and economic returns. Field studies were conducted at three sites in the Parkland region of Alberta, Canada, in 2004 and 2005. Each legume was planted at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0× their recommended sole crop planting density with ‘Niobe’ barley at 0.25× the recommended sole crop planting density. A barley sole crop was also included for comparison. Increasing the LPD from 0.5 to 2.0× did not effect forage dry matter (DM) but it increased the proportion of legume in the forage DM from 39 to 63%, protein concentration from 119 to 132 g kg−1, and acid detergent lignin (ADL) from 36 to 42 g kg−1 while it decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from 465 to 422 g kg−1. Faba bean–barley, lupin–barley, and pea–barley intercrops had 64, 27, and 55% higher protein yields, respectively, compared to sole crop barley. Faba bean–barley and lupin–barley had similar forage DM yields which were 1.5 Mg ha−1 and 1.3 Mg ha−1 less than pea–barley and sole barley crops, respectively. Intercrops of Cutlass pea and Niobe barley offered the most favorable combination of forage DM yields, nutritive value, and economic returns.

Pulse crop management can increase pulse yields and N fixation, but the effects of previous pulse crop management on subsequent crop performance is poorly understood. Field studies were conducted at three locations, in the Parkland region of Alberta, Canada, between 2004 and 2006. Tannin-free faba bean, narrowleaf lupin, and field pea were planted at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the recommended pulse planting density (PPD), with or without barley as a model weed. Faba bean produced the highest seed yields in higher precipitation environments, whereas pea produced the highest seed yields in lower precipitation environments. Lupin seed yields were consistently low. In the absence of weed interference, faba bean, pea, and lupin N-fixation yields ranged from 70 to 223, 78 to 147, and 46 to 173 kg N ha−1, respectively. On average, faba bean produced the highest N-fixation yield. The absence of weed interference and a high PPD increased pulse seed and N-fixation yields. Quality wheat crops were grown on pulse stubble without additional N fertilizer in some site–years. Management practices that increased N fixation resulted in only marginal subsequent wheat yield increases. Subsequent wheat seed yield was primarily influenced by pulse species. Pea stubble produced 11% higher wheat yields than lupin stubble but only 2% higher wheat yields than faba bean stubble. Consistently high wheat yields on pea stubble may be attributed to synchronized N release from decomposing pea residues with subsequent crop N demand and superior non-N rotational benefits.

Beres et al.A Global Agronomic Research Strategy countries representing a large proportion of the wheat grown in the world. The yield gap analysis and research database positions the EWG to influence priorities for wheat agronomy research in member countries that would facilitate collaborations, minimize duplication, and maximize the global impact on wheat production systems. This paper outlines a vision for a global WI agronomic research strategy and discusses activities to date. The focus of the WI-EWG is to transform the agronomic research approach in wheat cropping systems, which will be applicable to other crop species.

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Core Ideas Chlormequat chloride did not markedly reduce height or lodging, but yield increased by 2% across environments. Chlormequat chloride improved barley quality through increased test weight in moderate stands (240 plants m−2). Foliar fungicides increased grain yield by 3% across environments, which overall had low disease pressure. Dual fungicide applications increased yield more than single applications only at the higher density (355 plants m−2). Greatest grain yield was achieved by 355 plants m−2, a growth regulator, and dual fungicide applications. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) yield has increased at a slower rate than other major crops in Alberta, and barley area has declined over the last two decades. Improved agronomic management may increase grain yield and address other production constraints such as lodging, disease, and quality limitations. Field experiments were conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 at four rainfed sites and one irrigated site in Alberta, Canada, to evaluate the effects of plant density (targeting 240 or 355 plants m−2), the plant growth regulator chlormequat chloride (CCC; 2‐chloroethyl‐trimethyl‐ammonium chloride), foliar fungicide application (at flag leaf, 2 wk later, or at both application [dual] timings), four rates of post‐emergence N, and the interaction of these factors on ‘Amisk’ feed barley. There was no post‐emergence N interaction with the other agronomic practices tested in this study. The CCC did not markedly reduce height or lodging, but increased grain yield by 2%. Test weight increased by 0.5 kg hL−1 with CCC at 240 plants m−2. Foliar fungicides resulted in an average yield increase of 3% in the low disease conditions encountered in the study. Dual fungicide applications increased yield over single applications at the 355 plants m−2 density only. Combined, the most intensive agronomic practices (355 plants m−2, CCC, and dual fungicide applications) provided a 7% grain yield increase compared to the low intensity control.