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Evapotranspiration of Dryland Barley with Different Plant Spacing Patterns¹

Standard row, grid, and paired-row plant spacing patterns were compared at the same plant population for their effect on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf area index (LAI), crop canopy, evapotranspiration (ET), and yield under dryland conditions in the field. The minimum unit area of equal plant population density for all spacing patterns was 240 cm². Crop canopy was defined as the percentage of soil surface covered by the crop when viewed from a direction normal to the surface. Crop canopy and LAI were lowest for the grid spacing pattern, largely because of less tillering. During the vegetative phase with adequate water availability, the barley crop planted in the paired-row pattern had the highest LAI but intermediate crop canopy. Evapotranspiration was more closely related to crop canopy as achieved with these spacing patterns than to LAI. Slightly greater ET during the first two-thirds of the growing season by barley in the standard row pattern resulted in more water stress and lower ET later in the season, but this did not reduce grain yield below that for the other spacing patterns.

Key Words: Leaf area index • Crop canopy • Relative water content • Barley yield components • Barley yield

² Soil Scientist, USDA, Staff Research Associate and Junior Statistician, University of California, Riverside.

Received for publication February 11, 1974.