Choosing an appropriate crop variety is critical for farmers, especially in Arizona’s small-grain production systems. There exists considerable variation among small grain varieties, with each displaying distinct levels of adaptability and performance traits that ultimately affect the profitability of farming ventures. The performance of varieties can fluctuate significantly from year to year, highlighting the importance of conducting evaluations across multiple site-years to assess a variety's yield potential accurately. It is recognized that different varieties react uniquely to particular management practices and climatic conditions. As part of an ongoing initiative to assess productivity and traits, small grain varieties are currently being evaluated at the Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC) in Maricopa, Arizona. This report summarizes the growth, physiology, yield, and quality attributes of seventeen commercially available varieties of durum wheat (Triticum durum), hard red wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), hard white wheat (Triticum turgidum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) intended for spring planting in the 2024/25 growing season.
Procedure
Three types of small grains (wheat, barley, and triticale) commercial cultivars were evaluated at the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center in 2024/25 (Picture 1). Treatments were assigned to plots measuring 20 feet long by ten rows wide with a row spacing of 6.5 inches. The seed was planted using a cone planter at a seeding rate of approximately 100 pounds per acre. The study was organized in a randomized complete block design with treatment plots replicated four times. Additional details on experimental design, field history, and soil properties can be found in our recent Extension publication, which highlights the early to mid-season performance of the varieties included in the trial (Singh et al., 2025). Cultural practices followed during the season to successfully conduct the trial are outlined in Table 1. The physiological characteristics, including net photosynthesis and chlorophyll content, were measured on the flag leaf during the anthesis period (Picture 2). The yield was taken “as in” moisture basis and then adjusted to 12% moisture.
Results and discussion
The results regarding the growth, physiology, yield, and quality characteristics of commercially available small-grain varieties included in the variety trial are summarized in Tables 2 and 3. Overall, the average yield among the three types of small grains was highest for wheat at 6,208 lbs./acre, followed by triticale at 6,100 lbs./acre, and barley at 4,661 lbs./acre (Table 2). Similar trends were observed in quality parameters, such as test weight and protein content (Table 3). The study also noted variation among cultivars within each grain class in terms of growth, physiology, yield, and quality traits. For example, the coefficient of variation for yield was 5% across barley cultivars, 15% across wheat cultivars, and 6% across triticale cultivars. It’s essential to emphasize that while trials at agricultural experimental stations are valuable, they should be complemented by localized onfarm testing of new varieties. To accurately assess the performance of different varieties, it’s important to gather data from multiple locations and over several years. The findings from this trial offer useful insights and are best understood when integrated with data from various years, serving as preliminary observations to guide further research.
Acknowledgments
Financial support for this project was received from the Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council and the Arizona Crop Improvement Association. We are grateful to industry stakeholders for participating in this trial. The technical assistance of Ben Pierce and Aaron Szczepanik is greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer
This publication provides an objective summary of a small grain trial experiment and does not endorse or promote any particular brand, product, or trademark. Any references to product names, trademarks, or companies are included for informational purposes only.
References
Singh, B., Mukherjee, A., Norton, R., & Elshikha, D. E. 2025. Preliminary Evaluation Of Wheat, Barley, And Triticale Varieties At Maricopa For Early To Mid-Season 2024/25. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Publication AZ2133. https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/preliminary-evaluation-wheat-barley-and-triticale-varieties-maricopa-agricultural