Comparative performance of barley and wheat across a wide range of yielding conditions. Does barley outyield wheat consistently in low-yielding conditions?

Summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis compiled rigorous data from peer-reviewed field experiments where barley and wheat were grown side-by-side, examining the widely held assumption that barley is more resilient to stress than wheat. Mean yields across studies were approximately 440 g m⁻², ranging from 50–900 g m⁻². Contrary to widespread belief, the analysis found no consistent advantage of barley over wheat at the most stressful (low-yielding) conditions; indeed, wheat tended to outyield barley at very low yields, suggesting that land allocation decisions based on differential stress sensitivity between these species may not be well founded.

UK applicability

UK cereal growers commonly assume barley's superior drought and stress tolerance justifies its cultivation on marginal land. These findings suggest such assumptions warrant reassessment through UK-specific trials, particularly given the UK's variable climate and soil conditions.

Key measures

Grain yield (g m⁻²) across studies; yield distribution by quartile; comparative performance under low-yielding versus high-yielding conditions

Outcomes reported

The study compared grain yield performance of barley and wheat across a wide range of field conditions by synthesising data from side-by-side field experiments published between 2000 and 2020. It examined whether barley consistently outyields wheat under low-yielding (stress) conditions.

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