Rannsóknirákornitilstuðningsviðskammvinnaendurreisnkornræktar
Rannsóknirákornitilstuðningsviðskammvinnaendurreisnkornræktar áÍslandiásjöundaáratugi20.aldarogárangursríkendurlífgun þessararbúgreinareftir1990
LandbúnaðarháskóliÍslands
Coverphotographs:BjörnSigurbjörnsson
Photographs:1,2,4-17fromBjörnSigurbjörnsson
Photographs:18-21fromJónatanHermannsson
Thisreportispartscienceandparthistory.Itdealswithresearchandfarmingactivitiesinsmallgrain productioninIcelandhalfacenturyagoanditsrecentrevival.Itallstartedin1960,increasedswiftly overafewyearsandthendisappeared,almostasswiftly,whentheweatherinIcelandtookaturnfor theworsewiththearrivalof–whatsomehavecalled–asmalliceage.Itwasnotuntilthemid1990s whengrainproductiontookwingagain,coincidingwithatrendtowardsmorefavourablegrowing conditions.Intheearly1960smanyfarmers,afarmers´cooperativeandstateandprivatecompanies startedbarleyproductiononafairlylarge-scaleinmanylocationsinIcelandbutprimarilyinthesouth centralpart.RightfromthebeginningtheGovernmentofIcelandrecognizedtheriskinvolvedwith graingrowinginacountrywithoutgraincultivarsadaptedtolocalgrowingconditions.Thus,funds weremadeavailabletotheDepartmentofAgricultureoftheUniversityofIcelandResearchInstitute. Itwasgiventhetaskoftestingforeignsmallgraincultivarsandgenepoolsaswellastostartacereal breedingprogrammeandassociatedresearchonfertilizerrequirementsandsuitablecultivation techniques.Thisresearchwentonformostofthe1960suntilunfavourablesummerweathermade graingrowingtoorisky.Asallthecultivarstestedduringthisperiodarenowobsolete,nodetailedand statisticallyanalysedinformationontheperformanceofthedifferentgenotypestestedispresented. Researchandbreedingofgrain,chieflybarley,didnottakeoffagainuntilthe1990s.Now,barley farmingcanbeconsideredanestablishedandsuccessfulagriculturalindustryinIceland.
Skýrslaþessierbæðivísindiogsaga.HúnfjallarumrannsóknirogræktunákorniáÍslandiá tímabilinumilli1960og1970.Niðurstöðurrannsóknannavorualdreigerðaruppogbirtarí vísindatímaritumafþvíaðvaxandikuldaskeiðáþessumáratugkomnæstumívegfyrirþroskunkorns ogfrekariáhugabændaákornræktogtengdumrannsóknumþangaðtiláratugumseinna.Íbyrjun sjöundaáratugarinshófumargirbændur,samtökbænda,ríkis-ogeinkarekinfyrirtækikornrækt, næstumengöngubyggrækt,aðallegaáSuður-ogAusturlandi.Stjórnvöldskynjuðustraxþennan áhugabændaákornrækt,eneinnigþááhættusembændurtækjumeðslíkriræktunánþessaðtilværu yrkiafbyggisemkynbætthöfðuveriðfyriríslenskaraðstæðureðaerlendyrkisemgæfunægjanlega uppskeruííslenskriveðráttu.ÞauveittuþvírausnalegframlögtilBúnaðardeildarAtvinnudeildar háskólanstilaðstóraukaleitogprófunáerlendumkornyrkjumogtilkynbótaábyggi,ásamtauknum rannsóknumááburðarnotkunogöðrumþáttumsemáhrifhafaávöxtogþroskakorns.Þessar rannsóknirhófustárið1961ogvarhaldiðáframframeftirþeimáratugþangaðtilkólnandiog versnandiveðurfarkomívegfyrirkornþroskun.Þarmeðeyðilögðustallarkynbótalínurog sömuleiðisnærallirkornakrarbændaunsþeirmisstunæralliráhugaáfrekarikornræktartilraunum. Þarsemöllkornyrkisemrannsökuðvoruíþessumtilraunumeruekkiræktuðlengurogallar kynbótalínurglötuðusterekkiaðfinnaútreiknaðarniðurstöðurumframmistöðuþessarayrkjaog kynbótalína.RannsóknirogkynbæturábyggihófustekkiafturfyrrenveðráttaáÍslandifórbatnandi umogeftir1990.Númáteljabyggræktmeðalviðurkenndraogárangursríkrabúgreinaííslenskum landbúnaði.Uppskerabyggsáundanförnumárumerumtvisvartilþrisvarsinnummeiriáhektaraen bestiárangurítilraunareitumogáökrumbændaásjöttaáratug20.aldar.
Icelandwassettledinthelate9th centurybyapopulationimmigratingfromScandinavia,thenorthern BritishIsles,ScotlandandIreland.Mostofthesettlerswerefarmersandtheirfamilies.Theybrought withthemseedsofsmallgrains,primarilybarley,fromtheirformerfarmsandplantedthemin Iceland.ThisisfrequentlyreportedintheIcelandicSagas.Today,therearemanynamesoffarmsand otherplacenameswhichrelatetograins– korn –inIcelandic,asinmanyotherGermaniclanguages, andtograinfields– akurorakrar –inIcelandic.GraingrowingwaswidelypracticedinScandinavia andtheBritishIslesatthetimeofthesettlementofIceland.However,thehighestsummer temperaturesinIcelandwereabout4°Clowerthaninthecountriesofthesettlers´origin.Thus,the grainfromtheseedstheytookwiththemdidnotdevelopaswellinIcelandasontheirfarmsinthe oldcountry,nordidtheygiveanywhereneartheharvesttheywouldhaveexpected.Theymust certainlyhavebeendisappointedwiththeperformanceoftheseseedsandthesizeoftheharvest. FindinghomegrownbarleyseedsforplantingmusthavebeendifficultasgraingrowninIceland rarelyreachedsufficientdegreeofmaturitytoallowthemtoproduceseedswhichgerminatedand developedintoanewcrop.
AccountsintheIcelandicSagasindicatethatgrain,almostexclusivelybarley,continuedtobegrown untilthe14th century.Grainproductiongraduallydecreased,mostlikelybecauseofdeteriorating climatemakingviableseeds unavailableforreseedinggrain fieldsandgeneralpoor performanceofbarley,evenifseed grainmayhavebeensecuredfrom overseas(JónatanHermannsson, 1993).Nograinvarietiesfromthis periodexistnow.Theoldprimitive varietiesofbarley,Tamparand SigurfromtheFaroeIslands,may betheclosestrelativesofthebarley varietiescultivatedinthefirsthalf millenniumafterIcelandwas settled.Thesevarietiesarestill grownexperimentallyinIceland andhaveprovidedgeneticmaterial forthehighlysuccessfulbarley breedingprogrammecarriedout since1990andledbyJónatan Hermannsson.Theyarebeing maintainedbytheNordicGenetic ResourceCentre.
Archaeologicalstudiesmadeby SturlaFridrikssonhaverevealed welldevelopedbarleygrainsin Icelandfromthe11th century. Otherdiscoveriesofbarleygrains fromthe14th centuryshowpoorly ripenedseeds.Inthemid-18th
centuryNorwegianandDanishfarmerscametoIcelandtocultivatebarleyandteachfarmershowto growbarley.Theywerenotsuccessful.LaterinthesamecenturytwoIcelandersweresentabroadto learngrainfarming,alsowithoutsuccess,probablyduetotheverycoldclimaticconditionsinIceland duringmostofthe18th century.
ItwasnotuntilKlemenzKr.Kristjánsson,whoheadedtheSámsstaðirStateExperimentalStationin southcentralIceland,startedtoexperimentwithbarleycultivationinthe1920sthatgrainproduction slowlyattractedinterestinIceland.Klemenzwasanagronomistbytrainingandcarriedout comparativestudiesofintroducedbarleyvarietiesaswellasstudiesonfertilizerapplications,tilling methodsandmethodsofplantingseeds.HethuslaidthefoundationforgraingrowinginIcelandin the20th century.Hewasnotabreederanddidnotattemptanycross-breeding.Followinghisfairly successfulexperiencewithbarleycultivation,otherfarmersinsouthandeastIcelandbegantogrow barleyonasmallscaleinthe1950s.Afterasmallimprovementinsummertemperatures,especiallyin 1960,abriefrenaissanceingrainproductionstartedandgrewrapidlyforafewyearsonlytobestifled quicklyagainbyworseninggrowingconditionstowardstheendofthatdecadewiththearrivalofa small„iceage“.Itputanendtoalmostallfurtherattemptsatsmallgrainproductionaswellastothe buddingresearchandbreedingeffortswhichhadbeenstartedbytheUniversityofIcelandResearch Institutein1961.Towardstheendofthedecadenoneofthebreedingmaterialsurvivedlongenough toproduceviableseedsandwidespreadharvestfailuresdiscouragedalmostallfarmersfromfurther attemptsatgraingrowing.Furtherresearcheffortsalsobecamepointless.Thus,atthetimetherewas littleinterestincompletingthedataanalysisandpublishingtheresultsoftheresearchasascientific paper.Duringthespanoftheresearchactivities,however,reportsontheexperimentalfindingswere madeavailabletofarmersinlectures,farmers´publicationsandnewspapers,mostofwhich,plusmost oftheoriginalresearchdata,stillexist.Thismaterialformsthebasisforthisreport.Barleycultivation wascontinuedononlytwofarms,thesameonesthatdidsobeforethe„renaissance“.Oneofthem, thefarmThorvaldseyriinsouthIceland,istodayarguablythemostsuccessfulgraingrowingfarmin Iceland.
TheclimateinIcelandispredominantlyinfluencedbythefarnorthgeographiclocationofthe country,touchingtheArcticCircle,althoughthewarmGulfStream,togetherwiththeabundant daylightinthesummer,makestheislandmoreinhabitable.Thedecisivefactorsforsuccessfulgrain farminginIcelandaresummertemperatures,cloudcoverandthelengthofthegrowingseason.This meansthearrivalofspringattheendofAprilorbeginningofMayandthefirstincidencesofearly autumnfrostsorstormyandwetweatherduringharvestinSeptemberandOctober.Available accountsonweatherconditionsfromthetimeofsettlement,togetherwithdatafromtheIcelandic MeteorologicalOffice,indicateclearlythattemperaturesatthetimeofsettlementandduringthe following500yearsweresignificantlyhigherthanthoseprevailingduringtheMiddleAgesintothe 20th century(SigurðurThórarinsson,1974).Thehighestsummertemperaturesinthe20th centuryhave alsovariedconsiderablyandthegoodresultsinbarleycultivationatSámsstaðirStateExperimental Stationcoincidedforexamplewithfavourableperiods(Figure3).Betterweatherinthelate1950sand especiallyin1960,togetherwiththefairlysuccessfulbarleycultivationbyafewfarmersineastand southIceland,seemstohavebeenthemainstimulusforthesurprisinglygreatinterestingrain growingandthewillingnesstotakerisksbyfarmersandothersingreatlyexpandinggrainacreageat thattime.Asonecanreadinnewspaperarticlesandotherpublishedmaterialfromthistimethere werehighexpectationsandevengreaterhopesforabrightergrainfutureinIceland.Itisalsoquite clearthattherapidlydecreasingtemperaturesafter1960explainwhythisrenaissancewassoshort
lived(Figure3).Poorergrowingconditionsinthe1960swerenotonlyduetothedecreasingsummer temperaturesbutalsotolatespringsandtheearlyautumnfrostsandstorms.
Figure3.Meansummertemperature(May-September)inReykjavik1924-2013(redline)andmeansforthe warmest14years1928-41(10.02°C),coldest14years1979-86(8.42°C)andthelast14years2000-2013 (9.79°C)(providedbyJónatanHermannsson,basedondatafromtheIcelandicMeteorologicalOffice).
Aswillbediscussedlaterthesuccessfulgraincultivationintheyearsafter1990clearlycoincided withhighersummertemperatures,althoughthehighlysignificant,ifnotoutstandingadvancesin barleybreedinginIcelandinthe1990sareasimportantifnotthecrucialfactorforthisremarkable success.
Thesummerof1960hadmanywarmandsunnydays.Theauthor,havingreturnedthatspringfrom manyyearsofstudiesabroad,wasquiteimpressedwiththerapidmaturityofgrainandgrassseeds allowingforextensivecollectionsofseedsofdifferenttypesofpasture,hayandcropplants.This includedimportedbromegrass(Bromusinermis)fromNorthAmerica,whichdidnotbearviable seedsbefore1960orformanyyearsafter.TheIcelandicGovernment,theAgriculturalSocietyof Iceland,someprivatecommercialfirmsandanumberoffarmerswerestimulatedbythesefavourable conditionsandtherecentsuccessofsomefarmerstostartlarge-scalegrainproductionwiththe perhapsunderstandablehopeandexpectationthattheyear1960signalledthebeginningoffavourable growingconditionsinIcelandforyearstocome.
TheUnionofIcelandicCooperatives(SIS)establishedlargebarleyfieldsnearHvolsvöllurinsouth Iceland.Someprivatecompanies,e.g.thefirmHafrafell,alsohadlargebarleyfieldsnearthefarm Gunnarsholt,thesiteoftheHeadquartersoftheSoilConservationService.Gunnarsholtbecamethe mainsiteofthesmallgrainresearchprogrammewhichstartedin1961.InnortheastIcelandalarge barleyprojectwasstartedinSuður-Thingeyjarsýsla,nearthewaterfallGoðafoss,byanIcelander, BjarniPétursson,whohadjustreturnedafterseveralyearsofrunningagrainandbeeffarming operationinColorado,U.S.A.HedecidedtousehisexperienceandknowhowtosetupColoradostylefarminginthisarea.Thefarmersformedacooperativeandploughedabout100haofland,
boughtallthenecessaryequipment forsmallgraingrowing,including acombineandadriertoproduce feedgrainfortheirlivestock.The authordrewuptheplansforthem, orderedbarleyseedofthevarieties thoughttobebestadaptedtothe areaandtheseedswereplantedin thespringof1962.TheMinisterof Agricultureatthetime,Mr. IngolfurJónsson,statedinthe Althingthatgraingrowingin Icelandwasstillariskybusiness andwithoutextensiveresearch work,primarilytodevelopbetter adaptedgrainvarieties,itwould notbecomeadependablefarming enterpriseinIceland.Thiswas mostunusualforapoliticiantosay inanycountry.In1960the Governmenthadestablishedthe firmFeedandSeedatGunnarsholt withthetaskofproducinggrass pellets,foragegrassseedsand barleyonerodedlandreclaimedby theSoilConservationService.The firmpurchasedseedingequipment, combinesandagraindrier.The Governmentalsoprovidedfundsto theUniversityofIcelandfor startingtheresearchandbreeding activities.TheMinisterappointed thepresentauthortoorganizeandleadthisresearchwhichexpandedrapidlyintheearly1960s. In1960therewereabout50haofbarleyinIceland.In1961,theacreagehadgrowntenfoldtosome 500hawithyieldsof1.6–2.0tha-1,givingabout800to2000tonsofdrygrain(15%moisture). Therewerealsosome200haofoats.Itwasreportedontheradiothatsomefarmersgotupto3tha-1 in1961.Ofthisacreageabout300hawereownedbystateandprivatefirms,allnearGunnarsholtin southIceland.Althoughgrowingconditionsforsmallgraingrowingwerenotconsideredoptimaland theharvestseasonbad,thegrowerswereingeneralnottoounhappywiththeoutcomeandtheplans for1962wereonalargerscaleandmanymorefarmersjoined.Thefollowingparameterswere recordedforthegrowingofbarleyatGunnarsholtin1961:theseedratewas130-170kgha-1,the recommendedfertilizerratesforsandysoilswere115kgofN,40kgofP(P2 O5, triplephosphate) and50kgofK(K2Opotassium)ha-1.Forloamsoilstherecommendationswere:43-56kgN(higher Napplicationshadbeenshowntodelayripening),40kgPand50kgKha-1.Thetimeofseedingand fertilizerapplicationwasingeneralbetween2and20May.Thefirsttrialwasharvestedon7 Septemberandharvestwascompletedon7October.Themoisturecontentofthegrainatharvestwas 40-50%.Itwasthendriedinoildriersdownto15%moistureforstorage(personalrecordsfrom
1961).In1962thebarleyacreagereachedsome1200habutthegrowingconditionshadcontinuedto deteriorateleadingtoarapiddecreaseinbarleyacreageinthefollowingyears.
TheweatherGods,ontheotherhand,didnotsharethisenthusiasmandturnedtheclimateinanother direction(Table1).Scanningthecorrespondencetheauthorhadwithhiscolleaguesandco-workersat thetime,onecandiscernthedisappointmentandgloomthattherapidlyworseningclimaticconditions werehavingonthisbuddingenterprise:thestrivetowardsself-sufficiencyinfeedgrainproduction. After1963theresearchactivitiesgraduallysloweddownalongwiththedeteriorationingrowing conditionsanddecreasingbarleyyieldstowardstheendofthedecadewhenbarleywasonlygrownon twofarmsinsouthIceland.Thefarmer,EggertÓlafsson,ononeofthesetwofarms,Thorvaldseyri, reportedlaterthatallthroughthesebadyearshewasabletoobtainacceptableharvestsupto2tha-1
Table1.Meansummertemperatures(°C)atfivelocationsinIceland,1931-1965(fromJónasJónsson,1966).
Location 1931-60 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
Sámsstaðir 9.60 10.50 9.70 9.18 8.64 8.84 9.20 Reykjavík 9.40 10.20 9.57 9.10 8.22 8.88 9.22
Akureyri 8.92 9.38 9.10 8.38 7.40 8.06 7.76 Hornafjörður 9.06 9.58 9.58 8.54 8.38 8.68 7.54 VíkíMýrdal 9.54 9.98 9.98 9.28 9.00 8.86 n.a.
Thedropintemperaturesintheearly1960sdidnotonlyaffectIceland;itseemedtohaveaffected agricultureinmanycountriesinnorthernEurope.In1962itwasnotpossibletoobtainbarleyseed fromtheNorwegianco-operator,M.Bjaanes,becauseofharvestfailures.SimilarlyErkkiKiwi,the HeadoftheHankkijaExperimentalFarmatTammisto,Finland,wrotetosaythattheywereunableto provideseedsofbarley,wheatandoatsbecauseofcropfailuresin1962and,indeed,hadtoimport seedsthemselves.KlemenzKr.Kristjánsson,headofSámsstaðirStateExperimentalStation,wrote abouttheconditionsforgraingrowinginIcelandin1963:„Thesummerof1963wasunsuitablefor potatoandgraingrowing.Itwasnotthespringthatcauseditbutthelatterpartofthesummer.InJuly themeantemperaturewas1.3°Cbelowaverage.Therewasonenightbelowfreezingandmanycold nights.Augustwas1°Cbelowaveragewith8coldandfrostynights.Septemberwas1°Cbelow averagewith10coldandfrostynightsbefore23September.Suchabadseasonhasnotoccurredin the38summersIhaveoperatedthisstation,althoughthesummersof1937and1940weresimilarbut notasbadasthissummer.“Thegreatenthusiasmaccompanyingthestart-upoflarge-scalebarley productioninIcelandintheearly1960sarousedthepublicandthepresstocloselyfollowthese developments.Thepresswasespeciallyinterestedinreportingthemakingofbreadandcakesfrom theNorwegianwheatvarietyNorrøna,bredbyDr.M.Bjaanes,grownatGunnarsholtin1963,aswell asintheaccompanyingresearchactivitiesaimedatstartingthisenterpriseontherightfoot.
After1965themeansummertemperaturesplungedeventuallyto7.1°Cin1979and7.5°Cin1983 withsomefluctuationfromyeartoyear.After1984thelong-termaverageslowlyroseuntil,inthe early1990s,itexceeded9°Cagain.Thisledtoaspurtingraingrowingwithaveragesummer
temperaturesstartingtoexceed10°Ccoupledwithexcellentsuccesssinhybridizationandselection, resultinginsuperiorbarleylines.GraingrowinginIcelandnowhasbecomefairlywidespreadwith meanyieldsgenerallyover3tha-1 andinsomeareasreaching6-8tha-1,onparwithgoodresultsin Scandinavia.Thiswasbroughtaboutbyamajoremphasisonbreeding,butbetterknowledgeof cultivationtechniquesandfertilizerusewasalreadyathandfromthebarleyfieldexperiments conductedduringthebrief„renaissance“periodintheearly1960s.
Itisinterestingtotracethehistoryofgraingrowinginthe1960sthroughreportsandadviceonbarley farmingwhichwerepublishedintheFarmers´Handbook(HandbókBænda)forthatperiod.In1960 therewasnospecialreferencetograinproductionandalltheemphasiswasgiventoforageand horticulturalproduction.In1961,however,KlemenzKr.Kristjánssonwroteashortchapteroncereal growing(pp.128-130)followedbytwochaptersbythepresentauthorin1962(pp.102-107)and 1963(pp.138-142).In1964therewasnospecialreferencetograingrowingbutthreeofthe experimentalstationsreportedthatsometrialswerecarriedout,allwithpoorornosuccessduetobad weather.In1965thereisnospecialentryongraingrowingintheHandbookbuttwoexperimental stationsinnorthandeastIceland carriedoutsomevariety comparisonswithpoorresults.The AkureyriStationreportedthatthe Farmers´BarleyGrowing Cooperative,Öxará,inNorthThingeyjarsýsla,underthe leadershipoftheformerColorado farmerBjarniPétursson,had decidedtocurtailtheiroperations andthatAkureyriwastheonly placeinnorthIcelandthatgrew barleyin1964.In1966my successor,JónasJónsson,wrotein theFarmers´Handbookatenpage reviewofgraingrowingforthesix years1960-1965.Hereportedthe decliningperformanceofsmall graincultivarsinthisperiodbut concludedthattherewerecertain favourableareasinsouth,southeastandeastIcelandwheregrain productioncouldberecommended. Hisconclusionwasthatthelow yieldswereduetothedeclinein meansummertemperaturesforthe period.Healsomade recommendationstofarmersforthe choiceofvarietiesandfertilizer ratesbasedontheresultsofthe
fieldresearch.Therewasalsoanarticleinthesameissue(p229)whereitwasrecommendedthat, insteadofoil-fireddrying,farmersshouldpreserveharvestedbutimmaturegrainassilageusing specialplasticcontainersorputtingthegraininearthdugoutsratherthanattemptdrying.The1967to 1973issuesdidnotcontainanyreferencetograingrowingbutsomeoftheexperimentalstations reportedonminortrialsandthepoorresultsobtained.After1970theonlyreferencetobarleygrowing camefromtheSámsstaðirExperimentalStationwhere5-10haofbarleyweregrowneachyearwith yieldsupto1tha-1 .
Forthevariousreasonsdiscussedabove,anumberoffarmersthroughoutIcelanddecidedthatthe seventhdecadeofthe20th centurywouldseecerealgrowingdevelopingintoanimportantindustryin Icelandicagriculture.AfterahalfamillenniumsincethedisappearanceofgrainfieldsfromIcelandic farmsalargescaleeffortwouldbelaunched.Themaindrawback,togetherwiththeunfavourableand unpredictableweatherconditions,wasthelackofsuitablesmallgrainvarietiesforIcelandic conditionsasnotedbefore.Therewerenolocallybredvarietiesandonlyafewintroducedvarieties hadbeentested.Furthermore,duetotheverydifferenttypesofsoilsavailableforgraingrowing, consistingofdrainedbogs,dryloamsoilsandvastareasoferodedsanddeserts,knowledgeof suitablefertilizerrates,spacingandsowingtimesforthesevariedsoiltypeswaslimited.Alsovery fewfarmershadmuchexperiencewithsoilcultivationandgrainproductionasmostofIcelandic agriculturewasbasedonpermanenthayfieldsandpastures.
Thetasksaheadforthescientistswerethereforeratherclear-cut:Breedorfindadaptedvarietieswith emphasisonbarley,determinesuitabletypesandratesoffertilizerapplicationsandoptimalspacingof rowsandofsowingtimesforthedifferentsoilandweatherconditionsinthecountry.Thusthewinter of1960-61wasspentestablishingaresearchteam,contactingsourcesforseedsofinterestingvarieties andorderingsamplesfortesting,drawingupstatisticaldesignsforthevariousfieldexperimentstobe carriedoutondifferentsoiltypesandindifferentpartsofthecountryandweighingouttheportions ofseedsandfertilizersforeachplot.Fortunatelytheextrafundsprovidedfromthestatebudget permittedthedesignofarathercomprehensiveplanofexperimentation.Mostoftheseedsamplesof smallgrainvarietiesandlineswereobtainedfromtheScandinaviancountries,thenorthernEuropean continent,theUKandNorthAmerica.Linesofbarley,oatsandwheatwerealsoobtainedfromthe SovietUnionandChina.Thebreedingmaterialwastocomefromtargetedcrossesofselected introducedvarietiestotheextenthybridizationcouldbecarriedoutinIceland,whichthendidnot haveanygreenhousefacilitiesavailableforresearch.Furthermore,theauthormadecontactswith colleagues,mostlyinCanada,theU.S.A.andScandinaviatoaskthemtosendsegregatingmaterial fromtheirowncross-breedingprogrammesaswellasfromtheirradiation-inducedmutation programmes.AlsowereceivedseedsfromtheUSDA,California,resultingfromwhatwascalled compositecrosses,consistingofsegregatingpopulationsof15male-sterilefemaleparentsinterseededwithnumerouspollenproviders.Allthismaterialwasinvariousstagesofadvanced segregationfromF2 orM2 toadvancedF3-5 andM3-5 generations.Allwehadtodowastospotthe winner!Littledidweknowatthebeginningthatverysoonthedeterioratingclimaticconditionswould notallowanyofourselectionstoripensufficientlytogiveanygerminableseeds,thusruiningour breedingefforts.Thelastrecordintheauthor´spossessionofanybreedingactivityinthisperiodis from1965.
Thestaffandotherpersonsassociatedwiththeresearchactivities,inadditiontotheauthor,weremy closestco-workerGunnarÓlafsson,agraduatefromNorway,lateraPhDexpertinanimalnutrition
Figure9. SeedingcerealtrialatGunnarsholt,1962.Gunnar Ólafssonontractor.
andmysuccessorasDirectorofthe IcelandicAgriculturalResearch Institute,RALA;JónasJónsson, alsoagraduatefromNorwaywho tookoverassupervisorofthe experimentalworkaftermy departurein1963(helaterbecame DirectoroftheAgriculturalSociety ofIceland);ÓlafurÁsgeirsson,an agriculturalgraduate;Einar Erlendsson,anagronomist,who laterbecameHeadoftheKorpa ExperimentalStation;Friðrik Pálmason,agraduatefrom DenmarkwholaterbecameaPhD expertinplantnutritionatRALA;a numberofagriculturaladviserswho operatedthefieldtrialsalloverthe countryandarenamedlaterand manyothers.PállSveinsson,the DirectoroftheStateSoil ConservationService,Gunnarsholt, wasextremelysupportiveofthe researchactivities,makingavailable thelandundermostofthe experiments,alllandpreparations, fencingandfertilizers.Moredetails onexperimentalactivitiesduring 1961aregiveninAppendix.
Themainconclusionfromthe Gunnarsholttrialsonsandwerethat with18kgPha-1,increasingNfrom90-130kgha-1 didnotresultinyieldincreasesinbarley. However,therewassignificantincreaseinyieldbyraisingNfertilizerto130kgha-1 ifPwasalso increasedto25kgha-1 .RaisingbothNandPincreasedyieldsontheerodedsands.Theapplicationof Khadnoeffectonyield.TherewerealsoindicationsthatincreasingbothNandPabove130/25kg ha-1 mightleadtohigheryieldsontheerodedsands.Allthe1961datawerestatisticallyanalysed.The replicationsweremostly2-4andthesizeoftheplotsgenerally6m2.Thestatisticalplansforfourlarge experimentsatKorpaandGunnarsholtwerecompletelyrandomizedfactorial,twoweresplitplot factorialandtwowererandomizedblockwithacontrolvariety.OnetrialatKorpawaslaidoutas triplepartiallybalancedlattice.Theresultswereusedinmeetingswithfarmersandagricultural advisersandpresentedinarticlesongraingrowingintheFarmers’Handbooksduringthisperiod.The intentionwastoanalyseandpreparethefieldresultsforthefirstfiveyearsforpublicationina scientificpaperbutafterthecollapseofgraingrowinginIcelandresultingfromthedeteriorating climatetheredidnotappeartobeanyinterestinpreparingtheresultsforpublicationinscientific journals.
Theyear1961hadbeenacceptabletosomegrainfarmersbutalmostafailureforothers.Therewas stillmuchinterestandenthusiasmforthefutureofgraingrowinginIceland.Certainlytheweather
hadtoimprovein1962,atleastthisiswhatfarmersbelieved–orhopedfor.In1962thebarley acreageincreasedfromsome500hain1961toabout1500ha.Theresearchersmadebigplansfor 1962withsome2400plots,mainlyatGunnarsholt,KorpaandSkógasandurbutalsowithlocaltrials atthefollowinglocations:VíkinMýrdalinthecentralsouth,Hornafjörðurinthesouth-east, EgilsstaðirandelsewhereinFljótsdalur,includingtheexperimentalstationSkriðuklausturineast Iceland,SouthThingeyjarsýslanearGoðafossinthenortheast;Barkarstaðir,Húnavatnssýslainthe north-westandBæjarsveitnearHvanneyriAgriculturalCollegeinthesouth-west.Theexperiments werecarriedoutondrainedbogs,dryriverbeds,ploughedhayfieldsandonsandysoilsanderoded sands.
MostoftheexperimentswerecarriedoutatGunnarsholt,bothonerodedsandsandoncultivated hayfields.Threetypesofresearchwerecarriedout:Breedingofbarley,oatsandwheat,comparisons ofcultivarsandlines,andfertilizertrials(formoredetailsseeAppendix).Thethreshingandcleaning ofallplotharvestsandtheanalysesofdatawerecarriedoutattheAgricultureDepartment,University ofIcelandResearchInstitute,Reykjavík.Anumberofsomeofthe2400plotsin41experiments carriedoutin1962gavenomaturegrainsduetotheveryunfavourablesummerweatherconditions andseverelatesummerstorms.Nevertheless,insomeareasmanyofthecerealvarietiesreached maturityandyieldedvaluableinformation.Areportongrainfarminggivenbytheauthorto agriculturaladvisersinthespring of1963concludedthefollowing: „Thenewgraingrowingactivities startedin1961andwenowhave experiencefromtwoseasons.The resultswereacceptablein1961 andpoorin1962.Thesummerof 1962wasdifficultandnotsuitable forgrainproduction.Spring seedingswerelate,thespringwas cold,thesummeracceptablebut seriousfrostsinAugustand Septemberstoppedtheripening processandheavystormsin Septemberdelayedtheharvestand causeddamagesinthefields.The worstexperimentalresultswerein northandnorth-eastIceland.Poor resultsinnorth-westandwest IcelandandalsoinsouthIceland asfareastasEyjafjöll,justeastof Sámsstadir.Fromthereeastto Hornafjörðurtheresultswere acceptable,2tha-1 ormore“.The highestyieldsweremeasuredat Hvammur,Langadalinthenorth westandatTeigingarlækurinthe southeast.Ontheerodedsandsin southIceland,theoldFaroe varietySigurhadthehighestyield,
Figure11. Barleyfield,varietyJøtun,withvolcanoHeklain background1961.
wellover2tha-1.However,Sigurissoshatteringresistantmakingthreshingdifficult.Itisinteresting tonotethatontheerodedsands,oatsyieldedmostoftentwicethatofbarley.Wheatsownon20April yieldedequaltobarleybutlessthanoats.However,wheatseeded28Aprilgavehardlyanyharvest. In1962,dataforanalysiswereavailablefromfourfertilizerexperimentsatGunnarsholtandoneat Skógasandur.Thereweresixexperimentscomparingvarietiesofthethreesmallgrainspecies. AnalysisofsomeoftheexperimentaldatawascarriedoutbyProfessorOvidNissen,Institutefor PlantProduction,theAgriculturalCollegeofNorway.Hedidthestatisticalanalysison70varietiesof barleyforscoresgivenforlodging,shatteringandearliness.Healsodidstatisticalanalysisona fertilizerexperimentwith40barleyvarietiesandtwofertilizertreatmentsforscoresgivenforthe sameparametersasabove.Therewerenosuchanalysesdoneforyieldsduetothepoordevelopment ofthekernelsinthe1962growingseason.Thedetailedresultswereneverpublishedbutusedin recommendationsgivenintheFarmers’Handbookthefollowingyearandatmeetingswithfarmers andagriculturaladvisers.
Thegrowingconditionsin1962wereworstinnorthandeastIcelandbutcanbedescribedasvery poorforthewholecountry.TheagriculturaladviserforeastIceland,PállSigbjörnsson,whocarried outatrialwithtwobarleyvarieties,wroteinOctober1962:„theemergenceoftheplantswas satisfactorybuttheywereslowtodevelopduetotheverycoldweather.Thelandwasverywetatthe timeofseedingwhichalsocaused somedelays.On16Septemberthe frostreached-7°Cwhichfollowed afewfrostynights.Atthattimethe 6-rowbarleyvarietyEddawas greenandthebarleyvarietyFløya wasbeginningtoturnyellow.The frostthatnightcausedFløyatoturn white,dryupanddie.Eddaseemed notmuchaffectedbythefrostand continuedtoripen.TheEdda varietyalsosufferedfrom shattering“.TheNorwegianwheat varietyNorrønafromDr.M. Bjaanesgrownon0.3haoferoded sandatGunnarsholt,didquitewell. Thematuregrainwasharvested, threshedandground.Theflourwas giventotheHomeEconomics SchoolinReykjavíkwherethe headmistressandteachersbaked breadandvarioussortsofcakes, thefirstbakedproductsfromwheat growninIceland.Thiswasquitea sensationandreportedon extensivelyinthemediaatthe time.
Theverypooroutcomefromgrain growinginIcelandin1962resulted
inlessenthusiasmamonggrowers,althoughmanywerestilloptimisticandbelievedinbettertimes ahead.Thus,in1963therewasconsiderableincreaseingraingrowinginIceland.Althoughsomewhat discouraged,theresearchgroupworkedoutfairlyextensiveplansforthefollowingsummer.The meagreresultsobtainedin1962wereusedtoupdateadvicetofarmers,usedinafewlectures,butthe resultswereneverpublishedinacustomarymannerforscientificresults,asinterestinfurthergrain growingbyfarmersquicklywaned.Thegroupstillhadhopesforthenewselectionstheyhadmade amongthebreedinglines,someofwhichlookedverypromising.Noneofthe70introducedvarieties ofbarleytestedprovedtobeadaptedtothegrowingconditionsexperiencedin1962.Itisnoteworthy thatoatsdidconsiderablybetterthanbarleyinthetrialsbutforsomereasongrowingoatsforgrain hasneverbecomepopularbyfarmers,althoughoatcultivationforgreenfodderwaswidelypracticed inIceland(andoatporridgeapopulardish,notonlyonfarms).Therewasalsolittleinterestinwheat, inspiteofthereasonablesuccessattained.
Thecerealresearchin1963startedinaremarkableway.ThewinterhadbeenmildandinMarchthere wasnofrostinthegroundintheerodedsandlandsinsouthIceland.Thelate-winterweatherhadbeen sunnyfordayswithtemperaturesof8-10°C.Itwasthereforedecidedtoconducttrialscomparingthe effectsofsowingtimeongrain maturityandyieldatSkógasandur. Detailedplansweremadewith threesowingdates,on12March, 10Apriland13May,usingone varietyeachofbarley,oatsand seedrape.Whenitcametothe2nd plantingdateinApril,the expeditionreachingSkógasandur on8Aprilfoundthattheplants sownon12Marchhadgrownto5 cm.Thefollowingdaywasspent seedingafewvarietaltestingand fertilizerexperiments,the2nd sowingdatetreatmentbeing plannedfor10April.Theteamhad erectedtwotentsonthesandand hadonestationwagonloaded downwithseeders,fertilizer spreaders,seedandfertilizerbags inadditiontothefourfieldstaff. Thedayhadbeenpleasant,blue skiesandthetemperaturearound 8°C.Afterahardday’swork,we satinoneofthetentsaround7pm tohavedinner,whenoutofthat bluesky,aviolentstormslammed intothetents.Wemanagedtogeta holdofthetentwewereinbutthe othertent,wherethesuppliesand someequipmentwerestored, simplytookoffintotheyonder.
Wegotoutandsensedtheice-coldorkanbeingwhippedup.Wehadgreatdifficultyloadingthecar, butheadedthroughtheverycoldandviolentstormforthenearestfarmwherewestayedovernight. Themorningafterthetemperaturehaddroppedfrom+8°Cto-17°Candthewindhadblownawayall theplantingsfromMarchandruinedalargepartoftheplantingswehadjustmade,nottospeakofthe tentandsupplies.Thisstormisstillreferredtoasthestormthatkilledmostofthepoplartreesand SitkasprucesinIceland,andalsotookthelivesofanumberoffishermen.TheMaysowingwas carriedoutwithoutincident.Theyieldsofthesurvivingplantswerepoororrangingfrom0.12to1.45 tha-1.Adetailedaccountofotherexperimentsfrom1963canbefoundinAppendix.
Inthefallof1963,theauthorfollowedthemigrantbirdsandmovedfromIcelandtowarmerclimes firstontemporaryleavesothathewasinnominalchargeofthegrainexperimentalactivitiesforthe followingtwoyears.JónasJónssontookoverthesupervisionoftheresearchactivitiesongrainand carriedthemoutuntiltheywereterminated.Theresearchactivitiesinthefollowingyearsweremore orlessalongthesamelinesasdescribedabove.Emphasiswasputonfindingsuitableintroduced varietiesandcontinuingthebreedingprogrammethroughfurtherselectionandpropagatingpromising breedinglines.
Farmersandagriculturaladviserswerestillinterestedindoinglocaltrialsandobservations.Inthe years1962and1963theclimaticconditionshadbecomeprogressivelyworsebut1964turnedoutto bestillworseasreportedintheletterfromKlemenzKr.Kristjánssoncitedabove.Itisinterestingto notethatinhisletterhereportsthatinthiscoldsummerof1964,theradiation-mutant,the2-row barleyvarietyMari,bredbyProf.ÅkeGustafssonofSvalöf,Sweden,yielded3.5tha-1 andalineof Dönnesbarleyyielded3.2tha-1 atSámsstaðir.Winterbarley,seededon15July1963andharvested fullyripeon10August1964yielded3.5tha-1.Klemenzwasstilldoubtfulaboutthesuitabilityof winterbarleyforIcelandasitcanonlybeharvestedeverysecondyearduetotheneedforseedingin mid-summerthepreviousyear.In1964Klemenzgaveashortsummaryofhisexperiencewithgrain growinginIcelandovertheyearswherehestatesthatatSámsstaðirin1928–1940,thebarley varietiesDönnes,MaskinandJøtunyieldedontheaverage1.82tha-1.In1961themeanyieldwas 1.56tha-1.Theyieldofoats,Nidar,VollandOrionin1928–1939averagedat2.3tha-1 whilehay yieldsaveragedat4.53tha-1.Turnipyieldsin1932to1936averagedover30tha-1 andpotatoes2332tha-1 .
TheagriculturaladviserineastIceland,PállSigbjörnsson,wroteasummaryofthe1963experience: „Barleywasseededat27locationsineastIceland.Thevarietiesusedwerethe6-rowvarietiesFløya andSigur,andthe2-rowvarietiesUnion,MariandHerta.Theplantingtimewasthelatterhalfof May.Ingeneraltheplantsdevelopedwellintothesummer.InSeptembermanyfarmersgaveupall hopeofgettingafullymaturegrainharvestandstartedtocutthefieldsforgreenfodder.Grain harveststartedinmid-Septemberwithyieldsfrom1.2to1.5tha-1,andthegrainswerereasonably wellmature.ThemainharveststartedattheendofSeptemberandharvestingofthe6-rowvarieties wascompletedinmid-October.Manyofthe2-rowvarietieswereharvestedlater.Theharvestwas pooreverywhere.The6-rowvarietiesyielded1-1.2tha-1 andthe2-rowvarietiesyielded0.7-1.0t ha-1.Allthe2-rowvarietiesmaturedlaterthanthe6-rowvarieties.TheoldhardyFaroeIslandsvariety Sigurdidnotripenatallandwasnotharvested.Mostofthevarietiessurvivedtheseverefrosts, especiallythe2-rowvarietiesalthoughdamaged.Thespikesofsomevarietiesreachedfullsizebut hadnograins,probablyduetofrostdamageduringpollination.“ThenPállstates:„Theprevioustwo
summershavedampenedthe enthusiasminfarmerswhoare neverthelessstillexpectedto continueonthesamescalein 1964“.
In1963-64theauthorassistedin orderingbarleyandoatseedsfrom 27seedfirmsandresearch institutesintheUK,Norway, Sweden,Finland,theNetherlands, OntarioandManitoba,Canadaand fromMinnesota,U.S.A.In1965 thetrialswerecarriedoutnearlyon thesamescaleasin1964.Ona visittoIcelandin1966theauthor visitedsomeofthe21cereal experimentscarriedoutthatyear. Localtrialsweremostlycarriedout onthesamefarmsand experimentalstationsasbefore, mostlybarley,butalsosomeoats. Therewerefivelargescale experimentsatGunnarsholtand threeatKorpa.Thereisnomention ofanyactivitiesatSkógasandur thatyear.Theauthorhasnotbeen abletolocatedetailsforthese activities,noranyreportson results.
In1964,1965and1966Jónas Jónassonfolloweduponthebreedingactivitiestotheextentpossibleunderthedeterioratinggrowing conditions.In1964therewassomematerialintheF2 generationfromwhichhemadeselections, establishingF3 linesasspikeprogeniesin1965bothfromthecrossedmaterialandfromtheprogeny oftheradiation-treatedpopulationsreceivedfromCanadaandthecompositecrossesfromCalifornia. Thelastwereratherdisappointingwithveryfewinterestinglines.Thesebreedinglineswere evaluatedfordateofemergence,height,strawstrengthandshatteringresistance.Jónashadplansto establishprogenylinesfromeachspikelinein1966andmakeselectionsfromtheseprogenies.He thenplannedfurtherhybridizationsbetweenthebestselectionsinarentedgreenhousespace. However,allthiseffortcametonothingafterevenallthereserveseedhadbeensownandthenfailed togiveviableseedsduetothepoorclimaticconditions.Thusthebriefgraingrowingrenaissance startingin1960cametoamuchprematureendduetotheoutsetofthe„littleiceage“.
WorkonbarleyvarietytestingandcrossbreedingwerestartedagainatRALAin1976byThorsteinn TómassonandlaterfollowedupbyÁrniBragason.Theresultsofthisworktogetherwiththelater inputbyJónatanHermannssonledtothedevelopmentofthesuperiorbarleyvarietieswhicharethe maincontributorstothehighandstapleyieldsnowobtainedbyfarmersinIceland.In1982whenthe authorwasDirectorofRALA,hegaveatalkatatechnicalmeetingoftheagriculturaladvisersin Iceland,includingthefollowing:„forhalfacenturyKlemenzKr.Kristjánssoncarriedout experimentswithsmallgrainsattheSámsstaðirStateExperimentalStationandharvestedfullyripe grainsin8outof10years.Thesummertemperaturesinthe1930sandearly1940sweregenerally morefavourable,averagingatover10°C,thaninthe1960sand1970s.Hardlyanyfarmersgrewsmall grainsinIcelanduntilthe1950sandearly1960s,whenafewfarmersstartedgrowingbarleyagain, particularlyintheFljótsdalurareaineastIceland,Rangárvellirinthesouthandeastalongthesouth coastlinetoHornafjörður.Intheearly1980stherewassomemovemadetore-awakeninterestin graingrowinginIceland.Ifitwouldbepossibletoachieveaharvestof2tha-1 theenterprisewould beprofitable.Astheacreagerequiredtosatisfytheneedforanimalconcentratescouldbeestimatedat about35,000ha,eachIcelandicfarmerwouldhavethepossibilitytogrowgrainprofitablyon10 hectares.Toencouragefarmerstotakeupgrainfarmingitisnowrecommended,insteadofoil-fired drying,toputpoorly-maturegrainassilageintofibre-glasscontainers,addpropionicorformicacid forpreservationtopreservereasonablygoodanimalfeed.Ifitwasdeterminedthatagrainfieldwas unlikelytoattainmaturity,farmerswouldbeencouragedtocutthefieldsforfodder,sinceinsuch coldyearstherewouldalsobereducedgrassharvestsandthusinsufficientavailabilityofanimal fodder.“Furthermore,hepointedoutthatÁrniBragasonhadrecentlycarriedoutsomecross-breeding withbarley,hybridizinge.g.theearlyvarietyMariwiththeold,hardyFaroevarietiesSigurand Tampar.AlreadysomelineshadbeenselectedwhichwerenotonlyearlierthanMaributalsohardy withhigheryields.Theselineswerebeingmultipliedtofurthertesttheirproductivityandtohavethe seedsgrownbyseedcompaniesinoneoftheneighbouringcountries.TheRALAaimwastobreed barleycultivarswhichcouldbeharvestedinthebeginningofSeptemberwithyieldsof2.5to3.0tha-1 infavourableyears.Theareastobeemphasizedinthisre-awakeningofbarleygrowinginthe1980s, wereEyjafjöll,Fljótshlíð,LandeyjarandRangárvellirandsomeareasalongthecoasttoHornafjördur. FljótsdalshéraðwouldalsobeapossibilityandalsosomeotherpartsofIceland,dependingonthe successofthebreedingefforts.Asanassociatedenterprisewouldbegrowingseedofthemainforage speciesforhayandpasturefields,primarily Festucarubra and Poapratensis andperhapsothers whichwouldrequiresome600-1000hatosatisfydemand.Inthesameyear,1982,abillwas introducedintheAlthingtostimulatethissecondre-awakeningofsmallgrainproductioninIceland. Itwasfirstaround1990whenthegraingrowingactivitiestookwingagain.Thiswasaresultoftwo positivedevelopments:improvementsinclimatewhichwarmedconsiderably(GlobalWarming?)and highlysuccessfulplantbreedingledbyJónatanHermannssonatRALA,startingaround1990.His significantbreakthroughinobtainingtrulyhigh-yieldingbarleyvarietiesareonparwiththebest yieldingbarleysintheotherNordiccountriesandoftenexceedingthemunderIcelandicconditions. Fromtheauthor´spriorassociationwiththe„GreenRevolution“ontheIndiansub-continentandin theNearandFarEast,hisviewisthatJónatan´sachievementsarecertainlyasremarkableinrelative termsastheperformanceobtainedwiththeuseoftheJapaneseNoringenesinbreadwheatby NormanBorlaug,andtheuseoftheDeGeWoGingenes(Spontaneousmutants?)fromTaiwaninrice attheInternationalRiceresearchInstitute(IRRI).Italsocompareswiththeachievementsobtainedby Scarascia-Mugnozza´sseriesofinducedmutantsemi-dwarfsinDurumwheatinItaly,whichnoware thebasisformostDurumwheatproductioninsouthernEuropeandtheMiddleEast,andalsoto SlavcoBorojevic´ssuperiorwheats,bredinNoviSad,thenYugoslavia,andthecontributionofthe
barleyvarietyDiamand,bredby Czechoslovakianbreedersto brewingbarleyproductionin Europe,allofwhomIwas associatedwithduringmyformer U.N.activities.Similarresultsas thoseinIcelandhavebeenachieved recentlybyPeruvianbreedersby usinginducedmutationstodevelop barleyvarietieswhichgive outstandingyieldsinmanyareasof theAndes,insomeareasover 4,000mabovesealevel.
Figure18
.ComparisonofIcelandicbreedinglinesandpromising foreigncultivarsof2-rowbarleyatKorpa2014.
Figure19.ComparisonofIcelandicbreedinglinesandpromising foreigncultivarsof6-rowbarleyatKorpa2014.
Accordingto Jónatan Hermannsson,inthethreeyears, 2010to2012,thebarleyyields havebeenthus:Thehighestyields recordedwere8-10tha-1 in experimentalplots.Theaverage yieldswiththebestIcelandic cultivarsinfieldtrialsare4-6tha-1 . Theaverageyieldinfarmers’fields forthewholecountrysince2008 hasbeen3.2tha-1 Thetoptwo barleyvarietiesbredbyJonatanare IsKria,a2-rowandIsSkumur,a6rowvariety.Itisinterestingtoview theaveragepresentyieldsin farmers´fieldsof3.2tha-1 in comparisonwiththe1982 assessmentbytheauthor,related above,thatifbarleyyieldsof2tha-1 couldbeachieved,graingrowinginIcelandwouldbeprofitable. In1997JónatanstatedthatgrowingconditionsinIcelandarequitedifferentfromothercountriesand thusitisoftendifficulttotransferforeignknowledgetoIcelandicrealities.SummersinIcelandare ratherlongcomparedtootherareasatthenorthernlimitsofgraingrowinginourneighbouring countries,butoursummersarecoolandmissingwarmdaysatthetimewhenthekernelsarefilling out.ThisisparticularlytrueforthesouthernandwesternpartsofthecountryTherefore,barley cultivarsfromourneighbouringcountries,eveniftheyareearlymaturing,areunabletomature sufficientlytoresultinfullyripegrains.Similarly,ourunfavourablefallweatherconditionsarebad fortheforeign-bredcultivars.ButtheIcelandicgrainfarmersareadaptedtotheseconditionsas evidencedbytheexperienceontheThorvaldseyrifarminsouthIcelandwhichhasbeenreferredto before(andgainedworld-famein2010whenthevolcanoEyjafjallajökull,justnorthofthefarm, eruptedtothechagrinofthousandsofairtravellersinEuropeandelsewhere).Barleyhasbeengrown onthisfarmuninterruptedsincethe1950s,alwaysgivingsufficientharvesttobeprofitable.In additiontobarley,wheatforbread-makinghasbeengrownonthefarmaswellasflaxandoil-seed rape.Theaverageyieldsfromexperimentalfieldsonthisfarmareoftenhigherthanthoseobtained
frombarleyexperimentsnearTrondheim,Norway,notwithstandingthatsummertemperaturesthere are2°ChigherthanatThorvaldseyri.
Itwasfirstin1992thatJónatanHermannssonstartedcross-breedingbarleyunderthetutelageof ThorsteinnTómasson,aplantbreederatRALAandlaterit´sDirector.Jónatan´sstrategywas relativelysimple.Early-maturing,6-rowbarleycultivarswhichreachmaturityinIcelandicsummer temperaturesarealltooweakinstructuretohandlethefiercefallweatherinIceland.Duringdry stormsthegrainsshatterandinorkansthespikessimplybreakoff,oratfullmaturitythestrawbreaks inthemiddle.Ontheotherhand,2-rowcultivarswhichcanwithstandthesestormsarealltoolate maturing.Thesimplesolutionwasobvious:crossearlymaturingcultivarswithstrong-strawed cultivarsandselectthehappycombinationswithearlinessplusstrawstrength.Thishadbeentriedin Icelandbeforebutwithoutsuccess(alsobythepresentauthor).Thereasonforthefailurewasthatthe geneassociatedwithweakstraw oftenresidesonthesame chromosomeasthegeneforearly maturity.Jónatanthereforeused eightdifferentearly-maturing cultivarsinhiscrossing programme,hopingthatsomeof thegenesforearlinesswerelocated onadifferentchromosome.His reasoningwasrightandhis expectationcametrue.Hefound thattwoofthoseeightcultivars contributedearlymaturitywithout weakeningthestraw.Bothwere cultivarswhichhadnever succeededinbecomingpopularin Iceland,onefromTrondheimand theotherbredbyThorsteinn Tómasson,usingtheFaroevariety Tampar.Theresultwasanearly linewithsufficientstrawstrength butlowyield.Jónatanthencrossed theselineswithhigh-yieldinglate varietiesfromSweden.Jónatanwas successfulindeed.Therearenow availableseveralcultivarswell adaptedtoIcelandicconditionsand veryhigh-yielding.
Oneruefullythinksbacktothe 1960s,wishingthatthesenew cultivarshadbeenavailable.Then again:theseverelittle„iceage“, whichdevelopedinthatdecade, probablywouldnothaveallowed anyofthesevarietiestosucceed. Thepresentsuccessiscertainlyto
thelargestdegreethankstotheexcellentbreedingworkofJónatanHermannsson,butsomecan certainlybeattributedtothe„fearsome“GlobalWarmingwhich,whateverelsecanbesaidaboutthis phenomenon,hasingeneralshoneratherbeneficiallyonthisNorth-Atlanticisland.Butasallfarmers andallcropscientistsknow,evenmeteorologists,wedonotcontroltheclimateanditswhimsical nature.InBændablaðið–TheFarmers´Weekly–fromMarch2013,therewasaninterviewwitha farmer,MarteinnSigurðsson,fromanorth-eastIcelandareacalled„Köldukinn“(thecoldcheek).He said:„Itdoesnotlooklikeanyseedswillbeplantedherethisyear.Thefieldsarecoveredwith70cm ofsnowwithsnow-driftsupto5mhigh.Itdoesnotlooklikethesnowisgoinganywhere,anytime soon“.Marteinnhadusuallyhad12-18haunderbarleycultivationtofeedhis200headofcattle.One couldaddthatMarteinn´sfarmisnotfarfromFosshóllwherein1960theColoradobeeffarmer, BjarniPétursson,referredtoearlier,wantedtogrowhisowngrainforhisbeefcattle.Althoughthe summerof2013turnedouttobesunnyandwarminthenorth-east,theautumncoldandstorms arrivedearlywithbadeffectsonthegrainfieldsinallpartsofthecountry.Onthewholetheyear 2013turnedouttobeoneofthebadgrainyearswithpoorresultsandfailuresinmostareas.Evenat Thorvaldseyri,afterareasonablesummer,thefallstormsplayedhavocwiththegrainstilltobe harvested.
Inthe1960swewereoptimisticandenthusiasticuntilourhopesfrozeover.Thatpoorperiodended, followedwithmorefavourablegrowingseasonsandthearrivalofsuperiorvarietiesofbarley.Evenif wecannotcontroltheweather,weareluckyenoughthatwehavesomeideaofhowtomanagethe genesofourcropstoadaptthemtotheweatherconditionsinIcelandinmostyears.Noamountof breedingcanpreparebarleyforallthevagariesoftheIcelandicclimate,butthereisnoreasontolet exceptionalyearsdampenourexpectationsforfuturegrainfarminginIceland.Abadyearcanhappen inanycountryinanypartoftheworld.Inaworldwithapopulationtobecomeninebillionsoon,the plantbreederswillfaceaseriouschallengeinthenextdecades.Inadditiontoourclassicalplant breedingmethods,includingmutationbreeding,wenowhaveallthenewtechniquesofgenetic engineeringandfurthergeneticengineeringbreakthroughstobeexpectedinthefuturetonotonly helpcreatebettergraincultivars,notonlyforgrowinggraininIceland,butprimarilytoprovide sufficientfoodforthe,asitseems,uncontrollableworldpopulationgrowth.Perhapsthereishopethat mankindcanfeeditself?ButonecannotreallyblametheIcelandicfarmerwhosometimessmiles whenhehearsofthearrivalofglobalwarming!
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VariouscorrespondenceswithagriculturaladvisersinIcelandandcolleaguesandinstitutesinIcelandand abroad(privatecollection).
Listofordersforsmallgrainseedandseedsamplestoseedfirmsandinstitutesabroad(privatecollection).
BjörnSigurbjörnssonwasborn1931inReykjavik,Iceland.AftergraduatingfromtheAgricultural College,Hvanneyriin1952,heearnedaB.Sc.inagriculturefromtheUniversityofManitobain1956 andM.Sc.inplantgeneticsfromthesameschoolin1957.Hestudiedtheuseofnucleartechniquesin agricultureintheU.S.A.,chieflyinOakRidge,TennesseeandearnedaPh.D.fromCornell Universityinplantbreedingandgeneticsin1960doinghisfieldresearchattheHeadquartersofthe SoilConservationService,Gunnarsholt.From1960to1963hewasaresearchscientistatthe UniversityofIceland´sResearchInstitute,DepartmentofAgriculturewhereheledtheresearchon smallgrains,thesubjectofthisreport.In1963hejoinedthestaffoftheUnitofAgricultureatthe InternationalAgencyforAtomicEnergyinViennaasaplantbreedingspecialistandin1964became headofthePlantBreedingandGeneticsSectionofthenewJointFAO/IAEADivisionofAtomic EnergyinAgriculture.In1968healsobecameDeputyDirectorofthatDivisionuntilhewas appointedDirectoroftheIcelandicAgriculturalResearchInstitutein1974.In1983hereturnedto ViennaasDirectoroftheJointFAO/IAEADivisionuntilhereturnedtoIcelandin1995totakeover asPermanentSecretaryofStateforAgricultureinIcelandfromwhichheretiredin2000.
Korpa,theExperimentalStationoftheDepartmentofAgriculture,UniversityofIcelandResearch Institute,isnotfarfromtheformerRALAHeadquartersatKeldnaholt.Thesitewasaformerwetland whichwasdrainedwithdrainageditchesandtheturflayerremovedandthesoilpreparedforsowing. AtKorpatherewereatotalofaround300plotswithoatandwheattrialsin1961.Therewereno experimentswithbarleyatKorpainthatyear.
Oneexperimentwith53introducedvarietieswasseededon19and20Maywhichinmostyearsistoo lateforsufficientripening.Ofthe53varieties,26couldbeharvestedon6and7October.At130kgN and25kgP,thevarietyOriongavethehighestyield,or1.22tha-1,thelowyieldmainlyduetothe lateseedingdate.Inasecondexperimentwith18Europeanvarieties,withfourreplicationsand72 plots,only25plotswereripeenoughtobeharvested.ThehighestyieldingvarietieswereBlixtfrom SwedenandKytöfromFinland.Therewasalsoatrialwithfouroatvarieties,testedwithsixdifferent ratesoffertilizers,sownon19May.Yieldofthebestthreevarietiesvariedfrom0.8to1.2tha-1.The increaseinyieldwhenPfertilizerwasraisedfrom18to25kgha-1 was150kgha-1.Another experimentwaslaidoutformeasuringvariousparameters:earliness,height,shatteringandlodging. Thereweresignificantdifferencesbetweenthevarietieswithrespecttothedifferentparameters measured.Graphswiththeresultswerepresentedinmeetingswithfarmersandagriculturaladvisers.
Anotherexperimenttestedvarieties×fertilizerrates(NPK)with24variables,fourreplicationsin96 plots,usingthequadruple-partiallybalancedlatticesquaredesign.Thesewereallstatistically analysedandtheresultsusedinrecommendationsandpresentationsbutneverpublished.
ThebreedingeffortatKorpaincluded40plotswithsegregatingF3 linesprovidedbyDrs.Thorvaldur JohnsonandBjornPeturssonoftheRustResearchLaboratory,Manitoba,Canada.Thereweretrials with45varietieswhichcamefromWeibullSeedCo.SwedenandfrombreedingstationsinNorway andFinland.ThehighestyieldswerefromtheCanadianvarietySelkirk,or1.54tha-1,aWeibullline fromSweden,1.3tha-1,Apu,Finland,2.0tha-1 andVakka,Finland1.86tha-1.Theexperimentswere seededon7Mayandharvested4-5October.Thefertilizerrateswere60N,100PandnoK.The Manitobansalsoprovided26F3 linesfromDr.Kaufmann,LacombeAlberta,Canada.Noresultsfor theselinesareavailable.
TheareaislocatedjustsouthofthevolcanoHekla.Thebulkofthecerealtrialsin1961werecarried outatGunnarsholt,theHeadquartersoftheStateSoilConservationService,withemphasisonbarley. Therewerealsotrialswithoatsandwheat.Theexperimentsonbarleywereduplicatedwithoneseton cultivatedhayfieldsandtheotherontheerodedsandssurroundingGunnarsholt.Theseerodedlands werecommonthroughouttheareasouthofthevolcanoHekla,untiltheSoilConservationService succeededinbringingmostoftheareaundervegetativecover.
Cultivatedhaylands –ThehighestyieldsinbarleywerefoundforthevarietiesJøtun,2.59tha-1 , Fløya2.22tha-1 andEdda2.0tha-1,all6-rowvarietiesfromNorway.
Sandysoil –ThehighestyieldingvarietieswereHerta,a2-rowvarietywith2.75tha-1,Edda,a6-row varietywith2.0tha-1,bothfromSwedenandJøtunwith1.99tha-1,a6-rowvarietyfromNorway,all atthehighestNfertilizerapplication,130kgha-1.TherewasalinearincreaseinyieldsasratesofN fertilizerincreased.
Thefollowingareexamplesofresultsfrombarleyexperimentsonloamandsandysoilsat Gunnarsholtin1961:
Lodging:TheeffectofincreasedNonthecultivarEdda:With50to90kgNha-1 thescoregivenwent from100(nolodging)to80,butincreasingNfrom90to130kgha-1 didnotresultinmorelodging. LodgingdecreasedwithincreasinglevelsofP
Shattering:Therewasalinearincreaseinshatteringwithanincreasefrom50to130kgNha-1 Anotherexperimentwith6varietiesshowedthatshatteringincreasedwithhigherlevelsofbothNand P.Therateofshatteringwashigherin6-rowthan2-rowvarieties.
Ripening:TherewasalineardelayinripeningwithanincreaseinNfrom50to90kgha-1 butno furtherdelayinripeningwhentheratewasincreasedto130kgha-1.Thespeedofripeningdiffered muchbetweentheloamandsandysoils.Thescoresgivenforripeningweresixtimeshigheronthe erodedsandcomparedtotheoldhayfields,regardlessoflevelsofNfertilizer.
Spacing:Astudyontheeffectofspacingusingthe2-rowvarietyHertashowedayieldof1.9tha-1 at 15cmand0.9tha-1 at45cm.
Yield:Sandysoil:Onerodedsandstherewasalinearincreaseinyieldfrom1.1to1.4tha-1 with increasingratesofNfertilizerapplicationsfrom50to130kgha-1 andPto25kgha-1.At18kgha-1 P theyieldofthevarietyEddaincreasedlinearlyfrom0.65to1.3tha-1 withratesofNat50,90and 130kgha-1.The2-rowvarietyHertashowedanincreaseinyieldfrom0.75to1.35tha-1 asNrate increasedfrom50to90kgha-1,butitsyieldsdecreasedathigherlevelsofNfertilizer.Another experimentonthesandysoilwithfourreplicationswassownon18May.Applicationsof25kgha-1 ofPwithNlevelsrisingfrom90to130kgha-1 gaveanincreaseinyieldinthehighest2-rowvarieties from1.2to1.9tha-1.AnincreaseinNfrom50to90hadnoeffect.Two6-rowvarietiesincreased from1.0to1.4tha-1 whenNincreasedfrom50to130kgha-1.Anotherexperimentwithbarleyonthe sandwith6varietiesandfourreplicationsandvariablelevelsofbothNandPshowedanincreasein yieldfrom0.75to1.1tha-1 at90kgPand0.94to1.35tha-1 at130kgPha-1 whenNwasincreased from50-130kgha-1 .
Loamsoil:Inabarleyexperiment,seeded30May,anincreaseinPfrom18to25kgha-1 raisedyield from0.65to0.8tha-1 whileincreasingNhadnoeffect.Theselowyieldsprimarilyreflectthelate sowingdate,withtheplantsnotreachingfullmaturity.WithsowingdatesinearlyMayat25kgPand 50,90,and130kgNha-1 the6-rowvarietiesFløyayielded1.4to2.6tha-1,Edda0.75to1.95tha-1 andJøtun1.7to1.9tha-1,whereasthe2-rowHertavarietydecreasedinyieldfrom1.75to1.15tha-1 mostlyduetoitslateripening.
TableA1.OverallsummaryofhighestbarleyyieldsatGunnarsholtintha-1 in1961.
Herta2-row 1.91 0.63 0.63
Jøtun6-row 1.38 1.28 1.92
Edda6-row 1.41 1.00 1.97
Fløya6-row 1.08 1.28 2.07
Yieldtrialswith36oatvarietieswereconductedoneroded,sandysoil.ThevarietyOrionIIIgavethe highestyieldor4.25tha-1.Thethreenexthighestgave3.6,3.5and3.1tha-1.On14May,45varieties ofwheatwereseededonerodedsandysoilandwereharvested4-5October.Thereisnoinformation onperformanceavailable.Inretrospect,lookingattheseresults,onewonderswhyfarmersdidnotpay moreattentiontogrowingoats.
Breedingofbarley,oatsandwheatwithselectionoflinesfrombothhybridizationandprogeny fromradiationtreatments
SomehybridizationwasattemptedattheKorpaExperimentalStationinReykjavik,butwithout greenhousefacilitiesthiswasdifficulttodo.Likein1961mostofthebreedingmaterialwasprovided bycolleaguesabroad.Prof.SigurdurHelgasonattheUniversityofManitobadidhybridizationson materialwesenttohim.TheF1 materialwasgrownatGunnarsholt.Aclassmateoftheauthor,Prof. PeterDyckoftheUniversityofManitoba,thendirectorofanexperimentalstationinOttawa, hybridizedsomeselectedoatvarieties,theF2 ofwhichweregrownandselectedfromatGunnarsholt. Drs.ThorvaldurJohnsonandBjornPeturssonoftheRustResearchLaboratoryinManitobaagain providedbothhybridizedandirradiatedwheatmaterial.TheManitobascientists,withtheexception ofPeterDyck,beingofIcelandiclineagewereespeciallyinterestedinhelpingwiththebreeding work.Prof.ArneHagberg,Svalöf,Swedensentussegregatingmaterialandmutantsofbarley.Further selectionsweremadeinthecompositecrosspopulationofbarleyobtainedfromtheUSDAin Californiaandtheselectedspikeprogeniesplantedinthespringof1963andagainin1964.Afterthat theunfavourableweatherconditionsresultedinsteadilyreducednumberoftheplantsreaching sufficientmaturitytoproducefertileseeds.Therewere10trialsdevotedtoselectioninsegregating linesprovidedbyouroverseascolleagues,alllocatedatGunnarsholt.Breedingtestno.116-62 comparedtheprogenyofthreeSwedishbarleycrosseswiththe2-rowvarietyHerta.Trialno.117-62 had20selectedM3 linesofirradiatedwheatfromManitobawiththeFinnishvarietyApuascontrolin every5th row.TheM2 generationhadbeengrownatKorpatheyearbefore.No.118-62comparedsix breedinglinesofwheatwithintroducedvarieties,allfromSwedenandFinland.Trialno.119-62 testedM2 PembinawheatlinesfromCanadawhichhadbeentreatedwithgammarays.No.120-62 hadfoursegregatingwheatlinestogetherwithfourwheatcultivars.Trialno.121-62had39M3 lines ofirradiatedwheat,theseedtakenfromthesameplantsatKorpafromwhichselectionlineswere sownintrial117-62.Intrialno.123-62,1700goftheCaliforniacompositebarleycrossseedswere plantedin30mrows.Intrialno.124-62therewereselectionsfromSwedenofeightcrosseswiththe 6-rowbarleyvarietyEdda.Eachselectionwasplantedinthree3-mrows.Trialno.125-62had13 selectionsin6m2 plotsfrombarleycrossesobtainedfromFinlandandSweden.No.126-62had42 advancedlinesofoatsfromFinlandforselection.Intrialno.127-62therewere19F1 linesfrom hybridizationbetweentwooatvarieties.Anothertrialno.128-62compared6selectionsofhybridized oats.Thelastoftheseseries,trialno.129-62,compared12oatselectionsfromFinland.
Fourexperimentsweremadewithabout100varietiesofbarley,oatsandwheatinrandomizedblocks with4replicatesand6m2 plotsizes.Therewerealsoanumberofobservationaltrialswithadditional varietiesandlines.Asallthevarietiesinthesetrialsarenowobsolete,thereisnopointinpresenting analysisoftheirperformancenow,50yearslater.Itisinterestingtonotethatinmostofthe comparativetrialswithwheat,thetwoManitobavarietiesSelkirkandPembinayieldedhigherthan varietiesfromNorway,SwedenandFinland.
StudiesweremadeontheeffectofdifferentratesofNPKfertilizersondevelopment,yieldand variousotherparametersusingsomeofthemainbarleycultivarsthenusedinfarmers´fields.The resultswereusedinrecommendationstofarmersandagriculturaladvisers.
ThemainlocationbesidesKorpaandGunnarsholtwasSkógasandur,eastofGunnarsholtwherethree experimentswerecarriedout,comparingcultivarsanddifferentlevelsoffertilizers.Atotalof15 smaller-scaletrialswerecarriedoutat11locationsthroughoutIcelandwiththeassistanceof agriculturaladvisers,bothattheStateExperimentalStationsandonfarmers’fields.
No.002-63.Acomparisontrialwith24barleyvarietiesinarandomized-blockdesignwithfour replications,96plots,6m2.ThehighestyieldwasSigur,1.45tha-1.Mostvarietiesrangedfrom0.5to 0.9tha-1 .
013-63.Inatrialcomparing12oatvarieties,thehighestyieldwas0.76tha-1
123-63.Comparativetrialswith18barleyvarieties,12linesfromtheUSSRand6otherlines.A similartrialwasmadewith25oatvarieties.
Abreedingprojectwithhybridizationsdone19-25JulyusingthebarleyvarietiesAsa,EddaII,Olli× Fløya,Sigur,Gateway,Union,HertaandMari.TheF1 seedswereplantedin1964atKorpa.
Sandysoils.No.001-63.Comparativetrialwith18varietiesofbarley.Thehighestyieldswerein GoliatandUnion,both2.0tha-1 andMari1.64tha-1
No.009-63.Comparativetrialwith40varietiesofbarleyandonewheatvariety.Thetrialwas completelydestroyedbydroughtandsandstorms.
No.017-63.Comparativetrialwith10oatandonewheatvariety.ThehighestoatyieldwasPendek 0.45tha-1
.NoinformationisavailableontheSelkirkwheat.Therewerethreeexperimentswith differentfertilizerratesofN,PandKforbarleywith24plots.Themeanyieldinoneexperimentwas around0.5tha-1.Anotherexperimenttestedveryhighfertilizerrates,upto700kgN,120kgPand
200kgKha-1 on2-rowbarleyonerodedsandsoil.Thereisnoinformationonyieldbutripeningwas drasticallysloweddownbythehighestrates.
Thefateoftheexperimenttestingdifferentsowingtimes,018-63,hasbeenrelatedabove.Other experimentswerethefollowing:
003-63.Comparisonof6barleyand4oatvarietieswith40plots,20m2 each.Thehighestbarleyyield wasProctorfromtheUK,0.8tha-1 andtheoatvarietyBlixtfromSweden,1.25tha-1 .
008-63.Comparativetrialwith18wheatvarietiesandone2-rowbarleyandoneryevariety,36plots, 6m2 each.ThehighestyieldingwheatwaslineM.G.H.with0.3tha-1.ThebarleyvarietyHertahad 0.52tha-1.Theryedidnotsurvive.
014-63.StudyondifferentfertilizerratesusingHertabarleywithfourreplicationsand32plots,10m2 each.Therateswere100and200kgN;20,40and60kgP,and10and50kgKha-1.Thehighest fertilizerrategavethehighestyield,1.0tha-1,thelowestscoreforripening,thehighest1000kernel weightandthestrongeststraw.Thelowestrategavethelowestfiguresinallpropertiesexcept ripeningwhereitwasthehighest.Theagriculturaladviserforthearea,EinarThorsteinsson,reported onthecerealfieldsgrownbyfarmersonSkógasandurin1963:Hertabarleyon28hawith0.3tha-1 ; Sameoatson2hawith0.4tha-1;Norrønawheaton3hawith0.5tha-1.Onthenearbyfarm Thorvaldseyri,barleyon2.5haonbettersoilsgaveayieldof1.5tha-1 .
Likein1962,cerealtrialswerecarriedoutbyagriculturaladvisers,headsofExperimentStationsand farmersatdifferentplacesinIcelandincollaborationwiththeUniversityofIcelandResearch Institute.Thesetrialswerelocatedinthefollowingsites:
South-Iceland:
ThórustaðirnearSelfoss.Trialwithfivebarleyvarieties,sixplots,10m2 each.Noresultsare available.
Mýrdalssandur,nearHafursey(thelargeblackdesertsandcreatedbytheKatlaeruptionin1918). Threebarleyvarietiesandoneeachofoatsandwheat,10plots,6m2.Thesupervisor,agricultural adviserEinarThorsteinsson,reportedthat„thistrialcameoutnegativelyforMýrdalssandur“.
Öræfi(KvískerandFagurhólsmýri).Trialwithtwovarietieseachofoats,barleyandwheat,12 plots,6m2,2reps.ateachlocation.Wheat(Apu)wasalsosownatSvínafell.Thesupervisor HalldórBjörnsson,thefarmeratKvískerreported:„Harvestedon16September.Theyieldwas verylow.Highestnumberofspikesinaplotwas10,mostonwheatandleastonoats.Toofew grainstobotherweighing.Otherremarks:Bonus(Swedishbarley):Verylittlevegetativevolume. Clearsignsofnutritivedeficiencies.Thekernelswerefewbutfullyformed.Ekooats:Reasonable growth,someofthekernelsfullyripe,othersgreen.Apuwheat:Smallgrowth,smallshrunken kernels.Theyieldofthebarleywas0.4tha-1“.
Egilsstaðir.Trialwith30barleyvarieties.30plotswith2rowseach.Supervisor:Páll Sigbjörnsson,theagriculturaladviserforthearea.Hereportedthathehadharvestedtheplotswith sheepshearingscissors.Thehighestyieldwas0.64tha-1 inthevarietyUnion.
Fljótsdalshérað(Breiðavað).Trialwithninebarley,twooatandonewheatvarieties,48plots,6 m 2,fourreplications.Supervisorsameasabove.HighestyieldbyEdda,1.1andFløya1.0tha-1 AnothertrialwithdifferentfertilizerratesonadrainedboginEiðathing.Thefertilizerratestested were30and60kgNha-1,8,24and40kgPha-1 and25kgKha-1,twobarleyvarietiesintwo replicateswith36plots,6m2 each,alsocarriedoutbyPallwhoreportedthatthetrialwasquite successfulexceptthatgerminationwasratherpoorduetoinsufficientcultivationofthesoil.Atthe endofSeptemberthe2-rowvarietieswerepoorlymaturebutthe6-rowvarietiesmoreadvanced. Pallalsoreportedthatbeforeharvestingcouldbeattemptedthegeesehadalreadybeenthere ruiningthetrialsbystockinguponenergybeforethetransatlanticflighttoBritain.
Skriðuklaustur,aStateExperimentalFarm,southofEgilsstaðir.Atrialwithsixbarleyvarieties andtworatesofNandPfertilizers.SupervisorMatthíasEggertsson.Noresultswerereported.
North-Thingeyjarsýsla,SandfellshagiandÆrlækjarselfarms.Atrialwithfivebarleyandtwooat varietiesonbothloamsoilandonerodedsandcarriedoutbytheagriculturaladviser,Grímur Jónsson.Hereportedthatthetrialhadbeendamagedbysheep.On29Augustthespikeshadjust emerged.
South-Thingeyjarsýsla.Öxaráfarm.Atrialwitheightbarleyandtwooatvarietiesin40plots,6m2 each,carriedoutbySkaftiBenediktsson,agriculturaladviserforthedistrictandthebeefcattle farmeratFosshóll,BjarniPétursson.Probablyfailedastherearenoresultsreported.
Akureyri.OntheStateExperimentStation,twotrials,supervisedbythestationHead,Árni Jónsson,werecarriedoutonbarleyandanotheroneonoatsandwheat.Probablyfailedasthereis noinformationonresults.
Skagafjörður,Messuholtfarm.Afertilizertrialwithfourbarleyandoneoatvarietycarriedoutby theagriculturaladviser,SigurthórHjörleifsson.Therewerethreedifferentsoiltypes:drainedbog, loamandgravellysand.Sigurthórreportedthaton28Augustthespikeshadnotemergedandthat thestandswereverythin.„hopelesstoexpectripening“.(note:in2012thislocationwasoneofthe mostsuccessfulgraingrowingareasinIceland).
Húnavatnssýslur,Barkarstaðirfarm.Afertilizertrialwithsixbarleyandoneeachofoats,wheat andryevarieties.Atotalof71plots,6.6m2 each,carriedoutbyRagnarBenediktsson.Sownon23 April.Noresultsreported.
Akur,HaukagilandHvammurfarms.Trialswithfourbarleyandoneoatvarietycarriedoutatthe threelocations,twoonloamsoil,oneongravellysandcarriedoutbytheagriculturaladviser, SigfúsThorsteinsson.On28Augusthereportedthatsheephaddamagedtheplots,thevegetative growthwasvigorousbutnohopesthatthegrainwillripen.
TeigingalækurandPrestbakkifarms.Thereweretrialswithfourbarleyvarietiesonbothfarms wherethehighestyieldwasintheX-raymutantvarietyMariwith1.9tha-1 ontheformerand2.32 tha-1 onthelatterfarm.
StrandasýslaonthefarmsFjarðarhorn,FellandStaður.Trialswithfourbarleyandoneoatvariety atthethreelocationswerecarriedoutbyBrynjólfurSæmundsson,theagriculturaladviser.There were30plots,6m2 ateachlocation.Brynjólfurreportedthaton26Octoberitwasconfirmedthat noneofthetrialshadresultedinmaturegrains.
Bæjarsveit,carriedoutbyMagnúsÓskarsson,teacherattheFarmersSchool,Hvanneyri.There wasatrialwiththreebarleyvarietiesandeightcombinationsoffertilizerrates.Thehighestyield was0.61tha-1 forthe6-rowEddavariety.
Kiðafellfarm,30kmnorthofKorpaExperimentalStation.Atrialwithfourbarleyandoneoat variety,10plots,6m2 onadryriverbankcarriedoutbythefarmer,HjaltiSigurbjörnsson.Sowing timewas17Mayonacoldday.Hjaltireportedthaton21Octoberhewenttoharvesttheplotsand discoveredthatgeesehadcompletelyeatenalltheplantsandthenheadedformorefavourable weatherconditions.
Akranes,atownacrosstheFaxaflóibayfromReykjavik.Atrialwithtwovarietieseachofbarley andoats,eightplots,6m2,carriedoutbyHalldórStefánsson.Noresultsareavailable.
Itwouldseemthatthebadweatherandthemigrantgeesehadteameduptoruinmuchofthe experimentalplotsaroundIcelandin1963.
