Relationship between specific weight of spring barley and malt quality

The assessment of malting barley to determine if it meets grain quality requirements is an integral step in ensuring an efficient malting process and a good quality malt output. Specific weight (SW) is an industry standard criterion, however links between SW and malting are not well understood. In this study the effect of a changing SW on malting was investigated. Samples were manipulated according to both grain size and weight, creating grain fractions with a range in SW. Prior to malting, grain quality traits were measured, and after malting, malt quality traits were examined. Increased SW resulted in a reduced number of whole, unmodified corns in malt, implying increased levels of modification. Specific weight correlated with both hot water malt extract (r = 0.82, P