Features of barley cultivation technology
Barley is an ancient agricultural crop. It is grown for food, technical, feed purposes, and used in brewing. Healthy drinks are prepared from this grain, flour and cereals are made, and used in medicine. In addition, barley is sown as green manure in the fall along with oats and rye.
Interest in cultivating crops is growing among both large and small farms. And this is not surprising - barley is rich in vitamins, microelements, fiber and serves as an excellent addition to the diet of those who monitor their health and figure. In the material we will talk about the features of barley cultivation technology, sowing dates, recommended and unacceptable predecessors.
Features of growing technology
Barley is an unpretentious cereal and does not require special growing conditions. The crop is cultivated almost throughout the entire territory of our country.
Recommended predecessors
Barley is not grown in the same place for more than three years in a row. It is distinguished by a poorly developed root system and, as a result, a low ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. In this regard, barley is sown in areas with fertile soil, free from weeds.
The best predecessors are potatoes, corn and other row crops, which leave weed-free fields after harvesting, as well as winter crops, for which organic and mineral fertilizers were applied, other grains, long flax, perennial grasses, and green manure.
Reference. For feed purposes, barley can be sown after legumes. If the grain is intended for brewing, then legumes are unacceptable precursors for barley. This is explained by the fact that the quality of grain decreases due to abundant tillering.
Moisture requirements
Barley is drought-resistant and less demanding of moisture than oats and spring wheat. Therefore, in arid steppe regions it shows higher yields. The crop ranks first among cereals in terms of drought resistance.
Barley seeds sprout in well-moistened soil. When swelling, they absorb up to 50% of the moisture from the mass of the dry seed. This is less than, for example, oats.
The plant experiences the greatest need for moisture in the booting phase and at the beginning of heading. Lack of water during the formation of reproductive parts of the plant is detrimental to pollen. As a result, the number of infertile flowers increases and the yield decreases.
Requirements for light and heat
Barley is a long-day cereal. Lack of sunlight slows down the heading process. The growing season for barley ranges from 70 to 110 days. This is the fastest ripening crop among cereals.
The culture is undemanding to heat. Seeds germinate when warming reaches +1…+2°С. At the same time, the sprouts are able to tolerate temperatures as low as -5°C.
Winter varieties of the crop can withstand prolonged frosts at the depth of the tillering node down to -10...-12°C. Winter barley quickly restores growth in early spring and goes into the tube.
The cereal tolerates high temperatures well, which is why it is successfully grown in the southernmost regions.When the air temperature rises to +40°C, stomatal paralysis occurs only after 12 hours, while in oats it occurs after 4-6 hours.
Soil requirements
Barley is notable for its high yield in a variety of soil types. It is successfully cultivated both on podzolic soils in the northern regions and on saline soils in the southeast.
Important. For growing barley, it is preferable to use highly nutritious structural soils. The soil reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
Strongly acidified podzolic soils are not used. At the same time, you can see how barley grows in the northernmost regions. They use specially bred varieties. They produce high yields even in such unfavorable conditions.
Drained swamp lands and cultivated peatlands are also used for barley. Sandy and highly saline soils are unsuitable for cultivating cereals, including barley.
Preparing seeds for sowing
The seed material used is large and has high germination. Before sowing, seeds are disinfected with fungicides and treated with stimulants for effective growth.
Treating is carried out 2-3 months before the start of sowing. For this purpose, drugs such as “Fundazol” 50% or “Vitavax 200” 75% are used.
Disinfection of seed material makes it possible to significantly control and limit the development of dangerous diseases such as root rot, loose smut and smut.
Dates and methods of sowing
When is barley sown? Sowing of spring barley begins in the first half of spring, as soon as equipment can go into the fields. In the southern regions, sowing begins already in early March. And in areas of limited and risky farming - in April-May.For example, the deadline for sowing barley in the Kemerovo region is at the end of April.
Barley is a continuous sowing crop. It is sown in narrow rows, leaving row spacings of 7.5 cm, or in the usual row method with row spacings of 15 cm. The narrow row sowing method provides optimal nutrition area. This creates favorable conditions for the growth and development of culture.
In small farms and household plots, barley is sown by hand.
If there is sufficient soil moisture, the seeds are planted at a depth of 4-5 cm on heavy soils and at a depth of 5-6 cm on light sandy loam soils. In dry weather, the planting depth is increased to 7-8 cm.
Attention. Barley is an early sowing crop. A delay in the sowing campaign leads to a decrease in yield.
Winter barley is sowed from September to October. Specific sowing dates depend on the region of cultivation.
Fertilizer application
To obtain a rich harvest, it is important to provide the plants with the necessary nutrition in the first stages of growth. It is almost impossible to compensate for the lack of microelements later.
The soil is prepared in the fall. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied during plowing. In the spring, before pre-sowing cultivation, the soil is fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers. In addition, phosphorus fertilizers are also used during sowing. This scheme ensures proper development of the root system and the formation of larger ears.
Barley loves mineral fertilizers more than organic ones. Therefore, organic matter is added directly under the barley. Microfertilizers activate enzymes that accelerate biochemical processes inside plants and increase the crop's resistance to diseases and lack of moisture.
Protection from pests and diseases
Protection of barley crops from diseases and pests consists of correct agrotechnical practices. Such techniques include adherence to crop rotation, early autumn plowing, compliance with sowing dates and seeding norms, the use of resistant varieties, the use of fertilizers and growth stimulants.
The most dangerous pests include the striped bread flea beetle, the stem flea beetle, and the grain fly. At later stages of growth, these are aphids, turtle bugs, and bread bugs. Pests are especially dangerous in hot spring weather, when plants are still weak and insects feed heavily.
To control pests, insecticides are used, such as “Decis Profi”, “VDG” (0.02 l/ha), “Sumi Alpha”, “KE” (0.2 l/ha), “Fastak”, “Karate Zeon” "
Important. Preventive treatment of field edge strips with insecticides (at a distance of 100-150 m from the edge) is an effective preventive measure. Most insects settle there in the first days of the season. Such treatments repel pests and this is often enough to preserve the crops.
Barley is not immune to diseases either. Crops are affected by dusty and smut, powdery mildew, rust, root rot, and septoria.
A disease prevention measure is to treat seeds before sowing. To combat diseases, fungicides are used: “Tilt” - 25% (emulsion concentrate), “Bayleton” 25% (wettable powder) and “Fundazol”.
To control weeds, they are treated with herbicides (2,4-D ammine salt and Dialen).
Harvesting
Barley harvesting is carried out both by direct combining and separately. It is optimal to combine these methods, based on the condition of the crops and weather conditions.
Unevenly ripening and clogged crops are harvested separately, mowing into windrows at the end of wax ripeness.Cereals that have ripened to firm ripeness are harvested by direct harvesting. The choice of harvesting time and method determines the level of yield and the quality of the finished product.
The harvest time is determined based on the condition of the crops, harvesting method, and weather conditions. Delaying harvesting, as well as carrying it out too early, reduces yields. When harvesting early, losses are caused by inadequate filling of grains. If it is late, the grains fall out of the ear and the ears break off.
Direct harvesting is carried out in the firm ripeness phase. At the same time, the grain moisture content is 14-17%. In this case, the barley is threshed well and cleaned with a combine. In addition, such grain does not require drying.
Separate harvesting is carried out at the end of wax ripeness. During this period, more than 80% of the ears become completely yellow.
Need to know. Separate harvesting is carried out only when the stems are sufficiently dense (280-300 pcs/sq. m) and their height is not lower than 60 cm. Otherwise, the mass mowed into windrows falls through the stubble to the ground, which leads to large losses.
Sowing rate of spring barley seeds
Barley is distinguished by high tillering energy - it reacts more strongly than spring wheat to increased seeding rates. Thickened and thinned crops reduce the yield and quality of grain.
The seeding rate varies depending on the fertility of the soil, weediness of the field, the application of fertilizers, predecessors, timing and methods of sowing. Weather conditions during the sowing period also affect the determination of seeding rates.
With a narrow-row sowing method, the rate is increased by 10-15%. When sowing barley with perennial undercover grasses, the seeding rate is reduced by 15-20%. When nutritional conditions improve, the norm is reduced by 20%.Early ripening varieties are sown at an increased rate.
Determining the optimal plant density is a decisive factor in obtaining a high yield. If the density is insufficient, the soil fertility is not fully utilized and the crops become contaminated. If the crops are thickened, the plants lack moisture and nutrition.
The standard sowing rate of barley per 1 hectare in kg is 165-215. This volume is approximately 3.5-4 million grains. Varieties prone to tillering and lodging are sown in smaller volumes.
For individual farming zones, the following approximate barley sowing rates have been established. For steppe areas - 3.5-4 million. For forest-steppe and western regions - 4.5-5.0 million grains per hectare.
The higher the soil fertility and the less rainfall, the lower the seeding rate, and vice versa.
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Important nuances
When growing barley, consider the following features:
- Barley grows well with most crops. It is grown with chickpeas, lentils, peas, rapeseed, and wheat.
- Winter barley ripens one to two weeks earlier than winter wheat. This promotes uniform use of equipment and labor during the harvesting period.
- Barley is sensitive to fertilizing, as it has an underdeveloped root system. Applying fertilizers before deep plowing, as well as during sowing, significantly increases productivity.
- Growing barley produces high yields when planted early. Sufficiently moist soil and cool weather promote friendly shoots and development of the root system.
- A delay in the sowing campaign leads to a decrease in yield. Especially when cultivating barley in the south.Here, sowing begins already in early March, if weather conditions permit. Subsequent cold snaps do not cause damage to crops.
Conclusion
Barley is a useful and unpretentious cereal to grow. His eaten, for cattle feed, used in brewing, medicine and technical purposes. Knowledge of the peculiarities of barley growing technology can significantly increase the yield and quality of grain.