Alternative Cereals Flashcards

Question

Fagopyrum esculentum

Answer 1

originally from temperate regions of North-India & China Grey od dark-brown seeds, low phenol contents SD or photoperiodic neutral plants highly cold sensitive vegetation period. 3- 4 months plant height 60 - 80 cm white-pink flowers

Answer 2

originally from colder regions of North-India and China Grey, brown or black seeds, smaller than those of F. esculentum SD and photoperiodic neutral plants vegetation period: 3-4 months plant height up to 100 cm small, light-green flowers

Answer 3

Global area harvested: 3 Mio ha Total yield: 2.9 Mio t Average yield: ca. 1t/ha Top three countries are China, Russian Federation and France

Answer 4

no yield improvements compared with other crops low stability of the yield low response to fertilization irregular maturation of seeds therefore difficult to harvest few registered cultivars, therefore no regular seed production high fiber and tannin contents risk of fagopyrismus (sickness in humans and livestock; skin irritation after eating buckwheat)

Answer 5

it grows in lots of respects like a 'wild plant' Buckwheat is self-incompatible -> cross pollination The plant flowers profusely, but only 10 - 20% of the flowers set seeds Two tpes of flowers: - thrum: short pistils, long stamens - pin: long pistils, short stamens - cross pollination occurs only between pin & thrum flowers -> therefore breeding is very difficult

Answer 6

Buckwheat is self-compatible (year after year) No major disease problems Grows fast, covers weeds relatively rapidly Preceeding crops: no special requirements Good: fertilized root crops such as potato or sugar beet, also legumes or cereals Succeeding crops: cereals; could be integrated relatively easily in existing crop rotations or be grown as second crop in July - October

Answer 7

uniform flowering, seed-set and maturation Improved lodging resistance (shorter stems) no shattering of mature seeds drought tolerance cold tolerance seed quality (taste) yield stability

Answer 8

Starch makes up more than 50% of the total dry matter of seed -> high content of carbohydrates Buckwheat proteins have higher biological value than those of cereals because of their high lysine levels Does not contain gluten -> Gluten free products rising in demand Buckwheat bran is a rich source of dietary fiber High levels of anti-oxidants

Answer 9

Triangular seeds are used to make flour after being removed from the husk 100 g of buckwheat -> ~ 300 Kcal Composition of buckwheat flour: 60 - 70% carbohydrate 10 - 12% protein ca. 2% fat 4 - 10% fiber 11% water 2% minerals

Answer 10

Primarily used for human consumption in form of - breakfast cereals - pancake mixes - part of breads - galettes - soba noodles - Pizzoccheri - cooked like polenta

Answer 11

use as fodder plant or as cover crop

Answer 12

Nucule: brown or silver-gray, triangular, half-size of a wheat seed some plants set well over 200 seeds, others set only 10 to 20 seeds

Answer 13

temperature sums of 1000 - 1200 °C until maturity, base T °C Very short begetation period of 10 - 12 weeks chilling sensitive optimal growth temperatures: 15 - 25°C; seed set and yield reduces markedly when T>25°C (high temperature sensitivity) Relatively low water requirements, but yield reduces markedly in drought stress well adapted to different types of soil; preference for well drained, light and losse soils Buckwheat tolerates salt stress up to 100 mM and is tolerant to acidity (optimal pH value: 5.3 - 7)

Answer 14

Hard soil Flooding and crusting before the first true lieves expand Even light frost is lethal. A frost will kill the leaves and stems, so the crop must then be harvested immediately High temperatures during early flowering can prevent seed set (called heat blasting) in dry weather, rapid transpiration causes the plants to wilt even if soil moisture is adequate Defoliation by deer, hail or mowing eliminates yield Most herbicides cause serious injury

Answer 15

Seedbed: fine structure, without weeds Sowing: - late sowing: higher percentage of unfertilized flowers, higher risk of lodging, seeds located mainly on main stem and first axillary branches - early sowing: flowering and maturation delayed, flowering period reduced, maturation more uniform, seeds located mainly on secondary axillary branches Yields are higher when sown early

Answer 16

Sowing date: mid may - mid june (soil temperature 10 - 12°C), as second crop: sowing until end of june Seed quantity: 80 kg/ha (drilling) Sowing depth: 2 - 4 cm Distance between rows: 10 - 45 cm

Answer 17

Low nutritive requirements - good capacity to acquire nutrients from soil, especially P - addition of manure is feasible - High levels of nitrogen result in excessive vegetative development, lodging and reduced seed set - fairly high level of P is necessary to set seeds and mature N: 30 - 80 kg/ha at early vegetation stage P: 60 - 80 kg/ha (in autumn) K: 60 - 80 kg/ha (in autumn) not needed if soil has high content of P2O5 and K2O

Answer 18

For seed use: 80 - 90 days after sowing, when 75% of seeds are mature and first larger seeds start to shatter For use as forage: Two months after sowing (during full flowering)

Answer 19

Today buckwheat is usually harvested with a regular combine. The more 'green plants', the more often the harvester needs to be cleaned from plants that got stuck in the cutter. Harvest has to be done prior to first frost event, but not too early in the season (plants have to be dry)