Barley

Question 1

Soil

Answer 1

PH 6.5 slightly acidic.

Deep sandy loam

✔️ drainage

✖️ drought

Brown earth/ grey brown podzolics

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

Steady supply of moisture

No drought = ⬇️ yield ⬇️ quality

Harvest in dry conditions no forcing

South east Ireland

Question 3

Crop rotation

Answer 3

2 yrs in a row

Question 4

Fertiliser

Answer 4

P + K applied when sowing with COMBINE DRILL

N spread as top dressing in spring

Or split dressing in spring and summer 2-3

Question 5

Weed control

Answer 5

1 Certified Seed (no wild oat)

2 crop rotation

3 selective herbicide

4 Growth encouragement

Question 6

Yield

Answer 6

7.5 t/ha

18-22% moisture

Question 7

Pests

Answer 7

Wire worm

Leather jackets

Aphids

Birds

Question 8

Harvest

Answer 8

1 Straw is dry

2 straw is golden

3 grain is dry and hard

4 ear is bent down

5 flag leaf dies

AUGUST onwards

Question 9

Storage

Answer 9

By drying to 14% moisture
OR
Add acid kill embryo

Dried by ventilation (cool air) stop germination

Question 10

Spring feeding barley use

Answer 10

Fatten cattle

⬆️ protein and ⬆️ energy

Must roll grain before feeding

Question 11

Winter feeding

Answer 11

Autumn plough ( Sep)

Do NOT roll

❌ N until Spring. Split dressing

Harvest mid July - early August

Yield heavier 8.5 t/ha

Question 12

Malting barley

Answer 12

Best soil only

Must have moisture during

growing season

N at early Spring only

❌split dressing

Dried by ventilation with cool air