Spring Barley
Growing the crop & wildlife conservation
Sown:
We sow in January or February
Fertiliser:
We apply nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, sulphur and manganese fertiliser in the spring
Weed control:
One herbicide in the spring
Insect pest & control:
There are no significant insect pests of spring barley
Disease control:
A seed dressing and usually two fungicides during the spring
Threats to the crop:
- Our sandy soils do not hold water well, so drought is a major threat
- Grazing by rabbits can be a problem
- High rainfall or severe hail storms at or near harvest are threats, though rarely have a significant impact
What helps:
- A warm spring helps the crop get established
- Spring and summer rainfall increase crop yield
Wildlife conservation:
Harvest & what the crop is used for
Harvest:
Harvested with a combine, usually during August
Caring for the crop:
After combining, it goes into our grain store where it is dried and cooled. This prevents the build up of fungi and insects in the stored grain
What it is used for:
Good quality barley is used to produce malt for the brewing industry. Lower quality barley is used as livestock feed
By-products:
There is some straw, though on our soils spring barley often produces too little straw to be worth baling
Spring Barley field
