Barley is usually grown as a spring cereal. There are winter varieties but they are less winterhardy than winter wheat and will only survive in milder areas with adequate snow cover. There are also reports that winter barely does not do as well under an organic system. It may be because in spring the microbiological activity is limited until the soil temperature increases, and this is when available nurients are most needed by the barley. Most of the barley on organic farms is grown for animal feed. Otherwise it is used for human consumption in soups, cereals and for malting.

¥Reasons for crop selection

In an organic system spring barley is manged as a light feeder and placed at the end of a grain rotation where it is used as a nurse crop to establish a forage or clover stand. Less competitive than winter grains, the more open canopy of the barley gives an advantage to the underseeding. The underseeding also helps keep weeds under control.

The straw does not produce a high volume of organic matter, and breaks down faster than wheat or rye. If it is not used for bedding the small amounts of straw can be easily broken up and left on the field without smothering the underseeding.

¥ Crop requirements

A crop which yields 80 bu/ac removes:

N- 80lb; P - 32 lbs, K- 24lb,

Although there is little difference in nutrient demand between oats and barley, barley will

spring barley in soils that are very fertile may give you a problem with annual weed which out-compete the barley.

barley is also prone to lodging if there is too much nitrogen. Therefore, the application of compost should be done in the previous year. Either apply compost early in spring of the previous year, or, if hay is grown in the previous year, apply the compost after the first or second cut of hay.

It should be noted that winter barley does not do well under an organic system because readily available nutrients are not there in early spring when its demand is the greatest. A combination of composted liquid manure and fish emulsion can help correct this problem, but many farmers find the labour demands are excessive.

* Soil

Spring barley has a comparatively shallow root system and it absorbs large quantities of water in its early growing stages. Because of these characteristics, spring barley does best in light-textured soils. It can do well in heavier soils but added fertility is required for good results.

* Temperature

Spring barley grows well in cool season areas. It can be grown farther north than any other grain because it has the shortest growing period. It is also superior to oats and rye in resistance to heat. There is faster germination when the soil is warmer and not too wet. Seeding spring barley in cold, damp soil makes it more prone to fungus and disease, so seeding should be done when the soil is dry.

* Moisture

Spring barley can produce a crop with less moisture than the other grains. If there is excess moisture, it may become waterlogged. Cool soils will lack enough air for spring barley to grow well.

* Variety

Varieties with tall straw are is more competitive against weeds, and provide more organic matter for ploughdown or bedding. When seeding in very fertile soils, to prevent lodging, grow short-strawed varieties. When underseeding alfalfa, grow six-row barley to prevent the alfalfa from overtaking the barley.

Rust can be a serious barley disease in both Western and Eastern Canada. It is carried over-winter on Japanese Barberry, and transmitted through the air to the barley. Varieties such as Brock, Centennial, Herta, Keystone, Champlain and Conquest, have some rust resistance. Mildew, another serious disease of barley, is also avoided largely by planting resistant varieties.

3. Planting Methods

* Planting date

In Quebec, spring barley is seeded in early May. In Ontario, spring barley is planted in mid- to end of April.

* Seedbed preparation

If a cover crop of clover was planted the following year, disc the soil first, and then one week later cultivate, and the following week harrow. The harrowing suppresses any annual weeds that have germinated. Seed immediately after harrowing. Approximately one week after planting, do blind harrowing.

Pack spring barley after it is planted. If the moisture conditions are good, a second packing could be advantageous for the alfalfa seedling. Using a harrow and packer behind the seed drill is recommended.

If alfalfa is underseeded with the spring barley, broadcast the alfalfa with a cyclone spreader before you do the blind harrowing.

Another cultivation can be done with the Leily weeder (finger weeder/weeder harrow) when the barley is around the five leaf stage. This cultivation is delayed until then to give the barley time to built up root reserves.

* Seeding rate

Seeding rate can vary from 60 to 125 lbs/acre depending on whether you want a heavier growth for weed control. Because barley is too light to broadcast easily, you can mix it with 6 to10 lb/acre of alfalfa, 2 lbs/acre of timothy, or 3 to 4 lbs/acre of brome grass.

* Row width

If spring barley is seeded as a row crop, the rows are four to seven inches apart. Seeding can be done in two directions applying 60 lbs in one direction and then seeding another 65 lbs in the other direction across the field.

4. Crop management

*Weed control

Mustard is controlled by cultivation. Mustard and lambsquarter are a sign of too much fertility. There can be problems with burdock in areas which used to be an old ditch area. Problems with milkweed are due to compaction. Ragweed indicates low fertility (potassium.) Pigweed can become a problem if you apply fresh manure.

5. Harvesting

Swath and combine or direct-cut. Let the barley dry for a week or two. Barley should be dried down so that when you cut it with a penknife, it pops apart.

6. Suitable following crops

Spring barley is very adaptable. Underseeding the spring barley with red clover or a legume-grass mix is excellent for soil building and cover. If oil radish is seeded after the spring barley is harvested, the oil radish will hold the nutrients and make them available to the next crop.

7. Preparation for cover crop

Generally, spring barley is underseeded with clover or alfalfa. A fine seed bed is not necessary as long as seed is in contact with moisture.

Seeding of spring barley is done as soon as the ground can be worked. this isit can be as early asThe bushel weight for barley is 48 lb/bu (60 kg/hl).W. In the spring, the microbiological activity is limited until the soil temperature increases, and this is when are most needed by winter barly. An early planting gives the barley a competitive edge over weeds and takes advantage of the early-season moisture.If a cover cropprevious

Blind harrowing is done at the critical moment after the crop has been planted, and the crop seed has sprouted and is about to emerge. The field is harrowed to kill the small-seeded weeds which have already sprouted. The crop will emerge shortly afterwards, having gained a competitive edge on the next generation of weeds. the seed drill is recommended. is underseeded with the spring before you

; in the example rotations it is followed by winter rye. U Hand-seed the red clover via a cyclone seeder with a seeding rate of 6 to 8 lbs per acre. down faster than wheat or rye.Espring barleyApproximately one week after planting, blind harrow. (Blind harrowing is done at the critical moment after the crop has been planted, and the crop seed has sprouted and is about to emerge. The field is harrowed to kill the small-seeded weeds which have already sprouted. The crop will emerge shortly afterwards, having gained a competitive edge on the next generation of weeds.)

Barley is usually considered a light feeder when determining its place in rotation. High levels of fertility will cause more problems with lodging and annual weeds, therefore compost should not be applied in the year of seeding. However many farmers grow it successfully in the year following an oat crop underseeded to red clover which is plowed in the fall. Bratively shallow root system. Iter in its early growing stages but. It will also be more adversely affected ifs excess moisture. W soils will be c and ck enough air for good growth Barley does well in light textured soils and heavier soils if well drained. Seedingld be done when the soil is warm and not too wet.

Variety

In general two-rowed varieties are shorter and more resistant to lodging, leaf rust and mildew. They are later maturing than the six-rowed varieties which are usually more tolerant to heat and moisture stress. The taller six rowed varieties also tolerate late planting and are better for underseeding because the canopy is less dense and the underseeding will not overtake the barley. Even though the canopy is less dense, varieties with tall straw are found to be more competitive against weeds.

Illustration two-row and six-row barley¥Seeding of barley is done as soon as the ground can be worked.In Quebec, this is early May. In Ontario it can be as early as mid-to end-of-April. An early planting gives the barley a competitive edge over the weeds and takes advantage of the early season moisture.If a cover crop such as oil radish or buckwheat ed the previous year, work it into the soil first. If necessary cultivate one week later n harrow the following week immediately before seeding. The harrowing kills nual weeds that have germinated and avoids bringing up any more weed seeds.

Forages can be seeded at the same time as the barley if post planting tillage for weed control is not needed. Otherwise the forages are broadcast after or when harrowing at the 4th leaf stage.

The heavier rates are used if a denser stand is required for weed control. In such a case some farmers seedn two directions applying half the seed on and then the rest in the opposite direction across the field to give a better cover. Lighter rates are used when underseeding.

oon as the ground can be worked and the soil begins to warm up. or 5th

Test weight for barley: 48lb/bu, 60kg/hL

Using a harrow and packer behind the seed drill is recommended.

If the barley has not been underseeded weeds can be controlled with the blind harrowing technique. This is done at the critical moment after the crop has been planted and the seed has sprouted and is about to emerge. The field is harrowed to kill the small-seeded weeds that have already sprouted. The crop will emerge shortly afterwards, having agained a competitive edge on the the next generation of weeds. A rod weeder can be used instead of a harrow.

photo: blind harrowing

one with a weeder harrowfourth or If soil is throw over the barley in the tracks reduce your speed. Alfalfa and other forages can be broadcast at this time.

Some weeds such as bladder campian tend to appear in barley fields when they are not seen in other crops. why?

To avoid leaf diseases in barley do not follow wheat in the rotation and plant resistant varieties. Barley can be combined directly or swathed first especially if there is a lot of undergrowth.