Winter barley – it’s time to get moving on plant nutrition

April is the month when winter barley crops develop the quickest and the demand for plant vitamin is at its highest.

Relying on the entire quantity of nitrogen (N) for use, growers ought to guarantee that they apply the final break up earlier than Progress Stage (GS) 32, in response to recommendation from Teagasc.

Barley crops don’t use late N effectively. With a purpose to maximise yields, N should be working earlier than the flag leaf is seen. Manganese deficiency can be fairly widespread in barley crops and wishes consideration.

The place disease control is anxious, Teagasc is reporting that the choice to make use of a two or three-spray technique will rely upon the variability and placement.

Growers ought to use a three-spray programme on vulnerable varieties (e.g., cassia), or the place illness ranges are average or excessive. That is particularly so particularly within the southern half of the nation.

Nonetheless, with crops within the northern half of the nation on clear varieties, growers could possibly get away with two purposes.

A advised spray plan follows: First spray – GS30; second spray – GS31 to 33; and third spray – GS39 to 49.

Fungicides that can be utilized embody: Siltra at 0.6L/ha; Decoy copacks; Elatus Period at 0.8L/ha; MacFare Xpro or, Proline at 0.4L/ha plus a SDHI or strobilurin (Imtrex, Zulu, and so forth.)

The place mildew is obvious, a mildewicide ought to be used. As well as, Folpet could be added to the final spray for the management of ramularia.

Plant progress regulator for winter barley and crops

Growers ought to purpose to use a plant progress regulator (PGR) on two-row varieties between GS32 and GS37 for efficient shortening.

Merchandise that can be utilized on this context embody Terpal at 1.2-1.5L/ha, Cerone at 0.5-0.7L/ha and Meddax Max at 0.3-0.5kg/ha.

For six-row varieties or two-row varieties on very fertile websites, two purposes are usually required.

Growers ought to contemplate a mixture of Moddus at 0.2L/ha plus Chlormequat chloride (CCC) at 1.0L/ha round GS30 or 31. This could be repeated on the regular timing at GS32-37.

Farmers ought to be very watchful of the climate when making use of PGRs.

Frost will reduce the impact of the merchandise, whereas additionally growing the potential of scorching. Growers must also keep away from difficult mixes, as crops could be vulnerable to scorch at the moment of 12 months.

In the meantime in Northern Eire, School of Agriculture, Meals and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) advisors are confirming excessive ranges of mildew and rhynchosporium an infection in some ahead winter barley crops.

The recommendation right here is to maintain fungicide charges excessive, notably if a T0 fungicide was not utilized or T1 has but to go on.