Barley

[MarkDarvin]

I’m off to a good start this year, and thought I should try a separate thread for it. I want to know everything about the plants I grow and the things that help it and hurt it.

When does stuff germinate? How cold tolerant is it? What companions well? How long does it take to hit growth and use stages? Does it broadcast? How durable is the residue?

I’ve had my first seeding on the ground for 21 days now. I found my first plant with a second leaf.

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[catscratch]

So, what's your take so far? Looks like healthy plants...

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[MarkDarvin]

So what does that tell me? Well, the folks at the U of M extension gave me (I googled it) a nifty GDU calculator for barley based on growth displayed.

This tells me I've racked up 170 GDU's already. Even neater right? I think so. This whole document is pretty well done from an info and photography stand point.

https://extension.umn.edu/growing-s...ling-establishment-and-leaf-production-792761

To calculate GDUs for barley, it's much like corn, but with a different minimum.

[(daily high temp + daily low temp) / 2] - 40 = GDUs / day

So yesterday it was 73 for a high and only got down to 55 overnight.

[ (73 + 55) / 2 ] - 40 = 24 GDUs yesterday

So even though I'm not there to watch it grow on a daily basis, I can watch from the thermometer to gauge how far along it is probably going to be when I get to see it next.

 

[MarkDarvin]

I don't want to dig any up, but I wonder what it looks like below ground. Well, now I've got a better idea. One big advantage I have, is that my soil is already loaded up with AMF and every plant has a nitrogen pump right next to it.

 

[MarkDarvin]

So, what's your take so far? Looks like healthy plants...

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The low teen temps didn't hurt it cause it didn't germinate yet. By the time it germinated, the temp range shifted far enough that it couldn't cold kill without some epic disaster of wacky weather. I also learned from that document that it will also get going at 34 degrees, just like rye.

I've got other pics that clearly show the first seeding took. I've got seed out there that still hasn't germinated, stuff like what you saw up above, and others that are just starting to push that first leaf up. I think the higher seeding rate (4 bushels/ac) looks like a good idea at this point.

The birds probably got a little, some just didn't land in the right spot, but a lot did. My hope is that the plants will tiller more where the stand is thin. Also sounds like it will also tiller more simply to getting a head start during the cold weather, where a later start may cause more heat stress at younger and key growth stages.

That ground staying green all year seems to have helped it firm up. It used to turn into pudding in the spring after a gly app or good beating with the iron. It's got my radar up for next spring. If I've got the means to pull and a way to get back there without destroying my trails, I may try rolling over it once with the chain harrow set very light, just to stir up the reside a little bit, spread, and then pack. I'll have to wait and see how this stand comes in. If it comes well, I won't mess with it. This seeding took with no rain falling on it at all. It made it with sunlight and humidity at the soil surface.

 

[weekender21]

The low teen temps didn't hurt it cause it didn't germinate yet. By the time it germinated, the temp range shifted far enough that it couldn't cold kill without some epic disaster of wacky weather. I also learned from that document that it will also get going at 34 degrees, just like rye.

I've got other pics that clearly show the first seeding took. I've got seed out there that still hasn't germinated, stuff like what you saw up above, and others that are just starting to push that first leaf up. I think the higher seeding rate (4 bushels/ac) looks like a good idea at this point.

The birds probably got a little, some just didn't land in the right spot, but a lot did. My hope is that the plants will tiller more where the stand is thin. Also sounds like it will also tiller more simply to getting a head start during the cold weather, where a later start may cause more heat stress at younger and key growth stages.

That ground staying green all year seems to have helped it firm up. It used to turn into pudding in the spring after a gly app or good beating with the iron. It's got my radar up for next spring. If I've got the means to pull and a way to get back there without destroying my trails, I may try rolling over it once with the chain harrow set very light, just to stir up the reside a little bit, spread, and then pack. I'll have to wait and see how this stand comes in. If it comes well, I won't mess with it. This seeding took with no rain falling on it at all. It made it with sunlight and humidity at the soil surface.

How early could I broadcast barley in 6b? If you've already had seed on the ground three weeks, I could probably plant in March down here!

 

[MarkDarvin]

How early could I broadcast barley in 6b? If you've already had seed on the ground three weeks, I could probably plant in March down here!

I'd think so. I planted April 12th. I had ground mostly thawed out but stil freezing at the surface at night. If you're not dealing with too many acres, I'd just push the envelope and try early. Up here, barley is $13/bag. The risk isn't huge if you lose $13. Now, if you're talking 2-3 bags of real deal seed corn, that's a whole other story. You don't want to be throwing in snow, but you get the picture.

 

[bigbluetruck]

How early could I broadcast barley in 6b? If you've already had seed on the ground three weeks, I could probably plant in March down here!

Spring Barley is a little more cold tolerant than oats, but will tiller more and faster than oats. Winter barley is less cold tolerant than rye or wheat. Supposedly barley is one of the best plants for kick starting your soil health. I'm going to try growing a little spring barley next year for cover crops.

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[Drycreek]

My question is: How much heat will barley stand ? Is spring barley gonna die out at 80* days ? 90* days ? Our spring lasts about two weeks here it seems and then it’s summer. That’s one reason that cow peas are one of my mainstays in spring/summer.

 

[bigbluetruck]

My question is: How much heat will barley stand ? Is spring barley gonna die out at 80* days ? 90* days ? Our spring lasts about two weeks here it seems and then it’s summer. That’s one reason that cow peas are one of my mainstays in spring/summer.

I *think* barley is more drought tolerant than oats, or at least uses less water. Might be a little more heat tolerant than oats as well. Might want to check out Green Covers to check for sure

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[MarkDarvin]

My question is: How much heat will barley stand ? Is spring barley gonna die out at 80* days ? 90* days ? Our spring lasts about two weeks here it seems and then it’s summer. That’s one reason that cow peas are one of my mainstays in spring/summer.

I bet you could mow-kill it in 60 days if you needed to. As far as heat goes, you'd have to try it to see. I don't get oppressive heat by me, only oppressive humidity.

 

[Okvet03]

One big advantage I have, is that my soil is already loaded up with AMF and every plant has a nitrogen pump right next to it.

I'm so jealous. I've got sugar sand. Maybe one day I'll have soil...

 

[Drycreek]

I bet you could mow-kill it in 60 days if you needed to. As far as heat goes, you'd have to try it to see. I don't get oppressive heat by me, only oppressive humidity.

I don’t know what part of ND you are in, but I suspect the Eastern part from the humidity remark. I spent a year working in Williston and very low humidity there, but my wife is from near Fargo, and plenty of it there. In fact I was very surprised how hot it seemed and how many bugs there were. Her folks were farmers, I guess her brother still is, and I’ve spent several days at a time on the farm during visits. Not as hot as here, but the humidity is just as bad.

 

[MarkDarvin]

I don’t know what part of ND you are in, but I suspect the Eastern part from the humidity remark. I spent a year working in Williston and very low humidity there, but my wife is from near Fargo, and plenty of it there. In fact I was very surprised how hot it seemed and how many bugs there were. Her folks were farmers, I guess her brother still is, and I’ve spent several days at a time on the farm during visits. Not as hot as here, but the humidity is just as bad.

85 degree temps and 45% humidity during the day are no problem. When it drops to 68 degrees and 92% humidity overnight, it is awful. Thankfully, that only happens a few weekends per year. A good shower and a fan also help deal with that.

 

[MarkDarvin]

I'm so jealous. I've got sugar sand. Maybe one day I'll have soil...

Keep at it man. Think heat and drought tolerant stuff (sorghum, mung beans, winter rye, cowpeas). Keep building duff until you cannot see your soil. Then protect it like your end of days toilet paper stash. You can survive on a lot less water when the sun isn't hitting your sand.

 

[weekender21]

My question is: How much heat will barley stand ? Is spring barley gonna die out at 80* days ? 90* days ? Our spring lasts about two weeks here it seems and then it’s summer. That’s one reason that cow peas are one of my mainstays in spring/summer.

I'm no expert by a long shot but a cattle ranch I hunt in central CA grew barley commercially in the 80's and 90's. My friend (the rancher) still grows a few acres (maybe 5) because it's good food and a good draw for the wild hogs. His part of the state (near Paso Robles) gets very little rain after April and daytime highs in June are typically over 100F. At some point in July the barley heads out and gets devoured by the hogs in a few weeks. As long as they get a few good winter and early spring rains the barley does very well.

 

[MarkDarvin]

As I wait (not going to cabin this weekend) I have been reading and wondering what kind of production I can expect from the acreage I've got, both in grain and straw. I found a production guide from Idaho talking about the kind of yields they get out there. I was surprised to see the yields they pull.

http://agresearch.montana.edu/wtarc...agement/Barley/IdahoSpringBarleyProdGuide.pdf

I'd be thrilled if I got 80% of this, but frankly, I don't see why I can't match or beat what they're doing. The spot I'm growing in is just over a half acre. Holy smokes if I can get 60 bushels at 53 lbs per bushel, that means I'll have 3200 lbs of grain standing out there in the month of July. I don't have near the deer to eat that much. They're may be some reseeding once I mow it down come brassica/oat planting time. That wouldn't be all bad either.


As far as straw goes, I'm liking the biomass estimates I'm seeing. It's not clear if this is just above ground. It doesn't matter much to me either way. Whether it's this amount above and below ground, or just total, that is a lot of damn carbon accumulated during the part of the season deer aren't really using the plot. That outta keep the clover well fed going into fall, and the soil covered until spring when the process starts again. I am going to try some winter wheat out there this fall. The water is starting to behave better than it has, but this was also the dryest spring I'd ever seen. So I'm not declaring a win on water just yet.

 

[MarkDarvin]

Thought I’d be further along by now, but it’s been pretty cold up here.

I wish I knew what to call this, whether it’s tillering or jointing.

I had pulled this one up first thinking it was my furthest along. Kept the pic anyway. Kinda excited for the way that soil looks.

It’s early, but you can start to see some of the diversity coming along: ladino, New Zealand, chicory, dandelion, barley, and some rogue grass. There’s other stuff coming but couldn’t get it all in one pic.

I never thought oak leaves would serve such a big purpose. Where I’ve got oak leaf duff, I have my best germination rates and those plants are furthest along, and a total absence of rogue grass. Some kind of alellopathic effect at work? Who knows?

Where I did not have duff (skid marks from heavy equipment last year) the barley is coming, but it’s way behind. Surprised the birds didn’t take it.

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[MarkDarvin]

I think I figured it out. I had to go to Serbia to get the answer, but I'm guessing this explains it. This study doesn't mention bur oak and whatever grass I've got. However, I'm making the leap that oaks in general have this type of effect on some grasses in general. This takes us back to organic acids and the importance of understanding their role in the soil system. It is in the leaves. Now, does this mean barley and clover are immune? Or are the phenolic acids broken down by spring? Don't know, don't care. It works, and it's neat as hell.

http://www.regional.org.au/au/allelopathy/2005/2/1/2499_djurdjevicl.htm

Those grasses mentioned are blue grass varieties.

 

[MarkDarvin]

I didn't grab a pic this weekend because the bugs were trying to steal my phone and car keys. Barley is still around 5" tall. It is pushing lots of new leaves and tillers. If I remember right, I found I think 7 leaves and 2 tillers on the plant I pulled up. Seems like all the pieces are almost in place for this stuff to take off. Conditions are getting ideal for lots of heat units without oppressive heat. Not going back for two weeks now. Hoping to see a flag leaf by then and a seed head within 3 weeks. Gotta remember to put out a camera next time to keep track of when this hits.