Top tips for establishing spring cereals

However, whether planned or unplanned, there are some important steps growers need to take to ensure spring cereals get off to a strong start and perform as well as they can through the shorter growing season.

Hutchinsons technical manager, Dick Neale, highlights seven key areas to focus on:

1. Variety choice and target market

This very much depends on individual situations, soil types, proximity to local markets, etc, and while experienced growers with the right site may be able to reliably grow spring barley for low-nitrogen malting contracts, Mr Neale says to be realistic about your ambitions.

“This is especially true when growing spring barley on heavy land, perhaps for black-grass control, or where wet weather prevented autumn drilling. Achieving low-N malting specification is hard on heavy, fertile soils, so focus on yield instead. Modern spring barley varieties genetically have high yield potential, so can be pushed accordingly.”

2. Terminating cover crops

Timing of cover crop termination before sowing spring cereals is important for several reasons, including residue management, surface moisture availability, and minimising potential allelopathic effects or nitrogen lock-up in the following crop, says Mr Neale.

“SFI overwinter cover crop (e.g. CSAM2) rules allow cover to be terminated before the end of winter, but no more than six weeks before the following spring crop is sown. Anyone planning early March drilling cannot therefore terminate SFI cover until mid-January.”

Mr Neale notes that where soils remained very wet last winter, there was poor active growth within many cover crops and grassweeds going into the new year, so consequently, some struggled to achieve good results from a single dose of glyphosate. Sequences worked much better though.

“Recognise this risk if planning to terminate cover crops or other winter growth in early/mid-January, and be prepared to apply a follow-up glyphosate treatment pre-drilling if required. Higher rates are typically used at the first timing, reducing for the second where appropriate.”

3. Drilling date

Spring cereals do not require vernalisation, so once germinated, they inherently want to grow rapidly in the shorter season, only spending limited time tillering.

Mr Neale says to avoid drilling too early, especially if soils are cold and wet, with little sign of improving. “Seed will germinate from 5ºC onwards, but ideally should go into soil that is continually warming to avoid the risk of seed germinating, then not growing until temperatures rise.

“It may be tempting to drill if a fine weather window appears in mid-January, for example, but sowing a spring variety then is not recommended.”

4. Seedbed preparation

Good seedbed preparation is vital for rapid crop establishment, and with spring cereals, Mr Neale says growers need to make sure that once seed is drilled, they are not completely reliant on fresh rainfall to make it germinate. “Drill seed into moisture, and ensure good seed-to-soil contact, consolidating well to conserve moisture.”

5. Seed rates

For optimum yield in spring barley, aim to establish 750–1,000 heads/m2, tailoring seed rate to drilling date and seedbed conditions, Mr Neale advises.

“Spring barley tillers strongly, so when drilling in late February/early March on heavy land, rates are likely to be around 400 seeds/m2.”

Generally, less seed is required when drilling later, as crops should tiller better in warmer conditions, he adds. But, by late April/early May, seed rates will need to increase again given much less time for tillering.

Spring wheat has not been subject to the same genetic breeding and selectivity as spring barley, therefore many varieties feature relatively old genetics, Mr Neale continues. “Crucially, spring wheat lacks the tillering capacity of spring barley, and typically has smaller ears containing fewer grains, therefore higher seed rates are needed to drive yield. Target a head count of 500-600/m2, which for March drilling is likely to mean sowing around 600 seeds/m2.

“Remember, maintaining a higher plant population also improves crop competitiveness over grass and broad-leaved weeds.”

6. Fertiliser

Placement fertiliser is highly recommended in spring crops, especially for phosphorus, which is crucial to root development and tillering.

Placing nutrients in the rooting zone greatly improves uptake efficiency compared with surface applications, facilitating stronger establishment and root development, allowing crops to quickly build scavenging ability for water and nutrients, Mr Neale explains. “This is particularly important where seed may be going into colder soils, and in dry springs, where moisture availability can be a big limiting factor.”

He also recommends applying most (c.80%), if not all, nitrogen into the seedbed at drilling, with rates varied according to soil conditions and yield potential. The remaining 20% should be applied by the four-leaf stage.

7. Moisture availability

Finally, Mr Neale reiterates the crucial importance of conserving seedbed moisture for effective spring cereal establishment.

“Fortunately last year, moisture availability was not an issue for most spring crops, even those that could not be drilled until late April. But, previous seasons have shown how a lack of spring rain can really restrict growth and yield potential.

“For late spring drilling dates (e.g. April onwards), watch long-term weather forecasts closely and make decisions on a daily basis as water availability post-drilling is crucial to crop success. If a long, dry spell after drilling is forecast, you may need another plan.”

Visit the Hutchinsons website for more information.

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