The grains of malt barley is used for production of barley malt used in the alcoholic fermentation of beer and whisky.
High-quality malt can be produced from grain of special technological quality. Therefore, only malt barley varieties are grown for brewing purposes, and agrotechnical operations are focused on achieving grain with a protein content in the range of 9.0–11.5%.
Two types of barley are grown: winter and spring barley. The cultivation of spring type dominates in Poland.
The winter type of barley has a higher yield potential, but its cultivation is subjected to risk due to the weaker winter hardiness compared to other winter cereals.
Obtaining a satisfactory yield of malt barley grain is largely determined by:
- weather conditions throughout the growing season
- optimal number of ears per unit area
- proper fertilization.
Root system of barley plants is significantly weaker than other cereal crops, which results in lower nutrient and water uptake from soil. For this reason, this species – in addition to balanced soil fertilization – requires supplementary foliar nutrition.
Nitrogen fertilization should be carried out so as not to exceed the acceptable protein content in the grain.
Optimum availability of nitrogen from the soil should be provide during the tillering period (the number of ears is determined) and during the heading phase (the number of grains per ear is determined). In the later period, i.e. after flowering, nitrogen uptake from the soil should be minimized.
For proper use of nitrogen and obtaining a high grain yield, the availability of nutrients such as phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and microelements is important. An optimal set of micronutrients is provided by foliar fertilizer PLONVIT® CEREALS.
The effect of foliar supply of appropriate nutrients to plants is:
Malt barley is very sensitive to sulphur deficiency (S). Feeding plants with sulphur (PLONVIT® SULVIT) positively affects the number of grains and accelerates the process of nitrogen accumulation in the grain at the early stage of grain filling up. The period of maturation of the kernels is also extended, thanks to which the amount of starch in the kernels increases. It promotes obtaining high yield and the required quality parameters of malt barley grain.
The good condition of plants throughout the growing season determines the yield of malt barley.
Even short-term nutrient deficiency may have a negative impact on plant growth and yield. Therefore, it is necessary comprehensive assessment of the requirements of the plants at any stage of their development. This will allow them to be properly fed and biostimulated. INTERMAG’s wide range of products, allows you to develop your own individual foliar fertilization and biostimulation program, considering local soil conditions, crop intensity, stage of plant development and availability of various products.
Particularly noteworthy is the highly alkaline fertilizer ALKALIN™, which, in addition to the basic functions of bringing in nutrients, has shielding properties for plants: ALKALIN™ PK 10:20.
All of these discussed actions significantly affect the yield increase and its quality parameters.
