Spring rye is a rarely used form. In Russia, winter rye is preferred, giving higher yields. In spring, rye is sown only in exceptional cases - when in another way it is not possible to get a crop.
Description of spring rye
Spring rye is one of the forms of sowing rye. In contrast to the winter form, sown in autumn before winter, spring rye is sown in spring. The word "spring" comes from the name of God Yarila, associated with the sun and the awakening of nature. Spring rye is harvested in late summer or early fall.
Rye is an aggressive plant that can suppress any weed. On rye fields, except for cornflowers. Advantages of rye of any form - spring or winter, in comparison with wheat:
- more enduring and unpretentious;
- higher resistance to diseases and pests;
- high resistance to lodging;
- is an effective green manure - improves the structure and condition of the soil;
- active phytosanitary - suppresses weeds.
Botanical description of spring rye:
- Root system. The roots of the fibrous type penetrate deep into 1-2 m. It grows on complex soils. High digestibility of nutrients. The plant is characterized by intense tillering. About a dozen shoots grow from one grain, and with good care - 5-10 times more.
- Stem. It is a hollow tube with several internodes - from 3 to 7. The stem is undescended, straight, pubescence is present only directly under the spike. The average stem height is 0.8-1 m.
- Leaves. The length of the flat sheet is 15-30 cm. The leaves are narrow - not more than 2.5 cm wide. The leaf plate at the top is pubescent - this is an indicator of resistance to moisture deficiency.
- Inflorescence. The ear is elongated, unbreakable, with a strong axis. The length of the spike is 5-15 cm, the width is 0.8-1.2 cm. The spines of the spike are rough, the length is 3-5 cm. Anthers of flowers with three stamens emerge from the spike. Flowers are pollinated by the wind method.
- Corn. The shape is elongated, oblong, in the center - a longitudinal groove. The embryo is clearly visible. The surface of the grain is slightly wrinkled. Size of rye grain: length - 4-10 mm, width - 1.5-3.5 mm. The weight of 1000 grains is 12-45 g. The grain of spring rye is smaller than that of winter. Rye grains are similar in chemical composition to wheat grains, but there are differences. There is less protein in rye grain than wheat, but more globulins and albumin. It also has less gluten, and its quality is lower than that of wheat. The grain is yellow, gray-green, brown and reddish.
Demand for sowing
Typically, spring rye is used as a substitute for winter rye, for some reason damaged or dead. The low demand for spring rye is simply explained - it is weaker than the winter counterpart, less productive and not so hardy to environmental challenges.
There are 10 species in the rye family, but only one species is cultivated - sowing rye. All others are wild. Sowing rye has 39 varieties, but only rye is grown in Russia. Spring rye in Russia accounts for about 1% of all sown area.
Terrain and climate for growing rye
It is beneficial to grow winter rye, as it is a frost-resistant plant that gives a good harvest. It calmly withstands winter temperatures up to minus 35 ° C. But if the climate in winter is very harsh, then winter rye will not stand it. Therefore, spring is in demand where extremely severe frosts are observed in winter, which do not allow winter crops to survive. That is why in the Far North spring rye is sown in the spring, and completely abandoned winter.
Spring rye is grown in regions with risky farming - in Transbaikalia, Central Siberia, in Yakutia (Republic of Sakha). The regions where the bulk of the fields of spring rye are sown purposefully, and not for replanting winter crops, are Buryatia and the Chita Region.
What varieties exist?
Spring rye is not in great demand in agriculture, therefore there are not many varieties of it:
- Vyatka. An experimental variety developed specifically for the Volga-Vyatka region. Used for reseeding if winter rye dies. Belongs to mid-season grades. The average growing season is 100 days.
The variety tolerates low temperatures well, sprouts together, quickly grows and forms tubes. If the ripening occurs in rainy weather, the ears are often hollow or through an intergranium. If the conditions are favorable, the yield is 40 kg / ha. The variety is resistant to lodging, disease damage does not exceed the level of winter form.
- Onochoy. A variety developed by Buryat breeders. Designed for harsh conditions in Eastern Siberia. The plant is tall - grows up to 2.5-3 m. There is a tendency to lodging. The leaves are narrow, moderate bushiness. Prismatic spike, large, large grain. The growing season is 130-140 days.
If you sow seeds in May, then at the end of September you can already harvest. The grain is elongated, shedding is negligible. Color - gray-green, with yellow. 1000 grains weigh 24-30 g. Stable tolerates spring drought and frost. It differs in friendly shoots and rapid growth at the beginning of the growing season. Effectively suppresses weeds.
- Svitanok. Ukrainian variety derived from the Leningradskaya variety. It is a safety culture, used for replanting winter crops. The growing season is 120-130 days. The bush is erect, with a strong stem and light green leaves. The length of the spike is 8-10 cm. The height of the plant is 1.2-1.6 m. The grain is large, the mass of 1000 pieces is 40 g. High resistance to root rot, powdery mildew and snow mold. The disadvantage is lodging. A feature of the variety is high yields on soils poor in nitrogen.
Seed preparation
So that the seedlings are friendly, and a worthy crop, sow grain in the soil, processed according to agricultural technology, and properly prepare the seeds for sowing. Only well-developed grain is taken. To determine this indicator, the seeds are checked for germination in laboratory conditions.
Minimum seed quality indicators:
- germination - from 93-95%;
- purity - 98.5%.
The permissible rate of weed seeds is 20 g per 1 kg of rye grains. Before sowing seeds into the ground, they are dried under a canopy. In the place of drying should be good ventilation and direct sunlight on the grain. Drying time is 3-4 days. To dry the grain faster, use drying chambers - here it is heated to 60 ° C, and the drying process lasts only 2.5 hours.
After drying, the grains must be pickled - to prevent diseases and stimulate the growth of shoots. As seeds use grain last year's crop.
Soil preparation
Soil preparation for spring rye includes:
- Autumn processing. In September and October, prepare steam, plow the soil and process it with a plane cutter. The depth of cultivation is 26-30 cm.
- Spring processing. They harrow the earth to a depth of 5 cm. The task of harrowing is to break the soil crust, destroy shoots, mold, weed seeds and the remains of dead plants. Due to harrowing during spring sowing, the yield of spring rye increases by 15-20%.
During pre-sowing tillage, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, and during sowing, phosphate fertilizers are applied.
Optimum seeding time
Spring rye seeds are sown in the spring. Sowing occurs in the second half of May. More precise terms and depth of seed placement depend on climatic conditions:
- In the forest-steppe zone, sowing begins in the third week of May.
- In the steppe zone - in the fourth week of May.
- In the Far East - May 1-20.
- In Siberia - May 10-20.
Sowing dates also depend on the precocity of the variety. So, for example, in the East Siberian farms:
- early rye is sown on May 15-25;
- mid-season - May 5-15.
If the soil has warmed up, and frost is not promised, sowing starts earlier.
Landing
Rye is sown in one of three ways:
- Private. The most common option - allows you to evenly distribute the seeds over the area. The row spacing is 15-20 cm.
- Narrow-rowed. The seeding rate, compared with the ordinary method, increases by 10-15%.
- Cross. Norms are similar to a narrow-row method.
The optimal seed placement depth is 5-6 cm in the forest-steppe zone and 6-8 cm in the steppe zone.
Care and growing
Spring crops, including rye, quickly absorb nutrients. An egg, characterized by a shorter growing season than winter rye, consumes no less nutrients. The tillering of spring rye is less intense, and the root system is weaker than that of winter crops - it is important to provide it with proper nutrition, as well as protection from diseases and pests.
Feeding and processing
The need for spring crops for fertilizers:
- Nitrogen. The greatest need for nitrogen fertilizers is observed with the beginning of tillering. During the time from tillering to entering the tube, the plant absorbs 40% of all nitrogen consumed during the growing season. To obtain 1 ton of grain, about 30 kg of nitrogen fertilizers are needed. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in three doses - in the spring during cultivation, in the stage of one node and in the stage of heading.
- Phosphorus. Spring plants need the most phosphorus during rapid growth. Phosphorus helps to form a strong root system, contributes to the formation of a large ear and early ripening. Phosphorus does not give such an increase to the crop as nitrogen fertilizers, but without it, plants develop poorly. To obtain 1 ton of grain requires 11.5 kg of phosphorus. Phosphoric fertilizers are applied in the fall during autumn plowing or in the spring during pre-sowing cultivation.
- Potassium. Spring crops need potassium most of all in the first period of growth. To obtain 1 ton of grain requires 25 kg of potassium. Potash fertilizers are applied in the same way as phosphorus fertilizers - in autumn or spring.
Spring rye finishes absorbing nutrients, approaching the period of heading-flowering. The exact doses of mineral fertilizers in the cultivation of spring rye are calculated taking into account specific conditions. The type of soil, its composition, predecessor, and planned yield are of importance.
An important task in caring for rye is to prevent weeds. Tillage involves measures:
- Harrowing. It is used when the seedlings of the phase of 2-3 leaves are reached. If you are late with the harrowing, and the weeds harden and form real leaves, the effect of this agrotechnical event will be small. In practice, harrowing to kill weeds is extremely rare.
- Herbicide treatment. The type and dose are selected depending on the varieties of weeds. Spring rye grows rapidly, it effectively suppresses weeds, and poisons are not always necessary. If the herbicides are nevertheless applied, this is done in the tillering phase. If you start processing earlier, there is a risk of damage to cultivated plants. Delay, however, causes deformation of the ear and a decrease in yield.
Herbicides are applied in the form of aqueous solutions. Processing time - early morning or late evening, at a temperature of no more than 20 ° C. Ground spraying is used.
An effective method for growing spring crops is foliar feeding of copper. If the soil is characterized by a pH level of more than 6.0, crops are fed with manganese. Feeding time - at the stage of 1-2 nodes. Dosage - 50 g of copper / manganese per 1 ha.
Diseases, Pests and Prevention
Protection and prevention of plants from diseases and pests is the key to a high yield. Common diseases of rye and measures to combat them are in table 1.
Table 1
Disease | Symptoms | Control and Prevention Measures |
Smut | Stripes on the stem, leaves, spike. At first they are lead, then they germinate in black spores. |
|
Cercosporellosis basal rot | Stains appear at the bottom. The plant in the affected area breaks, lays. Grains are underdeveloped. |
|
Fusarium root rot | Tillering nodes and rye internodes become brown, sometimes with a pink bloom. The trunk tissue is destroyed, the plant dies. |
|
Powdery mildew | Leaves and stems are covered with white bloom, then black dots appear. The plant dies. |
|
Yellow rust | Leaf plates are covered with lemon stains. The causative agent is a fungus. |
|
Rhinosporiosis | The appearance on the leaves of red-brown stripes. |
|
Spring rye, like any cereal crop, needs protection from pests.
Without protective measures, crop losses reach 15%. The most dangerous pests and protective measures are in table 2.
table 2
Pest | Protective measures |
Striped cicadas | insecticides during heading and milk ripeness of grain |
Aphid | fight against wild cereals and the use of insecticides in May-June |
The bug is harmful | selection of resistant varieties and insecticide treatment of larvae |
Wheat thrips | early autumn plowing, pre-sowing cultivation, crop rotation, chemical treatment if necessary |
Ground beetle | crop rotation, separate harvesting with quick threshing rolls |
Striped bread flea | Operational sowing of spring cereals and insecticide treatment of crops during the release of beetles from wintering |
Gray grain scoop | peeling and early plowing of winter plowing, row spacing |
Harvesting
When harvesting rye take into account the tendency of the culture to overripe and shedding, so it is important to start the harvest campaign in a timely manner. The main thing in rye harvesting is to start on time. If you delay the harvesting time by at least 10 days, significant crop losses are inevitable. On the other hand, work started too early leads to a crop shortage, as part of the grain is immature.
From milky-wax ripeness of grain to its full ripening, 10-20 days pass. When harvesting grain with a combine, the best option is to achieve full ripeness of the grain. The moisture content of the grains to be used as seed should not exceed 20%.
When choosing a harvesting time, it is important to consider the maturity of the straw. If its humidity is high, and the stems are long, the combine is regulated for these conditions. Wet and long straw, wrapping around a drum, makes threshing difficult. If the crops have not died down, and the weather is favorable, harvesting begins even with immaturity of the grain.
Immediately after the threshing, the grain is sent to the grain cleaning complex - for drying and sorting. The grain is brought to commodity condition. After threshing, straw is removed from the fields to cultivate the soil for future crops.
Despite the low prevalence of spring rye, this crop occupies an important place in agricultural production. Varieties of spring rye allow you to grow bread in areas of risky farming and insure the crop when freezing winter rye.
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