WEATHER AND BARLEY CROP

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 10

WEATHER AND BARLEY CROP

•pHE barley crop harvested early this year averaged 55 bushels to the acre, compared with the record yield of 63 last year, according to Pyne, Gould, Guinness’s “Annual Review,” although in each season during the period

when the crop was growing and developing there were 37 days when soil moisture was at wilting point or below wilting point. The important difference between the two seasons, however, is that the distribution of these days was different. To quote the journal: “196364 was moist in the important growing months of October, November and early December. Dense crop growth resulted giving a record high yield. In 1964-65 the tillering and growth of. barley was slightly restricted during the drier months of October and resulting in a lower yield an acre.

“Admittedly these figures are from Winchmore irrigation research station alone and are taken under established pasture, but they do give some comparative, idea of seasonal soil conditions which probably applied to many soils in many districts where barley is grown.” Early Part It is noted that the early part of the crop last season was low yielding and contained a high proportion of thin grains. These crons missed the benefit of late December rains and came from the lighter, dry soils of Canterbury. As the main crop came in an improvement was seen in the plumpness of the grain and finally a good yield of 55 bushels to the acre had been reached for the contract maltin? barley area. Though there had been quite a variabilitv in weather conditions as they affected barley over the last six seasons. the “Review” says that yields have been remarkably high compared with the Canterbury average of 46 bushels to the acre up to the 1959 crop—l96o. 53 bushels to the acre: 1961. 54 bushels: 1962. 47 bushels: 1963, 51 bushels: 1963. 63 bushels: and 1965. 55 bushels.

“The recent high average yields from contract malting j barley crops are remarkable 1 considering the area now i grown on light soils not previI ously considered suitable for cropping. The improved management of pasture on this i type of country, with consequent fertility build-up, eni ables barley crops to be i grown reasonably well after a . winter feed turnip crop. The I established barley areas on the medium and heavy cropl ping soils still, however, provide the major part of the I crop.”