- Will the risk of fouling be higher this season?
- Which cereals are most susceptible to sprouting?
What weather is most favorable for growing?
What promotes grain sprouting? Rainfall, of course. However, even small but frequent rainfall will be more dangerous. This was the case last year, when the harvest was interrupted for about two weeks and there were light rains almost every day. Heavy rainfall also promotes growth, but one large rainfall will not be as dangerous as a series of small rains. This involves, among others, with long-lasting higher air humidity, which also increases the susceptibility to fouling. There is also a greater risk of fouling when there is no wind. In addition, there is varietal and species susceptibility, as well as the level of maturity. Too much nitrogen fertilization (e.g. more than the yield potential) also favors regrowing.
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Cereal blackness attacks earlier than last year
At the beginning you won't notice fouling
Initially, we may not even know that the grain is growing, because this process first takes place in a latent phase. We will visually observe sprouting only in the later stages, when the sprout has already penetrated the cover. It is then at least a few days since the beginning of growth.
No matter how quickly we notice fouling, we cannot stop this process. We can only act preventively during the growing season, although these are conservative actions that will not fully guarantee that sprouting will not occur in the ear (balanced nitrogen fertilization, selection of varieties with increased tolerance to sprouting).
There is another problem directly related to grain sprouting. Well, such grain is not suitable for sowing. This applies to all cereals, each of them loses its usefulness as seed material when it begins to sprout. The quality of such grain is also worse, although in most cases it is suitable for use as fodder. However, it loses (in the vast majority of cases) its consumption parameters. Moreover, already sprouted cereals maintain higher grain moisture for longer.
Which cereals are most at risk of fouling?
Hulled cereals are more tolerant to fouling (i.e. barley or oats). Chaff is a natural barrier protecting the grain. Triticale is most susceptible to grain sprouting. The risk is also high for rye, slightly lower for wheat, but it can also grow. Spring cereals are less susceptible to sprouting. The earliness of the variety is also important – those that reach maturity the fastest may grow faster. It is worth noting that this year most winter crops are or will be ready for harvest relatively quickly. This is the case, for example, in the southwestern regions, where the full-scale grain harvest was in full swing last week. Cereals ready for mowing, which will remain in the fields longer, will be more and more susceptible to fouling with each day of wet weather.
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Lime for straw. Two goals in one treatment
Additionally, the structure of the ear plays an important role in this matter. It will come as no surprise that grains from clustered ears will be most susceptible to sprouting. In such plants, the wind does not have as much access to the grain. This releases water more slowly after rain, and in addition, such grain is constantly exposed to higher humidity.
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Catch crop for green fodder, silage or grazing
