What are the causes of lodging in highland barley and what are the control methods?
Highland barley is a cereal crop. Because its inner and outer glumes are separate and the grain is naked, it is also called naked barley or yuanmai. It is the main food grain of the people of Tibet, with a cultivation history of 3,500 years. However, lodging can occur during highland barley cultivation, seriously affecting the yield of highland barley. So what are the causes of highland barley lodging? How should it be controlled? Let's take a detailed look together.
1. Variety factors
The lodging of highland barley is greatly related to differences in the lodging resistance of its varieties. Under normal circumstances, tall-stemmed varieties tend to be top-heavy during growth, making them highly prone to lodging; in addition, varieties with slender basal internodes and poor stem elasticity and toughness also have relatively poor lodging resistance.
Control method: Therefore, when planting, try not to choose the above two types of varieties. Choose varieties with stems that are not tall but are thick and strong, with thick internodes and relatively good elasticity and toughness, to reduce the lodging rate.
2. Poor land preparation quality
During land preparation, conditions such as harrowing that spreads pathogens, uneven soil covering, large clods, high soil viscosity, and poor permeability may all cause the root system to be distributed relatively shallowly and unevenly, so the plants grow thin and weak and are highly prone to lodging later.
Control method: When preparing land for planting, the harrowing must be even and the soil covering must be level. Large clods in the field must be broken up, the soil must be loosened, and the soil permeability must be maintained.
3. Poor sowing quality
Sowing too early or too late can both lead to lodging. If sowing is too early, the temperature is relatively low, the seedlings grow thin and weak, and they are prone to lodging; if sowing is too late, the temperature is relatively high, the seedlings grow excessively, and the stems are slender and weak, making them prone to lodging. In addition, sowing too deep or too shallow can also lead to lodging. If sowing is too shallow, the seed roots are relatively shallow, leading to lodging; if sowing is too deep, the seeds consume a large amount of nutrients when germinating, resulting in weak seedlings and lodging. In addition, if the sowing density is too high, the seedlings grow densely after emergence, and the weak seedlings can also lead to lodging.
Control method: The sowing time must be well controlled and should not be too early or too late. The sowing depth should preferably be 3-7 cm, flexibly controlled according to the local soil structure. At sowing time, attention should also be paid to density. If the seedlings are dense after emergence, thinning should be carried out in time.
4. Improper management
When growing highland barley, applying too much nitrogen fertilizer and relatively little phosphorus and potassium fertilizer causes the stems to grow excessively and become fragile, making them prone to lodging later. Concentrated or improperly timed fertilization can easily cause excessive growth or premature aging of the plants, leading to lodging. In addition, pest and disease control is also inadequate. Fertilization can hinder stem growth, and lodging resistance is relatively weak, making lodging more likely.
Control method: Fertilization must be reasonable. Pay attention to the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and improve the plant's disease resistance and lodging resistance. Attention must be paid to pest and disease control. Pests and diseases must be dealt with promptly when found, so as to prevent them from spreading further.
The above is an introduction to the causes of lodging in highland barley and the control methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.