Brewing barley: description of the top 13 varieties and cultivation rules

Bringing barley is a special kind of crop that is distinguished by its cultivation technology. By following certain recommendations, it is possible to obtain cereals with the desired properties. The main difference between m alting barley and ordinary barley is the reduced level of protein components in its composition. To achieve the required parameters, it is important to follow a number of recommendations.

What is the difference between regular barley and beer barley?

The key difference between m alting barley and ordinary barley is the content of protein components. It should not exceed 12%. Brewing barley is more expensive than feed barley.

Companies that produce beer put forward special requirements for raw materials. In addition, producers invest a lot of money in breeding new varieties, since the quality characteristics of barley are important to them. Brewers usually buy grains of known varieties that meet European quality standards. At the same time, they often refuse Russian-bred barley.

Beer cultures have special m alt characteristics. To assess the suitability of a plant for making beer, you should pay attention to the following features:

• color of grains - must be yellow and uniform;
• smell - reminiscent of the scent of straw;
• purity - no other impurities can be in the composition;
• shape - can be oval or elliptical;
• extraction - quality grain has an indicator of 78-82%;
• humidity - the optimal parameters are 10-15.5%;
• germination energy - shows the suitability of grain for m alt production;
• amount of protein - no more than 12%.

Economic value

Such a plant is the most important raw material used in the m alting and brewing industries. M alt extracts are prepared from the grains of the plant, which are used in various industries - textile and pharmaceutical. Also, raw materials are used for the production of confectionery and paints and varnishes.

Barley straw is used as feed and bedding for livestock. First, it is steamed and then fed to animals.

Classification

Currently, there are quite a few varieties of crops that are classified according to different criteria. Depending on the agrotechnical characteristics, the following barley is distinguished:

1. Winter - it needs to be planted in October or November. Specific dates are determined by region and climate.
2. Spring - planting is recommended in March or April.

By morphological parameters, barley differs in the type of ears. They may look like this:

1. Double row - an ear with 2 rows, on average, yields 25-30 grains.
2. Six-row - gives 30-60 grains. These varieties are often used to make beer. Their grains have the same size and shape. At the same time, barley produces high-quality m alt.

Place in crop rotation

Brewer varieties are considered less demanding on predecessors than winter wheat or winter barley. It is important that the crops that have been grown on the site do not leave compactions in the field and lead to nitrogen accumulation. Also, do not grow barley in one place for a long time.

Good cultural precursors include:

• sugar beet;
• sunflower;
• potato;
• broadleaf plants;
• grass crops that used the nitrogen contained in the soil.

Acceptable predecessors include the following:

• winter wheat that was not fertilized with nitrogen;
• silo corn, which was not applied with a large amount of liquid nitrogen.

At the same time, there are a number of plants after which barley cannot be grown. These crops include:

• clover;
• alfalfa;
• peas;
• vika;
• legumes;
• wheat after using nitrogen fertilizers in the last stages of the growing season;
• grain corn.

The best varieties

Scientists spend about 10 years developing m alting barley varieties. This is 3-5 years more than is required to create ordinary varieties. Today, there are hundreds of varieties of the plant that are used to make beer.But they can be grown in specific areas.

Gladys

This is a relatively new variety that entered the State Register of Russia in 2010. The culture is considered one of the best for m alting. The duration of the growing season is 70-80 days. The plant is resistant to lodging, low fragility of the stem, resistance to disease. From 1 hectare it is possible to get 98.7 centners of grain.

Scarlet

This variety is recommended to grow in the Central Chernozem region. It is also permissible to plant it in the central regions of the Russian Federation. The plant is moderately disease resistant. Vegetation takes 70-90 days. The culture is characterized by a loose loose ear. It is possible to get 65 centners of grain per hectare.

Annabelle

This German variety has a two-row ear, which is characterized by medium density and length.The culture is characterized by large yellow grains. The growing season takes 90 days. The plant has a strong immune system. Yield parameters reach 40-50 centners per 1 hectare.

Donetsk 8

This Ukrainian variety is considered spring. It is characterized by a two-row loose spike, which has a straw-yellow color. It has large grains and does not tend to lodging. The plant perfectly withstands stress and is characterized by resistance to drought. The duration of the growing season is 90 days. From 1 hectare it is possible to get 45 centners of the crop.

Zazersky 85

This variety was bred in Belarus. It is characterized by cylindrical ears of yellow color and medium density. The variety is not prone to lodging. The growing season takes 84-88 days. Yield parameters reach 37-64 centners per hectare.

Consita

Culture is zoned in the center of Russia. It has cylindrical spikelets. They are of medium density. The grains are quite large. Vegetation lasts 80-90 days. The variety does not tend to lodging and is characterized by resistance to drought. It is characterized by resistance to loose smut or root rot. Yield parameters are 40-88 centners per 1 hectare.

Gonar

This variety entered the State Register in 1994. It is recommended to grow in the central regions. Also, the culture can be planted in the North-Western and Volga-Vyatka regions. The plant is characterized by cylindrical spikelets with a loose structure. It has round grains of yellow color. The growing season takes 75-85 days. The variety has no tendency to lodging. Yield parameters reach 50-80 centners per hectare.

Gastinian

Culture bred in Belarus. It is an early maturing variety, which is characterized by two-row spikelets. The plant has excellent brewing properties and resistance to lodging and leaf pathologies. The culture develops well in loam. Vegetation lasts 80-85 days. Yield parameters reach 60-78 centners per hectare.

Quench

This spring variety was bred in France. It is considered one of the most popular and is characterized by high drought resistance parameters. The plant contains a minimum amount of protein. The vegetation period is 70-98 days. From 1 hectare it is possible to collect from 30 to 70 centners of grain.

Ataman

This spring crop was bred in Belarus.It is characterized by a two-row ear of medium density and a cylindrical shape. The grade differs in average resistance to a drought. However, he may suffer from dust smut. The vegetation period takes 80-85 days. From 1 hectare it is possible to get from 30 to 75 centners of grain.

Syabra

This mid-late variety is characterized by good yield parameters and resistance to lodging. The amount of protein components is determined by the growing conditions. The variety is characterized by two-row spikes 7-8 centimeters long. The culture develops poorly in sandy and infertile soil. Vegetation period - 75-80 days. Yield parameters reach 60-80 centners per hectare.

Steel

The culture of the Belarusian selection has two-row cylindrical spikelets of yellow color and medium density. The plant does not tend to lodging and can be used in brewing. Vegetation takes 80-90 days. From 1 hectare you can get 60-87 centners.

Inari

This mid-season barley is considered one of the best varieties used in brewing. It is recommended to grow it in the Northwest region. The culture entered the State Register in 1996. Vegetation takes 85-95 days. It is possible to get 30-52 centners of grain per hectare.

Features of growing beer barley

To get a quality crop that can be used for beer production, it is important to follow a number of agrotechnical recommendations.

Soil preparation

When growing barley, it is recommended to give preference to large fields that have a flat topography and the same soil composition throughout the territory. Brewing crops are typically planted in 100 hectares.

Culture grows best on sod-calcareous and sod-podzolic sandy and loamy soils. In this case, light or swampy soils will not work. Also, do not plant barley in drained peatlands that contain a lot of nitrogen.

When choosing soil, you should focus on the following indicators:

• acidity - above 5.6;
• content of potassium and phosphorus - more than 150 milligrams in 1 kilogram of soil;
• humus content is over 1.8%.

It is important to properly process the soil for planting m alting barley. This is influenced by soil properties, climatic conditions, weed count, predecessor plants, and other factors.

The preparatory phase includes the following:

1. Stubble plowing - it is recommended to work at a depth of 6-8 centimeters.
2. Deep autumn plowing - you need to cultivate the soil by 30 centimeters. Under plowing, it is worth applying manure and mineral supplements.
3. Pre-sowing treatment - includes 2 activities for snow retention, field harrowing, cultivation.

Date of planting

Barley needs to be planted early enough. If you are at least a week late, the yield will drop by 10-40%. Early planting gives you the opportunity to achieve strong shoots and large grains with a minimum of films.

The exact timing of planting depends on the region and climate. So, in Siberia, barley is planted no earlier than May 15th. In the south they do it in February.

Seed preparation

For planting, it is important to select large and even seeds. They definitely need to be etched. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to protect the planting material from pathologies and fungi. It is worth processing seeds 1-2 weeks before sowing. For this, it is permissible to use "Divident", "Vincite".

Also, the seeds should be soaked in a growth stimulator. For this purpose, it is permissible to use sodium humate. For 1 ton of grains, it is worth using 0.75 kilograms of the substance.

Boarding rules

When planting barley, the following features should be considered:

1. Sowing rate. On average, 5-6 million seeds are recommended per hectare.
2. Planting depth. It is selected taking into account the structure of the soil. In dry weather, the seeds are buried by 5-8 centimeters. Planting depth in moist soil is 3-4 centimeters.
3. The way of landing. Barley, which is used for brewing, can be planted in a narrow row or ordinary way. In the first case, the interval between rows is 7.5 centimeters, in the second - 15.

Further care

To get a rich harvest of a plant, it is worth providing it with the right care. It should include the following activities:

1. Rolling in - performed immediately after landing or simultaneously with it. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to improve the contact of seed and soil. This technique improves the friendliness of seedlings and makes them thicker. It is especially important to roll the soil in drought.
2. Harrowing - carried out after rolling. This helps to avoid the formation of a crust and copes with filamentous weeds. Harrowing is carried out 3-5 days after planting.
3. Applying pesticides and herbicides - carried out on the tramline.

Fertilizers

Proper fertilization is important when growing barley:

1. The plant needs a reduced amount of nitrogen. 60-70 kilograms of the substance are applied per 1 hectare.
2. It is forbidden to apply nitrogen preparations in parts. This will provoke an increase in the level of protein in the grains. It is best to use urea in granules. It is applied at the stage of preparation for planting.
3. In autumn, phosphorus and potassium should be applied. The amount of phosphorus per 1 hectare is 60-90 kilograms, potassium - 120-160.

Diseases and pests

Barley is a strong culture with excellent immunity. But if the agrotechnical recommendations are violated, the plant suffers from diseases and pests. The main pathologies of barley include the following:

• dusty smut;
• stem rust;
• brown rust;
• powdery mildew.

Fungicides help to cope with pathologies. Of the pests, barley suffers from the granary weevil. It hits grain stocks. Gases and insecticides are used to control parasites.

Harvest and storage of crops

Harvest barley for the production of beer should be at the stage of full maturity. To do this, you need to do the following:

1. Before harvesting, mow the field along the perimeter, capturing a strip of 2-3 meters in size.
2. Harvest in areas with dead spikelets.
3. Thresh barley.

The harvest needs to be cleaned and dried. Then sort the grains and put them in storage. The temperature in the storage room should be no more than +21 degrees.

The subtleties of brewing

To prepare the grain for making beer, do the following:

• sort and sort - high-quality beer wort is obtained exclusively from selected materials;
• soak in water - its temperature should be +13-17 degrees;
• sprout grains - this produces glucose and fructose;
• dry the grain - this affects the color and taste of the m alt.

The m alting barley is a special crop. To get a rich harvest of the desired quality, it is important to choose the right variety and follow agrotechnical recommendations. Only in this case it will be possible to obtain high quality m alt.

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