Winter rye is the most important agricultural crop of the non-chernozem zone. In addition, it is an effective siderate. Details about its cultivation will be discussed later in the article.
There are spring and winter cereals. Spring cereal is sown in the spring, and it ripens by summer. Winter crops are sown in late summer or autumn, in order to get a crop in spring and early summer.
Description of winter rye
Rye - an herbaceous plant, annual or perennial, belongs to the large family of cereals. Its name in Latin is Secale cereale, which means "sowing rye". Inside the species there are wild subspecies and over forty cultivars. Plant differences relate to the following points:
- the appearance and nutritional characteristics of grains;
- spine development;
- spike length;
- pubescence of the stem.
Root system
In rye, the root system of the fibrous type is submerged 1-2 meters deep. This plant has powerful and developed roots, which are especially effective on light sandy soils. The rye roots, consisting of primary (germ) and secondary (nodal) roots, rapidly absorb the nutrients contained in sparingly soluble compounds.
Grain immersed in the soil forms 2 tillering nodes. One is located in the depths, the second is near the surface, and it becomes the main one. Rye is characterized by intense tillering - a plant forms from 4 to 8 shoots, and if favorable conditions are created - 50-90.
Stem
The rye stalk is a hollow straw consisting of several knees (from 4 to 7) connected by nodes. The lower internodes are thicker than the upper ones - 6-7 mm versus 2-4 mm. The stem is erect, pubescent under an ear, and then - naked. The height of cultivated rye is limited to 1.5 m, wild species are higher - up to 1.8 m or more.
The stem and leaves are green, but due to the wax coating they appear grayish. Ripening, the color of the stem and leaves changes, first they become gray-green, then gray-yellow and, finally, golden yellow.
Ear
Rye has an inflorescence in the form of an ear, consisting of 2 or 3 flowering spikelets attached to the stem. The shape of the caryopsis is oblong or oval, slightly flattened on the sides. The top of the weevil is bare or pubescent. Each rye variety has its own spike length, it varies between 8-17 cm.
Grain weight depends on the variety:
- in coarse-grained varieties, 100 seeds weigh more than 38 g;
- in varieties with grain above average size - 30-38 g;
- in varieties with medium grain size - 20-30 g;
- in fine-grained varieties - up to 20 g.
Rye grains vary in size, shape and color. Grain Parameters:
- length - 5-10 mm;
- thickness - 1.5-3 mm;
- width - 1.5-3.5 mm.
Grains may take the form of:
- oval - the length refers to a width of 3.3 or less;
- elongated - the length refers to a width greater than 3.3.
The surface has a noticeable transverse wrinkling. The grain may be white, greenish, gray, yellow or dark brown.
Rye is a cross-pollinated plant and is pollinated by the wind. There are also self-pollinating varieties - they were bred for regions with risky farming in order to exclude risks associated with adverse weather.
Rye is one of the few crops that have two forms - spring and winter. The latter is characterized by higher yields, but it can be grown only in regions where mild winters are combined with a sufficiently high snow cover. Such conditions help winter crops to safely winter.
Demand for sowing
Rye has food, feed value. In addition, this cereal crop is an excellent siderat. Bread is made from rye, its grain serves as feed for farm animals. Pigs are fed flour, and cattle is bran.
Rye is the most important national product of Russia, but since the days of the USSR its crops have been steadily declining. If in 1990 in the Russian Federation 8 million hectares were allotted for rye, in recent years the gross harvest is 2.5-3 million tons. It turned out to be more profitable to grow wheat today than rye. However, Russia continues to be a leading producer of rye. Only Poland and Germany can compete with the Russian Federation. Most rye - 20% are grown in Tatarstan and Bashkiria.
Terrain and climate
Rye is a unique culture, it is the only representative of cereals cultivated in any climatic region - from Yakutia to the hot South American countries. Winter rye is grown in many countries, but its main crops are concentrated in the USA and Europe.
The advantage of winter rye:
- low dependence on meteorological conditions;
- undemanding to soil fertility;
- crop stability.
Rye grains lose their germination faster than other grains - after 3-4 years, 70% of the seeds are no longer able to germinate.
In Russia, rye is very popular. It is especially actively grown in regions where other grains do not produce high yields due to difficult conditions - low temperatures, high humidity, a small number of sunny days, etc.
In Russia, the leader in the production of rye is the Stavropol Territory. Here the highest average yields are up to 50 kg / ha. Rye is also grown a lot in the Lipetsk and Moscow regions, in the Krasnodar Territory and the Kaliningrad Region. And in the Transbaikalia, Khabarovsk Territory, Yakutia, Buryatia and in the Amur Region, rye is the main cereal crop.
Varieties of winter rye
Varieties of winter rye differ from each other in productivity and quality characteristics. The most popular varieties are unpretentious, winter-hardy and productive:
- Relay of Tatarstan. Variety from breeders of Tatarstan. Obtained due to the systematic cyclic selection of many analogues. A diploid plant with long prismatic ears. This medium-late variety with long but brittle awns, is hardy, resistant to powdery mildew and brown rust. Large grains - 1000 pieces weigh 40 g. The growing season is 330 days. Height - 1.25 m. Productivity - 40-64 kg / ha.
- Sunrise 2. Mid-season variety of domestic selection, bred specifically for the Non-Chernozem region. Parent forms - Hybrid 2 and Kharkov 60. The plant has a dense prismatic spike, its length is 8-10 cm. The spines are long and rough. The grains are elongated, yellow-gray. 1000 pieces weigh 30-35 g. Plant height - up to 1.5 m. Harvest - 40/50 c / ha. The variety is winter-hardy, but immunity against underlying diseases is weak.
- Tatar 1. Mid-ripening variety obtained by selection from three dozen similar crops. A distinctive feature is a loose prismatic spike. Osty are long. Grains of medium size, yellow. Weight 1000 pieces - 30-35 g. Vegetation period 320-330 days. The height of the plant is 1.1 m. The stem is strong, winter-hardy. Immunity against powdery mildew and brown rust is medium. But the variety is resistant to root rot. Productivity is high even on infertile soils. Tatar 1 is often used as a safety net. Productivity - 40-70 kg / ha.
- Saratov 7. Mid-season rye. The growing season is up to 330 days. Resistance to lodging. Thanks to the same plant height, harvesting is most effective. Large grains - 100 g weigh about 4 g. High baking characteristics. Resistance to the main diseases of rye. The variety is cultivated mainly in the Volga region and its neighboring regions. Productivity - 45 kg / ha.
- Bezenchukskaya 87. Very frost-resistant variety, preserving 98% seedlings by spring. Tall plant - up to 1.25 m, resistant to lodging. High productivity potential. Resistance to moisture deficiency in the spring and summer season. There is not enough resistance to powdery mildew and brown rust. Recommended cultivation regions are the Middle Volga Region, the Central Black Earth Region and the Volga-Vyatka District. Productivity - 42-59 kg / ha.
- Severskaya. The growing season is only 285 days. The variety is resistant to lodging, with a well-developed root system, winter-hardy, drought-resistant. Not afraid of snow mold, brown rust, septoria and fusarium. The ripened grain does not crumble for a long time. Grain germination is high - up to 92%. 1000 pieces weigh 35 g. Productivity - 85 kg / ha.
- Chulpan. Variety with a growing season of up to 345 days. The plant grows to 1.3 m. The ears are light yellow. 1000 pieces weigh 28-30 g. Productivity - 60-85 c / ha. The variety is winter-hardy, productive, drought-resistant.
Soil preparation
Tillage depends on the predecessor. Before sowing winter rye, the field is peeled to a depth of 7-8 cm, having previously removed the predecessor. If the harvesting is late, dispense with peeling, immediately bring in manure and plow the land 30 cm deep. In spring, the soil is harrowed and cultivated 2 times, first by 10 cm, then by 5-6 cm. In addition, in the summer the fields prepared for sowing winter wheat:
- cultivate;
- shelled;
- disco;
- harrow.
The interval between sowing and plowing is 1 month, this is necessary for the subsidence of the soil. Plowing in the zones of forest-steppe and sub-taiga - 25-27 cm, in the forest-steppe and steppe - 20-22 cm.
If the fields are clogged with hard-to-remove weeds, instead of a single cultivation, it is recommended to carry out treatment with herbicides, for example Roundup.
Optimum seeding time
Sowing of winter rye begins not earlier than the average daily air temperature is set at 15-16 ° C. About 50 days should remain before frosts. When the air temperature drops to the indicated values, the risk of defeat of the Hessian and Swedish flies is significantly reduced.
The quality of rooting and hardening of the plants depends on the correctness of the selected terms. In the northern regions of the Russian Federation, last year's seed material is sown. If fresher seeds are taken, then they are kept for 3-4 days in the sun - to warm up. Or subject them to treatment with air heated to 45-50 ° C.
Estimated sowing dates:
- Non-chernozem region - from August 20 to September 5.
- Siberia - from early August to September 15.
- Central Black Earth Region - from August 25 to September 15.
- Southern regions - from September 25 to October 10.
Seeding rates depend on the regional characteristics of the soil and climate, million units per 1 ha:
- Volga region - 4.6;
- Non-chernozem zone - 6.7;
- Ural and Siberia - 6.6.
Crop rotation
The predecessors of winter rye are selected so that favorable conditions are created by the time of sowing of rye:
- optimal soil structure;
- lack of weeds;
- lack of soil pests;
- optimal soil moisture and nutrition.
Precursors are selected depending on climatic conditions and soil characteristics. The best predecessors for certain regions of Russia are in table 1.
Table 1
Region | The best predecessors |
Non-chernozem region |
|
Cis Ural, Northeast | clean, well-fertilized steam |
Central Black Earth Zone |
|
Volga region (forest-steppe zone) |
|
Volga region (steppe zone), Siberia | pure pairs |
Rye is an excellent predecessor for itself, one gives high yields in one place for 2 years in a row. But with long-term cultivation of rye in one place, yields begin to decline.
Landing
Sowing is carried out by one of the methods:
- privates;
- narrow row;
- diagonal cross.
Approximately 7.5 cm is left between rows. Many farms use cross-sowing, which allows plants to be distributed more evenly and weeds to be suppressed. When using the narrow-row and cross method, the seeding rate increases by 8-10%.
Sowing technologies are aimed at creating the optimal density of the stalk and the ratio of the number of grains to unit area. Table 2 - indicators of the structure of the winter rye crop, allowing to obtain high yields.
table 2
Parameters | Winter rye |
Seeding rate, pcs./sq. m | 400-500 |
The density of plants, pcs / sq. m | 320-360 |
The number of stems before winter on one plant | 3-4 |
The number of stems in autumn and spring per 1 square. m | 900-1200 |
The number of productive stems before harvesting, pcs / sq. m | 550-600 |
The number of grains in the ear, pcs. | 25-30 |
Grain weight from one ear, g | 0,8-0,9 |
Weight 1000 grains, g | 30-35 |
Grain harvest, g / sq.m | 350-500 |
To sow a field of 1 hectare you will need from 3 to 6 million grains. Seeds are planted to a depth of 2 to 5 cm - it is determined by the humidity of the climate and soil.
The depth of seed planting is determined by their size, sowing conditions - temperature, humidity, etc. If the grain is deepened by more than 5 cm, germination and yield fall. Recommended embedment depth with normal soil moisture:
- heavy soil - 2-3 cm;
- average - 3-4 cm;
- lungs - 4-5 cm.
The intervals between the beds depends on the method of sowing and is:
- ordinary type - 13-15 cm;
- narrow-row type - 7-9 cm.
Between the ridges with wide-row and tape sowing, 45-90 cm is left to pass the cultivator. When cross-sowing, ordinary or narrow-row seeders are used, passing along and across the arable land. With the elongated form of arable land, cross-diagonal sowing is usually used. If rye has been growing on the field for many years, then they often use wide-row technology.
Care and growing
To winter rye gave a high yield, she needs year-round care:
- Fall. The task is to obtain strong, hardened, well-rooted and flowering seedlings. Works:
- Packing. Used to enhance the contact of seeds with soil. This is especially useful in low humidity. But on heavy and wet soils, rolling is not required.
- Fertilizer application. Phosphate-potassium fertilizers are introduced - they will help plants overwinter. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied sparingly.
- Winter. The task is to prevent freezing of crops. Works:
- Snow retention (snow retention). This technique prevents damage / death of plants, and also contributes to the storage of moisture in the soil.
- Growing samples. Events for the winter and spring periods are developed and implemented.
- Spring. Prevention of damage and death of plants:
- The descent of water. Stagnant water for 10 days completely destroys crops.
- Melted water delay. This event is used in the southern regions, where moisture deficiency occurs already in mid-spring. To retain moisture form snow rollers.
- Snow melting delay. Early rye growth is prevented with the risk of death from spring frosts.
- Spring harrowing. Allows you to save moisture in the soil, remove mold and dead residues.
- Summer. The task is the destruction of pests and the prevention of diseases. Apply insecticides and prophylactics against root rot. Also used drugs from lodging, thickening the walls of the stems and increasing their strength.
The use of snow retention increases the yield by 4 kg / ha or more.
Fertilizing and tillage
For feeding rye, two types of fertilizer are used - mineral and organic. As the latter, manure is used, as well as manure-peat compost mixture enriched in phosphate rock. Often, together with phosphate-potassium fertilizer on infertile soils, lupine is plowed.
Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied during plowing, nitrogen is applied twice:
- When leaves, nodes and internodes are formed - 30-65 kg / ha.
- When spikelet tubercles form - 30 kg / ha.
If you feed crops on time, the yield increase will be:
- forest and sod-podzolic soils - up to 8 kg / ha;
- sandy and sandy soils - up to 12 kg / ha.
Table 3 shows the approximate doses of fertilizers for winter rye.
Table 3
Expected crop, t / ha | Nitrogen, kg / ha | phosphate fertilizers, kg / ha | potash fertilizers, kg / ha | ||||||
the content of phosphorus oxide, mg / kg | potassium oxide content, mg / kg | ||||||||
up to 100 | 100-150 | 150-200 | 200-250 | up to 80 | 80-140 | 140-200 | 200-250 | ||
2-3 | 40-60 | 50-60 | 40-50 | 30-40 | 15-20 | 60-80 | 40-60 | 30-40 | — |
3-4 | 60-80 | 70-80 | 60-70 | 50-60 | 20-30 | 80-100 | 60-80 | 50-70 | 30-40 |
4-5 | 80-90 | 80-100 | 80-90 | 60-80 | 30-40 | 100-120 | 80-100 | 70-80 | 40-50 |
5-6 | 90-120 | 100-120 | 90-100 | 80-90 | 40-50 | 120-140 | 100-120 | 80-90 | 50-70 |
Crops are processed depending on the condition - if necessary, poisonous substances are used against pests, drugs for diseases. Also sprayed the crops with a lodging agent - Campason. This drug can be mixed with herbicides.
Diseases, Pests and Prevention
Diseases can significantly reduce the rye crop, and even completely destroy crops. The most common diseases:
- Smut stem. It is accompanied by the appearance of gray stripes on the leaves - they then sprout with black spores. Harvest falls 5-6 times.
- Fusarium root rot. Accompanied by the destruction of the stems. Spikes are obtained with underdeveloped grain.
- Powdery Mildew Plants are affected by plaque that destroys the leaves.
- Bacteriosis is black and brown. The flower-bearing organs and grains perish.
Compliance with crop rotation rules helps prevent diseases:
- seed treatment;
- the use of zoned and disease-resistant varieties;
- use only healthy seeds;
- compliance with storage rules for sowing grain;
- proper soil preparation for sowing;
- rapid identification of foci of the disease and their prompt elimination through special drugs.
Along with diseases, insects and rodents cause crop damage. Common pests of winter rye:
- bread beetle;
- aphid;
- bug bug.
Pest control is the processing of crops with the insecticides Force, Shaman, etc.
It is forbidden to sow seeds harvested from fields on which stem smut was observed.
For the prevention of infection of fields with weeds and pests, the following agrotechnical methods are used:
- change of crops in one field;
- seed dressing;
- the presence of pure vapors;
- the use of appropriate chemicals;
- observance of sowing dates.
To prevent the reproduction of rodents - mice and gophers, there should not be grains on the field. The task is to clean without loss. At the end of the harvest, the following works are performed on the field:
- husk and plow stubble;
- arrange bait from grains soaked in poisons.
Gophers are capable of causing enormous damage to the crop in order to prevent their reproduction, adverse conditions are created - their habitats are opened and pickled baits are laid out.
Rye harvesting
Harvesting is the final stage of growing any cereal crop. Rye is harvested by combines with grain moisture not exceeding 20%. Then a single-phase cleaning is carried out. If the moisture content of the grains is 30-40%, you have to carry out two-phase cleaning:
- mowing ears and laying them on stubble in rolls;
- after drying of the grain, lasting several days - threshing and selection of rolls.
The maximum yield occurs at the end of the wax ripeness period - at this time, the flow of dry substances into the grain stops. To prevent shedding of grain, harvesting is recommended to start approximately in the middle of wax ripeness.
If rye ceases, it can get Fusarium infection. This is especially true in rainy weather. The optimal density of standing is 300 stems per 1 square. m. The optimal thickness of the rolls depending on humidity:
- high humidity - 15-18 cm;
- normal - 18-22;
- low - up to 25 cm.
If the weather is dry, then in the Non-Chernozemye, in the Urals and in Siberia, grain ripens in rolls for 3-4 days, in Chernozemye and Volga - 2-3 days.
Picking up the rolls, combine harvesters move in the same direction. Bread masses are served with ears of corn forward - so that the uniformity of supply is not disturbed.
Planting rye to improve soil
A distinctive feature of rye is the ability to grow a lot of green mass during the autumn-winter period. This culture not only gives grain - bakery and fodder, but also improves the condition of the soil.
The practical benefits of sowing rye:
- snow retention in the fields - this improves the saturation of the soil with moisture;
- preventing freezing of the soil - this allows you to plant vegetables and root crops as early as possible;
- soil saturation with phosphorus and nitrogen;
- preventing the reproduction of harmful microorganisms and repelling insects - wireworms and nematodes;
- destruction of difficultly removed weeds - wheat grass, thistle, bindweed;
- protection against water and wind erosion.
Planting winter rye as green manure
Siderat is a plant that enriches the soil, improves its structure, and prevents the growth of weeds. After growing winter rye as siderat, the soil is recommended to be used for planting potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers or pumpkins.
For green manure, fine-grained varieties are usually taken - then there is less seed. When planting rye, a continuous method of sowing is used. Aisles - 15 cm. Sowing rate - 2 kg of seed grain per 1 hundredth. Sealing - 3-5 cm, depending on the friability of the soil.
For sowing, grain of last year's crop is used. Fresh seeds may not sprout. The sown seeds are sprinkled with soil - a small layer is enough. The seeds will sprout, and green rye wintry under the snow. After the snow melts, the greens grow rapidly, after a short time the field is covered with a powerful green “veil” - protective and enriching. One hundredth allows you to get up to 300 kg of green mass.
Dates of planting winter rye on green manure
How far rye will be effective as siderat is determined by the time of sowing. Young rye enriches the soil with nitrogen, matured with organic compounds. Climate-controlled rye is sown - from late August to mid-September, after harvesting vegetables. For crops to sprout, a temperature of + 1-2 ° C is enough. In winter, cereals survive at temperatures up to minus 20 ° C.
When using rye as siderate, one should remember its shortcomings. Grain actively dries the soil - the following crops will get little moisture, watering will be required. It is for this reason that rye is not grown near vegetables and fruit trees.
Interesting Facts
Facts about rye that you might not know:
- Rye grains are actively used in weight loss. They have many fibers that contribute to the rapid saturation and satisfying of hunger.
- Eating rye foods by 13% reduces the likelihood of gallstones. Rye activates the advancement of food in the digestive tract and reduces the acidity of the stomach.
- Rye is an important supplier of magnesium. The production of more than 300 enzymes, including insulin, depends on this element. Rye fibers reduce the need for insulin, which is why diabetics are advised to eat brown bread.
- Rye bread removes toxins from the body, reduces cholesterol, prevents tumor diseases and breast cancer.
Rye is a valuable food crop that can produce crops in the most adverse climatic conditions. This cereal plant not only serves as a raw material for the baking industry, but also is an excellent siderat, which allows to increase the yield of vegetables and root crops.
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