Spring Cereals of Group I
Spring cereals of Group I, or early spring cereal crops, occupy first place in Russia’s gross grain harvest. The leading crop of this group is spring wheat.
Spring cereals of Group I include:
- spring wheat;
- spring barley;
- oats;
- spring rye.
Unlike winter cereals, spring cereals are sown in spring, are less tillered, are less resistant to field weed infestation, and are inferior in yield to winter crops, except in areas unsuitable for cultivating the latter.
Sown Areas
In Russia in the 1990s, 40 million ha were occupied by spring grain crops; in 2001–2005, 33 million ha, or 73% of all sown areas of grain crops. The gross grain harvest of spring crops in 2001–2005 was 49 million t, or 62% of the total grain harvest (79 million t), of which 44 million t were accounted for by wheat, oats, and barley.
The average yield of spring wheat is 1.50 t/ha (winter wheat — 2.68 t/ha); spring barley — 1.88 t/ha (winter barley — 3.44 t/ha); oats — 1.65 t/ha. On average, the yield of winter crops is 1.8 times higher than that of spring crops.
Due to Russia’s climatic conditions, where in many regions severe winters prevent the spread of winter crops, spring grains have an advantage; however, obtaining high and stable yields is a problem.
Biological Characteristics
The root system of spring cereals of Group I is less developed than that of winter crops, except for oats. It has a reduced ability to take up sparingly available soil nutrients.
Compared with winter crops, they tiller less, shade the soil less, and are more strongly suppressed by weeds. They suffer more and more often from moisture deficit in the first half of summer.
Spring wheat is the most demanding in terms of growing conditions; spring barley is somewhat less so. Oats is a less demanding crop, but responds well to a high level of agronomic practice.
Crop Rotation
Good predecessors for spring wheat and spring barley are the sod and turnover of sod of perennial grasses, winter crops, row crops, and grain legumes. In arid conditions of the eastern part of the country, spring wheat is often sown on clean fallow.
As a rule, in crop rotation, spring and winter wheat are placed after perennial grasses, as more valuable food crops, and oats after grain legumes, row crops, winter and spring wheat. Because oats tolerates increased soil acidity, in the Non-Chernozem zone it is cultivated on drained and reclaimed bog soils.
Grain crops are very sensitive to continuous cropping. The use of fertilizers somewhat reduces the effect of continuous cropping; in this case, crop rotation increases the yield of spring grain crops by 30–34%, which makes it possible to use continuous grain crops on a high fertilized background and after good predecessors.
Soil Tillage System
Main page: Tillage for spring crops
Fertilizer System
The application of organic and mineral fertilizers at a high level of agronomic practice is of great importance for obtaining high yields of early spring grain crops. When planning a fertilizer system, preceding crops, the aftereffect of applied fertilizers, crop characteristics, and soil properties are taken into account.
The main fertilizer is applied in autumn during fall tillage. In the Central Chernozem zone, on soils with a high humus content, 15–20 t/ha of manure, 30–45 kg/ha of nitrogen, 45–60 kg/ha of phosphorus, and 30–40 kg/ha of potassium are applied.
In the Non-Chernozem zone, on soils poor in organic matter, 20–30 t/ha of manure, 40–60 kg/ha of nitrogen, 45–70 kg/ha of phosphorus, and 40–50 kg/ha of potassium are applied. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in spring under cultivation, in rows at sowing, or as top dressing. The use of organic fertilizers provides yield increases.
In the steppe regions of the Southern Urals and Western Siberia, applying phosphorus fertilizers to fallow at 60 kg/ha is effective. At the former All-Union SRI of Grain Farming, the total increase in grain yield from this practice in the year of application and over 2–3 years of aftereffect was 0.6–1.1 t/ha. Row application of granulated superphosphate at sowing at a rate of 10–20 kg/ha also gives a good result.
Acidic soils are limed. Lime materials are applied once per rotation in clean or occupied fallow at 3–6 t/ha, taking into account soil acidity.
Sowing
Seed Preparation
For sowing, seeds of the highest categories of zoned varieties are used.
Seeds are cleaned, graded, and checked for germination and purity. To increase germination energy and germination, they are warmed in the sun for 3–5 days. Before sowing, dressing is carried out (similar to dressing seeds of winter crops). Good seed preparation can increase yield by 20–30%.
Sowing Dates
Spring wheat, spring barley, and oats are sown early, within 2–3 days. Sowing begins when the soil at seed placement depth warms to 4–5°C. Sowing at optimal dates ensures uniform emergence. Plants make fuller use of spring moisture, develop well, are less affected by diseases and damaged by pests, and tolerate the moisture deficit of the first half of summer more easily.
The recommended sowing dates are adjusted taking into account local soil and climatic conditions and local experience. For example, in the steppe part of the Trans-Urals and Siberia, spring cereals of Group I are sown at medium and late dates, that is, in mid-May: first the most demanding and valuable crops — durum and soft wheat, then barley and oats.
Sowing Methods
Early spring grain crops are sown by narrow-row, cross, or row methods. Higher yields are obtained with narrow-row sowing with 7.5 cm row spacing. Such sowing allows seeds to be distributed evenly over the field, provides a better light regime, increases lodging resistance, and ensures uniform ripening.
In the steppe regions of the Trans-Urals and Siberia, stubble seeders are used for sowing.
Seeding Rate
The seeding rate of early spring crops depends on the tillering of the crop sown, variety, grain size, sowing suitability of the seeds, soil and climatic conditions, and weed infestation of the field. For example, spring wheat tillers less than barley and oats, so its seeding rates are higher.
On fertile soils and with sufficient moisture, on weedy fields the rate is increased; in arid regions it is reduced. Durum wheat seeds are larger than soft wheat, so its seeding rate is increased.
Seeding rates are adjusted to specific conditions.
Sowing Depth
Sowing depth depends on soil texture, climatic and weather conditions during sowing. The average depth for early spring grain crops is 3–5 cm; in arid conditions and in dry weather in other regions — 6–8 cm.
Crop Care
In arid conditions, during sowing, rolling is carried out with toothed or ring rollers in a unit with seeders. Rolling compacts the soil around the seeds, helping to draw up moisture from lower horizons. This technique helps increase field germination and ensures the appearance of early uniform seedlings and good development of the plant root system.
When caring for crops, measures are taken to control weeds, pests, and diseases.
Harvesting is similar to harvesting winter grain crops.
List of Sources
- Kolomeichenko V. V. (2007). Crop Production/Textbook. Moscow: Agrobusinesscenter.
- Niklyaev V. S. (2000). Fundamentals of Agricultural Production Technology. Agriculture and Crop Production. Moscow: “Bylina”.
