Later drilling of Hyvido hybrid barley

The ideal drilling time for winter hybrid barley is usually between mid-September and mid-October. Crops can sometimes be drilled until the end of October and just beyond, if conditions are suitable. The decision to drill should be based on local conditions and it is important to consider the interaction between the following:

• Seedbed quality: this can be as important as drill date. Maximising seed-soil contact & ensuring good seed coverage & depth all play a part in maximising establishment, which will be particularly crucial if conditions are compromised.  

   

• Soil type: lighter & more free draining soils are more accessible later in the season.  An optimum seed bed may be difficult to achieve on heavier land, especially if conditions turn wet.

   

• Soil moisture: drilling into moisture is essential, but excessive rainfall can severely impact drilling conditions.

   

• Soil temperature: as soil begins to cool later in the season the speed of plant emergence will slow down. 

   

• Weather: cooler weather and shorter days will impact the speed of emergence & growth of later drilled crops, which may impact final plant stand in the spring. 

   

• Drill type & setup: different drill types and setups will have an impact on establishment.  Different row widths may also have an impact on seed rate selection.

   

• Seed rate: when conditions are optimum, the seed rate for hybrid barley should be 200 seeds/m², however should conditions become compromised we recommend an increase of seed rate from 200 to 225-250 seeds/m².  These higher seed rates may be appropriate at later drill dates if emergence & establishment are expected to be severely compromised on heavy soils and/or in stony, cloddy or trashy areas of the field. 

Selecting the right seed treatment to maximise chances of success: 

Don’t underestimate the need for a seed treatment. Some diseases aren’t visible until the crop is in ear – too late to treat!

Fungicidal seed treatments protect plants from seed borne diseases, reduce the impact of some soil borne pathogens, facilitate rapid crop establishment and lay the foundations to maximise crop yield and quality. 

Syngenta fungicidal seed treatment Vibrance Duo, which contains Sedaxane, has been shown to improve establishment and rooting. An increased rooting depth of 1cm enables a crop to access an extra 130 tonnes of soil per hectare[1]! Vibrance Duo can be co-applied with Nuello iN to capture nitrogen directly from the atmosphere.

You can find the seed rates for all Syngenta winter cereals on our seed varieties homepage - scroll down to 'Autumn Cereals Seed Rates' and click the link to download! 

To find out more about our hybrid barley portfolio, click here! 

For any technical enquiries, get in touch! product.technical_enquiries@syngenta.com