Sowing rye: description and cultivation features

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Almost half of the world's acreage is devoted to growing cereals. Rye is consistently in the top ten most popular crops. Of course, it is far from the big three cereals (wheat, rice, corn), but almost 13 million tons of production per year is also impressive. For many years, the leaders in the cultivation of rye have been three countries - Germany, Russia and Poland. The gap from the nearest competitor of Belarus is no less than 3 times. Among the remaining countries, two more manufacturers can be distinguished - Denmark and China. The rest, including the US, lag far behind.

Historical background

If the history of wheat with oats goes back to the time of the birth of human civilization, then this cannot be said unequivocally about rye. It is only known that she accompanied the crops, perhaps only as a weed. If it was used, then most likely as a combination of wheat and rye. It is known for certain that only since the Bronze Age did the cultivation of this cereal plant appear. It is believed that on the territory of Russia with Western Europe the plantcame from Turkey, through the Caucasus. The property of self-pollination allowed this southern plant to adapt to the conditions of the northern climate. She confidently took her place in the grain basket of the peoples of Europe and Russia. With the development of agriculture, the rye fields moved further north.

Biological Description

The most common crop is rye, one of nine species of the genus belonging to the cereal family. There are perennial and annual crops.

The grass has a powerful fibrous root system, deepening into the ground up to 2 meters. This allows it to grow successfully even on poor soils. The stem is relatively low. It does not always reach a meter length, only modern hybrid varieties give a plant up to 2 meters high. From the side of the ground, the stem is completely bare, only narrow long leaves appear in the region of the spikelets. The inflorescence consists of a single spike up to 15 cm long. Rye seeds are elongated, from 5 to 10 mm, 3.5 mm thick. Color - brownish, yellow, gray, white and greenish shades are possible.

Features of the plant

Rye seeds begin to germinate at temperatures slightly above zero. At the same time, their tillering node is laid close to the surface of the earth. When germinating, the plant is able to squeeze out almost all weeds from the field and suppress the spread of most agricultural pests. What makes it a very useful crop in the organization of crop rotation. Frost and drought resistance allows rye to be grown in high-risk areas.agriculture and at the same time get sustainable yields.

Cultivation technology

When choosing a place to plant rye, the following facts are taken into account:

1. Culture is resistant to a significant drop in temperature. Winter plantings tolerate a drop to -30 ° C, even in fields with little snow.
2. Grows well in poor soils. Unlike wheat, it gives good results even in acidic soils.
3. Not afraid of most pathogens.

Because of these qualities, winter technologies have become a more common way of cultivating crops.

Winter crop

As it was said, sowing rye has a powerful root system with a tillering node close to the surface.

Due to these features, the plowing depth is recommended within 16-18 cm, only in the steppe zone it is increased by 2 cm. The field is cultivated twice. The first time with a plowshare cultivator, the second time they use a disk mechanism. Cultivation is carried out 2-3 times, each time reducing the cultivation depth by 2-3 cm. The last plowing is carried out approximately 3 weeks before sowing the crop.

Seeds are deepened by 2-3 cm, only on light soils an increase in occurrence up to 4 cm is allowed. After laying the seeds, the earth is rolled. It is useful to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Nitrogen should be limited. In winter, snow retention activities are carried out.

In the spring, surface waters are drained and ground moisture is retained by harrowing.

In summer, the main activities are focused on pest control. The most important thing is the treatment of the rye field with a special preparation that prevents lodging of the ear.

Spring rye

Spring cultivation technologies are used only in risky farming areas where winter crops can freeze. These are steppe territories with little snow in the regions, where, although a short-term, but strong drop in temperature is possible. In addition, these are zones of Eastern Siberia, with long winters and temperatures below 40 °C.

Diseases and pests

Despite the fact that rye is a disease-resistant crop, some specific dangers should be highlighted:

1. Leaf, stem and ear infections caused by basidiomycetes. Spread through infected seeds. The main control methods are pre-sowing seed treatment.
2. Powdery mildew and sclerotinia caused by marsupial colonies. On infected fields, yields are reduced by 10-15%.
3. Damping out. It spreads on floating soils, with the accumulation of water under early snow. The reason is a semi-saprophytic mushroom.
4. Different types of fungal molds, most often found on heavy soils with high humidity with poor ventilation.
5. There is a stem nematode. Unlike fungal diseases, soil is the source of infection.

Useful qualities of the plant

Unlike the southern regions, in the north rye for many yearswas the main source of grain. They didn't call her Mother Rye for nothing. Even today, rye bread is considered he althier than wheat bread. It has been established that it is richer in vitamins, contains complete proteins and is especially useful for reduced consumption of meat products. Able to remove harmful substances from the body. Helps in the treatment of colds, allergies, is useful for patients with bronchial asthma, stomach diseases. It has a beneficial effect on the work of the stomach, liver, kidneys. Helps heal wounds and heals burns. Rye products are recommended to restore the functioning of the thyroid gland and stabilize heart rhythms.

Even listing the he alth benefits of rye products can take up a lot of space. Separately, you can write about the quality of rye kvass or the benefits of eating germinated seeds and much more. The format of the article does not allow to give complete information about this plant. Obviously, more attention should be paid to increasing the proportion of rye products in our diet.