Sowing Winter Barley

Note on calculating sowing rate in kgs/ha.

Winter barley thousand grain weights are higher this year in some cases up to 10g per thousand more than last year. This means that sowing rates will be higher than in previous years. The benchmark is to establish around 300 plants per metre square by the spring. To determine the correct sowing rate multiply the thousand grain weight by the target spring plant population and divide it by the expected establishment (%).

In recent years many farmers have reduced winter wheat seed rates.This is possible because wheat can compensate by increasing ear size and number on each plant.There is less scope for barley to compensate by increasing grain number in each ear, as there is only one floret in each spikelet.

Example thousand grain weight = 55.
Target population = 305
Expected establishment = 80%

Sowing rate = 191 kgs/ha

The figures in the body of the table below gives sowing rate in kgs/ha for a given thousand grain weight and % establishment.