Wheat For Thatching  Straw

This is a complex subject on which I claim no great expertise, I used it, not being involved greatly with production hence the brief reference

For a more detailed view see  www.glasu.org.uk/reports/countrystore/WelshThatchingStraw.pdf

More information External Site  from www.norfolkbroads.com on reed

 

Monococcum Very stiff but short straw - disease resistant

Compactum Very stiff but short straw -resistant to rust

Spelta Very high protein

Dicoccum Egyptian wheat very disease resistant

Polonicum No commercial use

Vulgare bread wheat’s

Triticum Vulgare bread wheat bred for today’s demand

1 Grain

2 Bread quality

3 Disease Resistant

4 Short a straw as possible

5 High response to applied nitrate

Bearded No well known thatching straw

Beardless

Chaff white - Grain white no traditional straw varieties

Chaff red - Grain red good varieties e.g. square head series - Little Joss

Chaff Red - Grain white varieties steadfast

Chaff white - Grain Red

Other Triticum Species

Turgidum - rivet wheat’s

Grows well in the UK

Needs to be winter sown and does best with dry summers

Straw very strong, pliable and long

Crop will non lodge pest (especially bird) resistant. Grain for Dog/Human biscuits

Variety Blue Cone Rampton Rivet

Durum Pasta Wheat (Now available in the UK)

Straw solid and hollow very tough solid types often brittle

hollow walled more pliable

Feeding

Nitrogen improves yield but weak and quick to rot if excessive. Do not apply chicken manure, Chilean Nitrate, Slurry, or fresh farm yard manure, Urea, definitely no Ammonium Nitrate

Best source of nitrogen. Compost, Old Farm yard manure, decayed organic material, rhizobial nitrogen i.e. pea or bean crop previous year.

Phosphorus (not soluble)- Develops Roots.

Alkaline soil Redzlagg, Aluminium, Phosphate, Basic Slag.

Acid Soil Gafsa, Calsium Phosphate, Basic Slag.

Apply To previous Crop

Potash "Quality" and disease resistance

All usual sources are soluble

Insoluble sources, Basalt, spent china clay, feldspars,

Clay soil usually potash rich, sandy soil lacking and not best suited to wheat.

Trace Elements If rotation is used no worry if deficiency is known use fritted trace elements (expensive) or basic slag.

Silica common in all soils but not always available to plants.

Silica is essential for strong straw cellulose, resistance to fungal attack, prevention of lodging

Source water glass spray 1% solution.

Growing method

Part of a rotation, little disease, well balanced nutrients (without forcing) usually after grass

When to sow Early July August (Wheat bulb fly)

Late poor establishment (short straw)

Possible source of supply   

 

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