Barley is a cereal crop - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question Question 1 - 2013
Question Question 1
Barley is a cereal crop. Name two other cereal crops grown in Ireland.
Give two uses of barley.
Describe the cultivation of barley under the following headings:
(i... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Barley is a cereal crop - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question Question 1 - 2013
Step 1
Name two other cereal crops grown in Ireland.
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Answer
Two other cereal crops grown in Ireland are wheat and oats.
Step 2
Give two uses of barley.
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Answer
Barley is primarily used for animal feed and as an ingredient in malting or brewing.
Step 3
Describe the cultivation of barley under the following headings:
(i) Soil suitability.
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Barley thrives best in sandy loam soils that have good drainage and aeration. Ideally, the soil should have a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0 for optimum fertility.
Step 4
(ii) Sowing.
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Sowing of barley typically occurs in early spring (February to April) for spring barley and from September to November for winter barley. The seeds should be sown at a depth of 2-5 cm, with a recommended seed rate of about 200 kg per hectare.
Step 5
(iii) Weed control.
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Weed control can be managed through methods such as the use of herbicides and mechanical practices like rotation and pulling of weeds. Stubble cleaning before sowing is also beneficial.
Step 6
(iv) Harvesting.
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Harvesting usually occurs in July and August for spring barley, and it is essential to monitor the signs of ripeness, such as grain moisture content and color change, ensuring the crop is harvested at the right time for optimal yield.
Step 7
List three features of certified seed.
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High germination rate.
Minimum purity ensuring no weed seeds are included.
Free from wild oats and diseases.
Step 8
Describe a laboratory or field experiment to estimate the percentage (%) germination of a barley seed sample.
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To estimate the germination percentage, a sample of seeds can be counted and placed on a moist paper towel or suitable growing medium. They should be kept in a warm environment, and after a specified period (usually 24 hours), the number of seeds that have germinated is counted. The percentage can then be calculated using the formula:
