South Perth, Western Australia
June 29, 2006
With beer production continuing to grow in China, Western
Australian grain growers are tapping into an increasing demand
for quality malting barley.
Barley breeder with the
Department of Agriculture and Food,
Dr Chengdao Li, recently visited China with Grain Australia on a
Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) grant to
learn more about the specific barley quality requirements needed
to meet the style of brewing undertaken in China.
Dr Li said Western Australian malting barley varieties are ideal
for the China market and that the Western Australian variety
Baudin is believed to be one of the best malting barleys in the
world for their brewing style.
However, a trend of declining protein levels in the delivered
grain of Baudin and Gairdner may have long term effects on their
market reputation as high quality varieties.
The Western Australian barley industry needs to work together to
reverse this trend to ensure that our barley meets customer
requirements and gives our grain the edge in the international
market place.
Dr Li stated growers need to ensure that their malting barley
crops have the right level of protein in the grain to capitalise
on the processing benefits of these varieties and to enable
Western Australian growers to retain their good reputation and
market-share.
“In China, the target protein level for malting barley is 10.5
per cent with the accepted national standard of between 10 and
12 per cent,” he said.
“Growers of Baudin and Gairdner need to ensure that their barley
crops have adequate nitrogen to meet the target grain protein of
10.5 per cent required for the malting market.
“In light of the market requirement, plus a good season start
and stored soil moisture from summer rain increasing yield
potentials, Esperance district growers and others on the south
coast may need to reassess the nitrogen requirements of their
malting barley crops.
“Adequate nitrogen helps prevent higher than expected crop
yields from diluting protein to levels below market
requirements.
“Top up nitrogen applications can be made up to stem elongation.
It is important to assess the yield potential of your crop and
apply enough nitrogen to produce a 10.5 per cent protein crop.
Ideally some nitrogen should be applied around 8 weeks after
sowing to ensure adequate tillering. Any further nitrogen
applications are dependent on yield potential. Small plot
trials have shown however that when some of the top up nitrogen
is applied around stem elongation this may benefit grain protein
concentration without impacting on screenings levels.
“Growers who apply a split application of nitrogen to optimise
their malt grain production need to be vigilant against foliar
diseases as these can reduce yields. Some diseases, such as
powdery mildew are attracted to high nitrogen status plants and
if they occur, growers need to be ready to take action and
control them in the early stages.” |
