Herbicide and Nonherbicide Injury Symptoms on Spring Wheat and Barley

Spring wheat and barley can be grown over a range of soil pH levels. However, micronutrient toxicities can occur if the soil pH is extremely low or high. Although spring wheat and barley can grow well under high soil pH, barley is more suitable for soils with a high pH and salinity.

High Soil pH
Problems associated with high pH in wheat production include decreased availability of micronutrients. The solubility of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) decreases markedly with higher pH levels. High soil pH levels can limit the soil availability of Zn, Cu, and Mn, but generally are not a severe problem in major small grain production areas. Iron chlorotic areas in small grain fields appear in irregular patterned zones and generally occur in soils severely eroded or low in organic matter.

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