Hwasun County: Early to Mid-November Is the Right Time to Sow Wheat and Barley; Drainage Management Before Winter Is Important

Prevent Cold Damage by Ensuring Plants Have Five to Six Leaves by Mid- to Late December
Urges Seed Disinfection and Drainage Channel Maintenance

As the sowing season for winter cereals such as wheat and barley approaches, proper crop management is becoming increasingly important.

To ensure winter survival and improve crop quality, Hwasun County urged farmers to finish sowing in early to mid-November and follow recommended seeding rates and drainage management practices.

A wheat field growing after timely sowing. Provided by Hwasun County.

Winter cereals’ growth during winter varies depending on when they are sown, so sowing at the right time is important. In particular, plants should have grown to the stage of having five to six leaves by mid- to late December to be ready to survive the winter.

For broadcast sowing, the recommended seeding rate is 16 kg per 1,000 square meters (about 300 pyeong). Sowing too much seed can result in weak growth and increase the risk of pests and diseases.

Seeds should also be disinfected before sowing. After using salt water to separate out unhealthy seeds, applying carboxin-thiram powder at a rate of 2.5 g per 1 kg of seed can help prevent seed-borne diseases such as red mold disease.

For soil management, it is recommended to apply 200 kg of lime per 1,000 square meters once every two years and incorporate 1,500 kg of compost into the soil. Maintaining drainage channels to prevent waterlogging during winter is also an important part of crop management. The channels should be 20 to 30 cm wide and 25 cm deep, and should be maintained so that water does not collect before or after winter.

Choi Eunsun, director of the Hwasun County Agricultural Technology Center, said, "To ensure winter cereals survive the winter safely, prevent cold damage, and produce high-quality crops, farmers must sow at the right time and follow recommended cultivation practices."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.