Pure Barley Research Articles

Physiological Mechanisms by Which the Functional Ingredients in Beer Impact Human Health.

Nutritional therapy, for example through beer, is the best solution to human chronic diseases. In this article, we demonstrate the physiological mechanisms of the functional ingredients in beer with health-promoting effects, based on the PubMed, Google, CNKI, and ISI Web of Science databases, published from 1997 to 2024. Beer, a complex of barley malt and hops, is rich in functional ingredients. The health effects of beer against 26 chronic diseases are highly similar to those of barley due to the physiological mechanisms of polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids), melatonin, minerals, bitter acids, vitamins, and peptides. Functional beer with low purine and high active ingredients made from pure barley malt, as well as an additional functional food, represents an important development direction, specifically, ginger beer, ginseng beer, and coix-lily beer, as consumed by our ancestors ca. 9000 years ago. Low-purine beer can be produced via enzymatic and biological degradation and adsorption of purines, as well as dandelion addition. Therefore, this review paper not only reveals the physiological mechanisms of beer in overcoming chronic human diseases, but also provides a scientific basis for the development of functional beer with health-promoting effects.

The Impact of Rye and Barley Malt and Different Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Beer Volatilome

Craft breweries are continuously searching for beers made with locally produced raw materials and unique flavor profiles to respond to consumer requests. We explored the behavior of three commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the fermentation of ale beer with a high prevalence of rye malt in comparison to pure barley malt. In total, 34 volatile organic compounds were identified, with esters and alcohols being the quantitatively most abundant classes. The yeast strain appeared to impart more differences in the beer’s volatile profile compared to malt. In particular, S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus Y2 strain was associated with a higher production of esters, while strain S. cerevisiae Y3 was correlated to the higher amounts of terpenes together with the lowest relative abundance of volatile acids. Our findings encourage further investigation of the fermentation performance of several yeast strains to produce beers with unique flavors.

Colorimetric pH indicators based on well-defined amylose and amylopectin matrices enriched with anthocyanins from red cabbage

This study aimed to prepare a novel colorimetric indicator film from virtually pure (99 %) amylose (AM) and anthocyanins extracted from red cabbage (RCA). The AM used was a unique engineered bulk material extracted from transgenic barley grains. Films produced by solution casting were compared to normal barely starch (NB) and pure barley amylopectin (AP), with amylose contents of 30 % and 0 %, respectively. The pH-indicator films were produced by incorporation of RCA into the different starch support matrices with different amylose contents. Barrier, thermal, and mechanical properties, photo degradation stability, and release behavior data revealed that RCA interact differently through the glucan matrices. Microstructural observations showed that RCA were evenly dispersed in the glucan matrix, and AM+RCA indicator films showed high UV-barrier and mechanical performance over normal starch. FTIR revealed that RCA was properly affected by the AM matrix. Moreover, the AM+RCA films showed sensitive color changes in the pH range (2–11) and a predominant Fickian diffusion release mechanism for RCA. This study provides for the first time data regarding AM films with RCA and their promising potential for application as support matrices in responsive food and other industrial biodegradable packaging materials.

Effects of Winter Cereals (Triticum aestivum L., Hordeum vulgare L., Triticosecale Wittmack) and Winter Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Intercropping on Weed Cover in South-Eastern and Central Hungary

Growing two or more crops together in the same area at the same time, called intercropping, is a well-known agroecological method of weed suppression. Cereal-legume intercropping systems are of great importance in increasing biodiversity in arable lands. In cereal-legume mixtures, cereals provide physical support to legumes and enhance weed suppression. Cereals have a stronger weed suppression ability than peas. The aim of our research was to determine the weed composition and weed cover of pure winter wheat, pure barley, pure triticale and pure winter pea, as well as associated wheat-pea, barley-pea, and triticale-pea crops in two locations (Szeged and Fülöpszállás) and in two growing seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022). In Fülöpszállás, the average weed cover was significantly higher than in Szeged. When comparing the years and crop production methods, significant differences were observed in weed cover in the pure legume plots. More weed species appeared in Szeged and Fülöpszállás in the second year than in the first year. Cereal-pea intercropping reduces the need for herbicides; we can achieve more sustainable and effective weed management without herbicide treatment.

Effects of the density of extruded pellets on starch digestion kinetics, rumen fermentation, fiber digestibilityand enteric methane production in dairy cows.

Dynamics of starch digestion in dairy cows fed extruded pellets differing in physical functional properties were investigated by measuring starch digestibility, post-prandial rumen fermentation patterns, and post-prandial duodenal starch appearance. Additionally, starch digestion effects on neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and methane (CH4 ) emission were studied. Pure barley was extruded to produce three treatments having pellets of either low-density (LD), medium-density (MD)or high-density (HD). The experiment was conducted in a 3 × 3 Latin square design using three lactating Danish Holstein cows fitted with ruminal, duodenaland ileal cannulas. After the allocation of experimental concentrate directly into the rumen through the rumen cannula, cows were fed a basal diet low in starch. Eight samples were collected on equal time intervals (9 h) from duodenal digesta, ileal digestaand feces (grab sample) to determine digestibility. For post-prandial rumen fermentation patterns, four sample sets of rumen dorsal, medialand ventral fluid were taken from each cow, whereas for post-prandial duodenal starch appearance, 14 samples of duodenal chyme were obtained from each cow relative to morning feeding of experimental concentrate at 07:00 h. Ruminal, small intestinal, hindgutand total tract digestibility of starch did not differ among treatments. Similarly, NDF digestibility and CH4 emission also remained unaffected by treatments. However, compared with the LD and MD treatments, the HD treatment showed higher acetate: propionate ratio at all positions in the rumen and a higher post-prandial duodenal starch appearance. This indicates lower ruminal starch degradation (RSD) and higher starch flow into the small intestine for HD treatment. In conclusion, the current study indicates that pellets' physical properties can manipulate RSD, where pellets with high densityand fluid stability can partly shift starch digestion from the rumen to the small intestine. Indeed, further investigations are needed.

FORAGE YEILD AND COMPITITION INDICES OF CEREALS MIXED INTERCROPPING WITH FORAGE LEGUMES IN SULAIMANI REGION

The present study was conducted in Sulaimani region at two different locations, Kanipanka and Qlyasan during winter season of 2019-2020 to estimate the response of forage yield and some competition indices to the effect of crop pure stands and their mixtures of barley and triticale intercropped with narbon vetch and grass pea with some different patterns. The experiment was designed according to Completely Randomized Block Design with three replications. As the average of both location the maximum green forage yield was produced by pure narbon vetch 32.610 ton ha-1, while pure barley produce maximum dry forage yield and dry matter % reached 5.506 ton ha-1 and 8.55% at booting stage respectively, but the crop mixture barley/grass pea at a rate 2:1 produce maximum green and dry forage yield 32.083 and 5.616 ton ha-1 respectively at booting stage. The crop mixture barley/vetch 1:1 gave maximum dry matter% 17.88% at the same stage. The highest value for total LER was 1.401recorded by the mixture of triticale/grass pea at elongation stage, while the highest relative crowding coefficient was 1.285 recorded by the same mixture at a rate 1:1 at the same cutting stage. Maximum competitive ratio for cereals was 3.652 recorded by barley in the mixture barley/grass pea 1:2 at elongation stage, while for legume it was 2.292 for narbon vetch in the mixture triticale/vetch 2:1 at booting stage.

Selection of barley pure lines with high yield and desirable agronomic characteristics in warm areas of Iran

Background and objectives: Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important plants in the cereal family after wheat, rice and corn. Barley is the second most important crop in Iran after wheat in terms of agricultural value and nutrition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and select superior lines with high yield, early maturity and dormancy resistance in warm regions of the south and north of the country using the selection index of ideal genotype (SIIG). Materials and methods: In order to selection of pure barley lines with high yield and desirable agronomic characteristics in the warm regions of the south and north of the country, 108 pure lines in the non-repeating Augment design with four controls (Norooz /Sahra, Auxin, Nobahar and WB-96-19) in three blocks, in the Centers for Agricultural Research and Education and Natural Resources Fars (Darab), Ahvaz, Sistan (Zabol) and Golestan (Gonbad) were evaluated during 2019-20 cropping year. Results: The results of restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analysis showed that the heritability of grain yield in Gonbad, Ahvaz, Darab and Zabol were 0.993, 0.258, 0.498 and 0.063, respectively. The results of correlation analysis showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between SIIG index and plant height, 1000-kernal weight and grain yield in all regions. SIIG index showed that 21, 28, 16 and 5 lines in Darab, Ahvaz, Zabol and Gonbad, respectively, with high SIIG index value (0.6-0.9) were the best lines. Based on the results of the average SIIG index of lines 68, 102, 44, 66, 13, 47, 16, 34, 46, 99, 25, 65 and 35, respectively, with SIIG value higher than 0.500 were the best lines in most regions, so they are recommended for cultivation in later years and for advanced testing and compatibility. In order to evaluate the efficiency of SIIG index in selecting the best lines in terms of grain yield, 1000 kernel weight, plant height and early maturity, the studied lines were grouped based on SIIG index in different regions. The studied lines were classified into 6, 7, 8 and 7 groups in Darab, Ahvaz, Gonbad and Zabol, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of the average SIIG index in all regions, 16 lines with the highest average value of the SIIG index were top lines in most regions. Selected lines in each region can be recommended for experiments in that region, and lines with the highest SIIG values in most regions for additional testing in all introduced regions in later years.

Methods of improving efficiency of soft spring wheat cultivation technology

The paper presents the results of research into the technology of soft spring wheat cultivation of the Siberian Alliance variety taking into account the formation of the production process. The experiment was carried out in 2015–2019 in the zone of the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression. The work was done in a long-term stationary experiment of grain-fallow crop rotation: fallow (bare, green-manured – rapeseed, melilot) – wheat – peas – barley (pure barley and intercropped with melilot). The following soil tillage systems were studied: deep moldboard (control), deep combined, minimum combined, minimum moldboard. The soil of the experimental plot was characterized as leached medium-textured, medium humus, heavy-loam chernozem. It was revealed that the influence of the preceding crop on the production process of soft spring wheat accounted for 80.4%, the effect of the soil cultivation system was 13.8%. The maximum yield in the experiment was obtained with minimum moldboard system of soil cultivation preceded by rapeseed green-manured fallow (3.34 t/ha) with the lowest cost of grain (4.6 thousand rubles/t) and high profit (30.3 thousand rubles/ha), control indicators being 3.26 t/ha, 9.2 thousand rubles/t and 15.2 thousand rubles/ha, respectively. The following positive effects on the formation of the production process were identified: soil moisture availability, microbiological activity, a decrease in phytosanitary tension, lack of soil compaction at a high content of agronomically valuable particles. Sowing rapeseed on green-manured fallow in the current crop rotation with the application of minimum moldboard tillage system is the most effective method of cultivating soft spring wheat of the Siberian Alliance variety in the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression.

Combining Green Manuring and Fertigation Maximizes Tomato Crop Yield and Minimizes Nitrogen Losses

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of fertilizing processing tomato by coupling the green manuring of fall-winter cover crops with fertigation in spring-summer. In a two-year experiment, seven fertilization treatments were compared: green manuring of pure barley (B100) and pure vetch (V100) sown at 100% of their ordinary seeding rates, green manuring of a barley-vetch mixture at a ratio of 75:25 of their own seed rates (B75V25), fertigation with drip irrigation at a rate of 200 kg ha−1 of nitrogen (N) (Fert_N200), fertigation combined with B100 and B75V25 at a N rate complementary to 200 kg N ha−1 (B100 + Fert and B75V25 + Fert, respectively), and an unfertilized control (N0) with no cover crops for green manuring prior to tomato transplanting or fertigation. The Fert_N200 treatment resulted in maximum tomato N uptake, growth and yield, but caused high N leaching, especially during the no-cover fall-winter period, as was also the case for N0. The V100 treatment promoted quite good tomato N status and yield, but did not reduce N leaching. The B100 and B75V25 treatments reduced N leaching but decreased tomato N uptake, growth and yield. The B100 + Fert and B75V25 + Fert treatments reduced N leaching, likely increased soil N stock, and facilitated optimal tomato N nutrition and maximum yields. Combining fertigation with green manuring of cover crops composed of pure grass or grass-legume mixtures appears to be a very effective and environmentally sound practice for fertilizing high N-demanding spring-summer crops like processing tomato.

TECHNOLOGICAL GRAIN QUALITIES OF SPRING COMMON WHEAT DEPENDING ON THE SYSTEM OF SOIL TILLAGE

The work presents the results of the research into studying technological qualities of the grain of spring common wheat, variety Siberian Alliance, depending on the soil tillage system in grain-fallow crop rotation. The research was conducted in the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression in the experimental plot established in 1974, in a fourcourse grain-fallow crop rotation (fallow – wheat – peas – pure barley and barley intercropped with melilot). Various soil tillage systems were applied: deep moldboard, deep combined, minimum combined, minimum moldboard. The study of grain quality took place on crops of spring common wheat by three preceding crops on bare fallow and greenmanured fallow with rape and melilot. The soil of the experimental plot was characterized as leached chernozem, medium-textured, medium humus, heavy-loam. The humus content in an arable layer was 8.2%. Crops of spring common wheat were sown with all types of soil tillage systems by the multifunction tillage and sowing machine Tom’5.1. Optimum conditions for obtaining grain of spring common wheat of high quality were formed on green-manured fallow with intercropping of melilot and rape by moldboard and minimum combined soil tillage. On average, the mass of 1000 grains amounted to 37.0-37.4 g, in 2017 – 41.0 g, natural weight – 725-751 g/l, hardness – 80-81%, content of crude gluten – 32-33%, mass fraction of protein – 15.2-15.3%. Positive correlations between indices of grain quality, r = 0,40700,6594 were established. According to the State Standard Specification P 52554-2006, cultivar of common spring wheat Siberian Alliance confirms its belonging to the strong wheat type by the quality indices obtained.

Effects of N sources and management strategies on crop growth, yield and potential N leaching in processing tomato

Abstract A 2-year field experiment was carried out in Central Italy on processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv PS1296). The aim was to assess the effects of various N sources and methods of distribution on crop growth and yield, as well as on the potential risks of nitrate leaching. Processing tomato was fertilized by using (i) green manuring with several cover crops (vetch and barley alone and in several mixtures), (ii) broadcast organic fertilizers (poultry manure and by-product of leather factory), (iii) fertigation with organic fertilizer (by-product of leather factory) and (iv) fertigation with a mineral N fertilizer. N accumulation and C/N ratio were measured in the cover crops at killing date. Tomato growth and N accumulation were determined fortnightly. The concentration of NO3-N in the soil solution was measured by a suction lysimeter at 0.9 m N supply from pure barley or from mixtures with high proportion of barley (i.e. 50% or higher) were inadequate for tomato growth. Pure vetch ensured an optimal N status to the succeeding crop, but led to nitrate leaching. The mixture vetch 75%+ barley 25% ensured an adequate amount of N for tomato, while reducing the NO3-N concentration in soil solution. Poultry manure and by-product of leather factory at low N rate (i.e. 100 kg N ha−1) were both inadequate to fulfil tomato requirements. At the same N rate, fertigation with the organic fertilizers gave the same good efficacy of fertigation with the mineral fertilizer, ensuring higher environmental sustainability. The integrated use of fall-winter cover crops and fertigation could represent a sound strategy for conservative horticulture.

Optimization of additive content and their combination to improve the quality of pure barley bread.

The objective of this study was to model the influence of pregelatinized OSA starch (OSA), wheat gluten (Gl) and xylanase (Xyl) on breadmaking potential of barley flour by using response surface methodology. Addition of these ingredients had significant effect on specific bread volume, crust and crumb lightness, crumb texture, average cell size and crumb density. OSA showed the most pronounced effect on specific bread volume, average cell size, crumb density and hardness. Interaction between OSA and Gl, as well as Gl and Xyl, respectively, increased and decreased the specific bread volume and crumb chewiness, while the interaction between OSA and Xyl decreased the specific volume decrease and increased crumb chewiness. An optimal barley bread formulation appeared to be the one containing 9.68% OSA, 2.0% Gl and 4.51g/100kg Xyl. This optimal barley bread formulation predicted an increment of 14-28% in volume and a decrease of 105-217% in crumb chewiness in comparison to formulations containing medium amounts of improvers (1% Gl, 5% OSA, 2.5g/100kg Xyl).

Seed Mixture Flowing Characteristicsof a Seed Drill for Mixed Seeding

Abstract. Mixed seeding is a new approach for forage plant production in Turkey. However, there has been little research into simultaneously seeding multiple crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a seed drill for mixed seeding. Machine performance was determined using pure barley ( L.), pure common vetch ( L.), and mixtures of both seeds at different seed mixture ratios. The indicators of seeding quality, flow uniformity, and seed distribution uniformity across the rows were determined by measurement of seed weights. The other indicator, in-row seed spacing uniformity, was determined by sticky belt tests in controlled laboratory conditions using a computer-aided measurement system. Five different mixture rates of barley:vetch (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) and three forward speed values (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m s-1) were used in the experiments. While flow evenness and seed distribution uniformity across the rows unit were controlled by the coefficient of variation (CV), in-row seed spacing uniformity was tested based on the variation factor (Vf) and goodness criterion (λ). Based on the experimental results and calculations, it was found that the domestic type combined seed drill could be used effectively for seeding of barley and vetch mixtures at different seed mixture ratios. While the CV values of flow evenness and seed distribution uniformity of each row unit were found to range from 0.8% to 3.7% and from 1.1% to 8.9%, respectively, goodness criterion values ranged from 47.2% to 78.4%. These statistical data give valuable information about the machine performance and the possibility of efficiently using combined seed drills for mixed seeding.

Improvement of the value of green manure via mixed hairy vetch and barley cultivation in temperate paddy soil

Legume hairy vetch and non-legume barley mixtures are broadly cultivated to improve the value of cover crops in mono-rice paddies. Nevertheless, the effects of mixing conditions of the two cover crops on biomass and nutrient productivities and on the yield characteristics of subsequent rice crops have not been well studied. To evaluate the effects of mix-seeding legume and non-legume cover crops on the value of green manure in paddy soil, barley and hairy vetch were sown at the rice harvesting stage as pure crops at the recommended rates (180kgha−1 of barley, B100; 90kgha−1 of hairy vetch, V100), and as mixtures, in which the two cover crops were mix-seeded with varying seed ratios according to the replacement principle. The mixed seeding of the two crops significantly increased the cover crop biomass and nutrient productivities compared with the single barley and hairy vetch cultivation. Biomass productivity linearly increased with increasing barley seeding level, but it was not affected by the hairy vetch seeding rate. The total N content of the barley biomass clearly increased as the proportion of the total biomass accounted for by hairy vetch was increased, and this significantly improved the value of the green manure of cover crop biomass. In contrast, the total N content of the hairy vetch biomass was not affected by changes in the barley proportion. Biomass produced in the pure barley seeding could not produce the nutrients required by the recommended chemical fertilization level (N–P2O5–K2O=90–45–57kgha−1) for rice, but the biomass increase caused by mixed seeding of the two cover crops resulted in enough nutrients to satisfy the recommended fertilization level. The highest biomass and nutrient yields were observed for the mixed seeding of barley and hairy vetch at 25 and 75% (B75V25) of their respective recommended seeding rates. This increased nutrient input stimulated the rice plant growth and significantly improved the rice yields. The highest yields were achieved with the B75V25 treatment. In conclusion, mixed seeding of legume hairy vetch and non-legume barley could be a very useful agronomic practice for increasing the cover crop biomass and its nutrient productivity and to improve the productivity of subsequent rice crops in temperate rice paddies.

Forage yield improvement at proper ratio and seed density of smooth vetch and barley mix cropping under cold rain-fed conditions

The mixing ratios of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. Abidar and smooth vetch (Vicia dasycarpa L.) cv. Maragheh were studied at Dryland Agricultural Research Institute under cold rain-fed conditions during 2009–2011 growing seasons. The mix cropping treatments comprised of pure vetch, vetch with barley at 3:1, vetch with barley at 1:1 seeding ratio and pure barley. There was one seeding rate (100 seeds m−2) for barley and five different seeding rates of vetch including 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 seeds m−2 (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5). Higher dry matter (DM) yields were obtained across different seed rates for the vetch mixtures than related monocultures. The highest DM and the lowest protein content over years were obtained from pure barley. The combination of vetch with barley at 1:1 seeding ratio in the D2 density produced 16 ton ha−1 dry forage and 1 ton ha−1 protein. The highest land equivalent ratio over two years (1.44) was belonged to mixture of vetch with barley at 3:1 ratio in D5 seeding rate. It was concluded that, mixture of vetch with barley at 1:1 seeding ratio in D5 smooth vetch density was the best mixing ratio and seed density regarding both forage quality and quantity under cold rain-fed conditions.

보리-헤어리베치 단파 및 혼파가 벼 수량에 미치는 영향

BACKGROUND: The mixtures of legumes and non legumes can be an efficient tool to combine the benefit of the single species in the cover crop practice. However, there is a lack of information on how the species proportion may affect N accumulation and how this can influence the nitrogen use of subsequent rice production. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study barley and hairy vetch was selected as a green manure. The pure stands or mixtures with different seeding ratios was tested on green manure N accumulation and its following rice cultivation. Total aboveground biomass and N accumulation of mixture were higher compared to that of pure barley and hairy vetch. Among the mixtures, the highest aboveground biomass (8.07 Mg/ha) and N accumulation (131 kg/ha) was observed in B75H25 (barley 75% + hairy vetch 25%). The N accumulation of the mixture ranged from 99 kg/ha to 131 kg/ha which was much higher than amount of recommended (90 kg/ha) for rice. All mixture (barley 75%+hairy vetch 25%, barley 50%+hairy vetch 50%, barley 25%+hairy vetch 50%) produced 7-8% more rice yield than the conventional cultivation (NPK). The rice yield of in barley monocrop was 4% less than that of NPK. COLCLUSION(S): Adopting mixtures of barley and hairy vetch could be efficient strategy for rice production as an alternative of nitrogen fertilizer.

Barley–hairy vetch mixture as cover crop for green manuring and the mitigation of N leaching risk

Adopting mixtures of legumes and non-legumes can be an efficient tool to merge the advantages of the single species in the fall-sown cover crop practice. Cover crop mixtures are supposed to provide an additional benefit in reducing N leaching risks as compared to pure legume thanks to the N trapping skill of the non-legume companion, but to our knowledge no data are available on the effect of mixed cover crops on N leaching. For this reason, in a three-year study we investigated the effect of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) grown in 100% pure stands or in 50:50 mixtures on the N leaching below the rooting zone as compared to the bare soil. The NO3-N concentration in the soil solution was monitored by suction cup lysimeters placed at 0.9m depth during the whole growing cycle and after cover crop incorporation into the soil and the amount of leached N was calculated on the basis of estimated drainage.The mixture showed variable biomass accumulation and proportion in the biomass accumulated by companion species across years, but a rather constant N accumulation, with a biomass C/N ratio intermediate between those of the pure crops. In all years, the N trapping effect of the mixture was clear as it decreased NO3-N leaching at the same level of pure barley, both during its own growing cycle and after cover crop incorporation into the soil. Pure vetch showed the highest N source potential as green manure but no NO3-N leaching mitigation effect as compared to the bare soil. Thus we demonstrate here that a mixture of barley and vetch, which was already known to be a “self-buffered system” able to guarantee a good and rather stable N accumulation, is also a “buffering system” for the agroecosystems in the Mediterranean conditions by acting as a N trapping crop able to reduce N leaching.

녹비작물 무 환원-벼 작부체계에서 질소와 인산수지 평가

BACKGROUND: The nutrient balance in Korea during 1985-2006 had continually increased and maintained the highest levels among OECD countries. The use of green manure crops such as barley and hairy vetch is common practice for reducing chemical fertilizer application and maintaining soil fertility. However, green manure crops can also be used as a livestock feeding material which may reduce nutrient balance in the national scale. We calculated nitrogen and phosphate balance under green manure-rice cultivating system where all green manure was removed and used for feeding livestock. METHODS AND RESULTS: The barley and hairy vetch grown in pure stands or in mixtures with different sowing rates were tested for rice cultivation without chemical fertilization. The conventional fertilization (NPK) for rice cultivation was selected to compare nutrient balance with green manure-rice cultivation. Nitrogen and phosphate balance were calculated according to the surface balance method of the PARCOM guidelines. Total aboveground biomass of mixture (barley and hairy vetch) was higher compared to that of pure barley or hairy vetch. Among the mixture with barley and hairy vetch, the highest aboveground biomass was observed in B75H25 (barley 75%+hairy vetch 25%). The nitrogen and phosphate balance in the B75H25 mixture was-104 kg N/ha and-50.3 kg P/ha, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): The barley and hairy vetch mixture proved to be a very effective strategy for biomass production of green manure. The amount of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer to be applied is estimated to be 104 kg N/ha and 50.3 kg P/ha in order to maintain soil fertility if all green manure and rice straw were removed from rice field for livestock feeding.

Solution behavior of barley β-glucan as studied with asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Physicochemical properties of cereal β-glucans, associated with beneficial health effects, are related to their solution behavior and possibly to their propensity to form aggregates. Such properties are often analyzed with methods that may influence the aggregates per se. In this paper, the effect of processing on solution behavior of pure barley β-glucan was studied using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF), a method which is capable of analyzing the present aggregates. Molar mass distributions were determined by in-line multi-angle light scattering and refractive index detectors. Unprocessed samples had a main fraction of aggregates with a weight-average molar mass of 2.8 × 10 6 g/mol. Microwave heating to 100 °C reduced the largest aggregates, while heating to 121 °C prominently decreased the molar mass. Frozen storage for 1 week did not influence the aggregation, but repeated freeze–thaw cycles changed the structure of aggregates in a way that suggests cryogelation. The influence of processing conditions on solution behavior might explain why differently processed food products containing β-glucan have given different health effects. Experiments with the aim to eliminate aggregates demonstrated that filtration (0.45 μm) prior to analysis resulted in disruption of the largest aggregates, indicating that these aggregates will not be detected when filtration is used. Dissolution in NaOH solution, one of few solvents reported to eliminate aggregates, resulted in retained molar mass. Using AsFlFFF to study the solution behavior of β-glucans is a gentle method to analyze subtle changes of physicochemical properties.

Naked barley—Optimized recipe for pure barley bread with sufficient beta-glucan according to the EFSA health claims

Naked barley is an underutilized crop that is suitable for the production of functional food: it contains remarkable amounts of β-glucans, which are well known for their blood cholesterol and short-time blood sugar regulating properties and their impact on weight regulation. The aim of the present work was to develop naked barley bread with satisfying sensory characteristics and good baking qualities that could augment the intake of dietary fiber, especially β-glucans and therefore meet the requirements of the EFSA health claim for β-glucans.The results of the multiple response optimization suggest that the elevated use of water, malt flour and margarine in pure naked barley bread augment the sensory attractiveness whereas the use of acidifier and pre-gelatinized flour has a negative effect on the sensory quality.