Текст 3

OATS DRILLING AND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

Optimum drilling depth with oats lies in the region of 1.5-2 in. When seedbeds have an irregular surface tilth, drilling depth becomes uneven and in order to ensure that all the seed is covered, it will often go in well below the optimum in many areas.

Drilling in autumn tends to be at slightly lower depths than in spring on account of the rougher soil surface. Early spring drilling may also go in deeper than normal in an attempt to reduce losses through bird activity.

The two main advantages of combine drilling are firstly, the seed and fertilizer go on in one operation and secondly, it is possible to obtain maximum benefit from the minimum amount of fertilizer. The main disadvantage lies in the fact that the rate of sowing is much reduced and delays in drilling usually mean lower yields. The faster method of seeding using a wide drill following a fertilizer spinner is more often employed for winter seeding.

The fertilizer of the oat crop depends upon the fertility level of the soil and the fertilization programme followed on the preceding crops. It is a common practice to fertilize the preceding crop, such as corn, rather heavily and then reduce the amount applied on the oat crop. To soils that are low in fertility, additional fertilizer should be applied. The amount of fertilizer to be used should be determined by soil test.

Vocabulary

uneven- нерівний

delay – затримка

to mean – означати (тут приводити до)

fertilizer spinner - пристрій для внесення добрив

to employ for - застосовувати, використовувати

to apply fertilizers - вносити добрива

preceding - попередній

amount – кількість

Завдання до тексту 3

І. Знайдіть у тексті англійські еквіваленти наступних слів та словосполучень:

Оптимальна глибина рядового посіву, рілля, зменшити втрати, родючість, добриво.

ІІ. Виберіть з правої колонки відповідний переклад:

1. drilling

2. seeding

3. yield

4. to fertilize

5. preceding crop

1. посів

2. урожай

3. попередня культура

4. удобрювати, вносити добрива

6. рядовий посів

ІІІ. Закінчіть речення відповідним варіантом, вибраним із правої колонки:

1. Optimum drilling depth …

2. Drilling in autumn is …

3. Bird activity may cause …

4. Delays in drilling usually …

5. Soil fertility is determined …

1. … by soil test.

2. … mean lower yields.

3. … seed losses.

4. … lower than in spring.

5. … is 1.5-2 in.

Текст 4

BARLEY IN THE USA

Barley is the fourth most important grain crop in the United States. Acreage planted in 1966 and 1967 averaged about 10.6 million, with an average yield for the two years of 381.7 million bushels.

Barley is one of the most ancient of cultivated grains. Grains found in pyramids in Egypt indicate that barley was cultivated there more than 5000 years ago. There are different views among researchers as to the origin of barley (Eastern Asia, particularly Tibet, the Near East or Eastern Mediterranean Area, or both).

Barley plants are annual grasses which may be either winter annuals or spring annuals. Winter annuals require a period of exposure to cold in order to produce flowers and set seeds, thus are planted in the fall. Winter varieties form branch stems or tillers at the base so several stems rise from a single plant. The winter varieties of barley are more hardy than winter oats, but less hardy than winter wheat. Around a fourth of the barley grown in the USA is of winter varieties. Spring varieties do not require exposure to cold in order to develop seed heads. Also, they do not have a typical rosette stage and so develop fewer tillers. They are the only kind adapted to areas with very cold winters. For best production they should be seeded as early as land can be worked in the spring.

Half or more of the barley grown in the USA is used for livestock feed. Around 25% of the barley crop is used for malting (80% is used for beer, 14% for distilled alcohol products, and 6% for malt syrup, malted milk and breakfast foods). Barley is also grown as a hay crop in some areas.

Vocabulary

аcreage – площа в акрах

bushel – бушель, міра сипучих тіл

ancient - стародавній

exposure – піддання (дії чогось)

malting - солодування

livestock - худоба