Brix Results

[Villagefarmer]

Hello
I’ve started this year brix testing and I’m trying to analyse my results I took yesterday. I sampled first thing in the morning (7.30 am) . As understand a result above 12 is good I was getting results between 10-20 depending on the variety mainly the results were 16-20 is this normal? Have I sampled correctly?

 

[EddieB]

I took a sample of my wheat today and got 17.3, so not too far apart.

 

[einstein]

Hello
I’ve started this year brix testing and I’m trying to analyse my results I took yesterday. I sampled first thing in the morning (7.30 am) . As understand a result above 12 is good I was getting results between 10-20 depending on the variety mainly the results were 16-20 is this normal? Have I sampled correctly?

Can you guide me on what bit of kit you bought for measuring.
Loadsa stuff on amazon..not sure what to go for.

 

[Warnesworth]

Brix should increase during the day. Ideally you should be taking readings in the afternoon for starters. But as long as you are consistent with the time of day, then you are on the road to comparing apples with apples.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Can you guide me on what bit of kit you bought for measuring.
Loadsa stuff on amazon..not sure what to go for.

ATC refractometer is what you want, make sure its 0-32% scale

 

[ajd132]

Do it in the morning and evenings and spend more money on a garlic crusher than a refractometer!

 

[sheepdogtrail]

I test in the afternoon. After 2 pm. I am testing grass, legume and herb forages.

 

[YELROM]

What are you finding/hoping to find from the results

 

[Hindsight]

A genuine question. What do you chaps doing BRIX testing expect to find - is there a manual with target values? And if so, is there a remedy book for what to do if BRIX is wrong for the crop?

 

[EddieB]

I have only started doing it this year. I was interested to see what results I would get. I didn’t really have any plan with what to do with the results, although if the readings had been through the floor I expect I probably would have tried to find out why. I’m not reading too much into what I have seen so far.

 

[Clive]

im not convinced the number itself means much

BUT - done consistently its a comparison ie is plant better or worse than it was

 

[Hindsight]

im not convinced the number itself means much

BUT - done consistently its a comparison ie is plant better or worse than it was

OK Clive. Thank you for your reply. So I have not researched standard number as being the 'target' healthy plant. I presume then (and would not presume, so am asking you) that you have a personal view of what constitutes a healthy plant and the BRIX result from that plant is 'your' standard. If so how much does the BRIX number have to move iether way from this 'standard' number before you are concerned the plant is becoming 'unhealthy'.

I meant to get a BRIX tester to try this Spring but didn't get round to it. Irritated with myself now.

 

[Clive]

OK Clive. Thank you for your reply. So I have not researched standard number as being the 'target' healthy plant. I presume then (and would not presume, so am asking you) that you have a personal view of what constitutes a healthy plant and the BRIX result from that plant is 'your' standard. If so how much does the BRIX number have to move iether way from this 'standard' number before you are concerned the plant is becoming 'unhealthy'.

I meant to get a BRIX tester to try this Spring but didn't get round to it. Irritated with myself now.

i just look for the trend really - up or down

interesting to watch numbers drop after herbicide application for example

if number drops consistently for no obvious reason then time for some tissue tests maybe etc ?


if there is a “number”. i believe its around 12 from what i have read some wine growers do re crop protection applications

 

[SilliamWhale]

OK Clive. Thank you for your reply. So I have not researched standard number as being the 'target' healthy plant. I presume then (and would not presume, so am asking you) that you have a personal view of what constitutes a healthy plant and the BRIX result from that plant is 'your' standard. If so how much does the BRIX number have to move iether way from this 'standard' number before you are concerned the plant is becoming 'unhealthy'.

I meant to get a BRIX tester to try this Spring but didn't get round to it. Irritated with myself now.

It's worth reading up on why they are not very good indicators of anything as well

 

[Clive]

It's worth reading up on why they are not very good indicators of anything as well

a plants job is to produce carbohydrates - how well its doing that has to be an indication of something ....... imo

 

[SilliamWhale]

a plants job is to produce carbohydrates - how well its doing that has to be an indication of something ....... imo

Brix just tells us about amount of soluble sugar/ sucrose

 

[Clive]

Brix just tells us about amount of soluble sugar/ sucrose

which surely tells us something about how good a job a plant is doing of turning sunlight and water into that carbohydrate ?

if its short of anything / stressed etc it won’t be able to do as good a job surely

 

[SilliamWhale]

which surely tells us something about how good a job a plant is doing of turning sunlight and water into that carbohydrate ?

if its short of anything / stressed etc it won’t be able to do as good a job surely

Brix measures a small part of the carbohydrate of a plant -the sugary bit in the cell sap. It doesn't measure the structural carbohydrates which give the plants its cell walls etc. So it is just giving us a small part of the picture

I just don't think it is a tool from which you can extrapolate anything from for cereals or grass growing - I can't see what decision you may make after a Brix test apart from sticking it on twitter and pretending it means something others don't understand

What does anyone do with the results? Eat a wheat plant because it tastes sweet?!

 

[Clive]

Brix measures a small part of the carbohydrate of a plant -the sugary bit in the cell sap. It doesn't measure the structural carbohydrates which give the plants its cell walls etc. So it is just giving us a small part of the picture

I just don't think it is a tool from which you can extrapolate anything from for cereals or grass growing - I can't see what decision you may make after a Brix test apart from sticking it on twitter and pretending it means something others don't understand

What does anyone do with the results? Eat a wheat plant because it tastes sweet?!

if i see values falling consistently without explanation I would do a tissue test

the fact levels fall massively after herbicide applications speaks volumes to me

Have also seen research that connects Brix to visibly to aphids (light frequency) wine growers use this to preempt aphid attack

 

[Hindsight]

i just look for the trend really - up or down

interesting to watch numbers drop after herbicide application for example

if number drops consistently for no obvious reason then time for some tissue tests maybe etc ?


if there is a “number”. i believe its around 12 from what i have read some wine growers do re crop protection applications

Many thanks for the reply. I note what you say. I will follow comments on this thread as we move through the season. I really ought to have to a tester.