The ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano seems to have had a positive effect on the wheat crops under the Eyjafjöll mountains and elsewhere in the Rangárthing region, mbl.is reports.
Eyfjallajökull eruption. Photo: BB.
According to Thórarinn Ólafsson, a wheat farmer at a farm called Drangshlíd, the crops are of an amazing quality, in spite of the fact that sowing began unusually late. The field was sown for the third time in a row. Usually the crops begin to worsen in the third year, but that was not the case. It looks as if the crops will be like those from a first-year-field after it has been allowed to rest.
Icelandic farmers regard 19-20 grains in each ear a good result. “Currently, we are seeing 26-28 grains in this field,” said Ólafsson. “Two years ago, I visited fields in Denmark and Germany where 23 grains per ear was the most common number.”
The unusually warm summer has also contributed to the success in wheat growing. However, Ólafsson emphasizes that the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash had undoubtedly improved the soil.
