Studies on the malting potential of barley and malt with the falling number apparatus

The Falling Number Apparatus was investigated as a possible technique for the identification of barleys and malts with high malting potential. The FN method was not as accurate or as rapid as that based on Pearling Resistance. The effect of increasing times of malting on the Falling Times of malts was also investigated to determine whether the progress of malting could be monitored, as was the effect of different cultivars. Testing under conditions inhibitory to amylolytic activity was found necessary to give useful results. Some comparisons with the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) are presented.