Cultivation of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Barley is one of the oldest cultivated cereal crops, grown primarily for food, feed, and malting purposes. It plays a significant role in agriculture due to its adaptability to different climatic conditions and soil types.

• Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Genus: Hordeum
• Species: Hordeum vulgare
• Barley is a drought-resistant crop, suitable for drylands.
• It plays a key role in crop rotation and soil conservation.
• Its ability to grow in saline and alkaline soils makes it an important alternative to wheat.

Nutritional Value (per 100g of barley grain)

• Carbohydrates: 73g
• Protein: 12g
• Fiber: 17g
• Fat: 2.3g
• Calories: 354 kcal

Origin and History

• Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is believed to have originated in the Fertile Crescent, which includes modern-day Israel, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
• It was one of the first domesticated crops, with evidence of cultivation dating back more than 10,000 years.
• Barley was a staple food in ancient civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley.
• It was also widely used in brewing beer and making bread in early human societies.

Geographical Distribution

• Barley is cultivated in both temperate and subtropical regions worldwide.
• The major barley-producing countries are Russia, Canada, Germany, France, Ukraine, Australia, and the United States.
• In India, barley is grown mainly in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Globally, barley is ranked as the fourth most important cereal crop after wheat, rice, and maize.

Economic Importance

Barley has multiple uses, making it an economically significant crop:

1. Food Uses Barley is consumed as whole grain, flour, porridge, and malted products. It is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is often used in health foods.
2. Industrial Uses The brewing industry extensively uses barley for malt production, which is essential for beer and whiskey manufacturing. It is also used in making barley water, vinegar, and breakfast cereals.
3. Livestock Feed Barley grains and straw are used as cattle and poultry feed due to their high-energy content.
4. Medicinal Value Barley contains beta-glucans, which help reduce cholesterol and improve heart health. It is also beneficial for digestive health and diabetes management.

Soil Requirements

• Barley grows well in light to medium-textured soils, such as sandy loam and clay loam.
• It prefers well-drained and fertile soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.5.
• Saline and alkaline soils can also support barley cultivation better than wheat.

Climatic Conditions

• Barley is a temperate crop and grows well in cool and dry conditions.
• The ideal temperature range for growth is 12–15°C at germination and 25–30°C at maturity.
• It requires low to moderate rainfall (300–500 mm) during the growing period.
• Barley can tolerate drought and cold better than wheat, making it suitable for arid and semi-arid regions.

Improved Varieties of Barley Barley varieties are classified into two-row and six-row types, based on ear morphology. Some important varieties in India and worldwide include:

Food Barley Varieties

• RD 2035 – High yielding, good for grain production.
• VLB 118 – Disease-resistant, used for human consumption.
• PL 172 – Drought-resistant and high-yielding.

Feed Barley Varieties

• RD 2552 – Suitable for dryland areas, high straw yield.
• Karan 19 – Heat-resistant and suitable for fodder.

Malt Barley Varieties

• DWRUB 52 – Popular for brewing, high-quality malt.
• BHS 352 – High malting efficiency and disease-resistant.
• DWRB 73 – Used for malt industries in India.

Land Preparation

• Ploughing: 2–3 deep ploughings followed by harrowing to make a fine seedbed.
• Leveling: The land should be properly leveled to ensure uniform seed germination.

Sowing Time

• In North India, sowing is done from mid-October to mid-November.
• In Central and Southern India, sowing is done from November to December.

Seed Rate and Spacing

• Seed rate: 100–120 kg per hectare (for irrigated conditions); 80–100 kg per hectare (for rainfed conditions).
• Spacing: 20–25 cm row-to-row spacing and 3–4 cm seed depth.

Method of Sowing

• Drill Sowing (Line sowing) – Ensures uniform seed placement and better germination.
• Broadcasting – Traditional method, but less efficient in terms of yield.
• Zero Tillage – Used in conservation agriculture to reduce soil disturbance.

Nutrient Management

• Nitrogen (N): 40–60 kg/ha for rainfed; 80–100 kg/ha for irrigated conditions.
• Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 40 kg/ha.
• Potassium (K₂O): 20 kg/ha.
• Fertilizer Application: Half of N and full P & K at sowing; remaining N at tillering stage.

Irrigation

• Irrigated barley requires 2–3 irrigations:
  • Crown root initiation (CRI) stage (20–25 days after sowing) – Most critical.
  • Heading and grain-filling stage – Improves grain size and yield.

Weed Management

• Common Weeds: Phalaris minor (Canary grass), Chenopodium album (Bathua), and Anagallis arvensis.
• Weed Control Measures:
  • Manual weeding at 30–40 days after sowing.
  • Herbicides: Isoproturon @ 0.75–1.0 kg a.i./ha or Clodinafop @ 60 g/ha.

Major Pests

• Aphids: Control with Imidacloprid 0.005% spray.
• Cutworms: Use Chlorpyrifos 1.5 l/ha in soil before sowing.

Major Diseases

• Leaf Rust & Stripe Rust: Spray Propiconazole (0.1%).
• Smut & Blight: Treat seeds with Vitavax @ 2 g/kg seed before sowing.

Harvesting and Yield

• Maturity Indicators Leaves turn yellow, grains become hard, and moisture content reduces to 15–16%. Barley is harvested in March–April in India.
• Harvesting Methods Manual harvesting: Cutting with sickles and threshing with a wooden log or thresher. Combine harvesting: Used in large farms for efficiency.

Yield Potential

• Rainfed Conditions: 20–30 quintals per hectare.
• Irrigated Conditions: 40–50 quintals per hectare.
• Malt Barley Yield: 35–45 quintals per hectare.