Barley

Land Requirements Land to be used forseed production of barley shall be free of volunteer plants. In addition, the land should be well drained and not acidic.  
Isolation Requirements The crop is generally self-fertilised. Usually not more than 0.15 per cent cross-pollination occurs. Pollination occurs while the head is in the boot in many varieties. An isolation of 3 meters all around the field is considered sufficient for maintaining varietal purity. However, to prevent spread of smut (Ustilago spp.). an isolation of 150 meters betwwen seed fields and such other fields where the infection of disease is in excess of 0.1 and 0.5 per cent for foundation and certified seed class respectively is necessary.

 

Cultural Practices

Time of Sowing Mid-October to the 1st week of November.
  


Preparation of Land Prepare the land well by ploughing, 3 to 4 harrowings followed by levelling.


Source of Seed Obtain breeder's/foundation seeds from source approved by a seed certification agency. The seed should be treated with an organomercurial fungicide.


Seed Rate 75 kg per hectare.


Method of Sowing The seed crop should always be sown in rows. Depth of seeding should be 5 to 7.5cm.


Fertilisation Base the fertiliser application on the basis of soil test results. In the absence of soil test results apply 60 to 80 kg nitrogen, 30 kg phosphorus and 20 kg potash per hectare. Apply half of the nitrogen and the full amount of phosphorus and potash at the time of final preparation of the field for sowing. Apply the remaining half of nitrogen at the time of the first irrigation.


   


Spacing Row to row 20 cm.


Irrigation Irrigate seed fields two to three times namely at crown root stage, flower stage and milk stage.


Interculture One weeding may be necessary to keep the seed field clean. Broad-leaved weeds can also be controlled by spraying 2-4D(1 kg per hectare, in 800 litres ofwater, 30 to 35 days after sowing.)


Insect and Disease Control Adopt recommended IPM methods


Roguing, Harvesting and Threshing

Two or three roguings may be necessary to bring the seed plot to seed certification standards.

The first roguing may be done just ahead of the flowering stage, or during flowering. It isessential that his roguing be done in time, to remove any off-type plants which are obvious at this state of growth. Failure todo so can allow natural crossing of rogues with normal plants, thus adding the variation in the following year. Obvious rogues at this stage include plants of different colour, plants susceptible tovarious diseases, tall plants in a dwarf variety, dense heads or other head variations, smutted plants and early heading plants.

A second roguing should be done just after flowering is completed, and before the crop starts to turn colour. If only a few rogues are present, this might suffice as the last roguing.

The third roguing should be done after the ear heads turn colour and start to mature. In addition to rougues previously mentioned, one is now able to rogue on thebasis of differences in colour of heads, colour of awns and variations in earhead type which are most easily discernable at this stage. In addition to off-types, the objectionable weed plants such Hiran Khuri (Convolvulus arvensis), Phalaris minor and weeds such as Chatri ;matri (Lathyrus species and Vicia species), as well as other crop plants, namely barley, oats, gram must be removed at this stage, or prior to harvest.

There is no objectionable weed forbarley. the designated other inseparable crop plants for barley are wheat, oats and gram.


 

 


Seed Yield 30 - 35 qutl per hectare.