What are the varieties of barley, their characteristics and descriptions

Barley is the oldest agricultural crop grown for food, feed, and technical needs. Refers to nutritious cereals. As a result of its processing, flour, pearl barley and barley, and a drink reminiscent of coffee are obtained. It is often used in brewing.

What are its main features and what are the most popular varieties, we will consider further.

Characteristics of barley

Barley is a perennial or annual plant that combines 40 species, belongs to the genus Hordeum from the bluegrass family Poaceae (Gramineae).

Description of the plant

The inflorescence is a spike 10 cm long and consists of a thin flat bent rod. Several flowers grow on the sides, depending on the variety.

The grain is an oblong unopened fruit of three parts: embryo, membranes, endosperm. Stems with well-developed nodes and flat leaves. The crop blooms in early summer and is harvested by the end of the season.

Chemical properties and composition

Barley grain contains 65-69% carbohydrates, 21% fat, 7-17% protein, about 5% fiber, 1.5-2.5% ash.

The composition is also rich in nutritious and beneficial components, among which:

• cellulose;
• acids;
• starch;
• enzymes - protease, amylase, peroxidase and others;
• B vitamins;
• minerals - Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe;
• salt.

Barley varieties: description, characteristics, differences

The structure of the barley ear is different from other eared breads. The main seta, which is located in the groove of the membranous grains at their base, is long-haired or short-haired according to the degree of pubescence.

Each ledge of the spikelet contains three spikelets. One or all three ears grow and bear fruit. Taking this into account, barley is divided into three subspecies.

Multi-row barley (vulgare)

An annual spring crop native to East Asia. The ear consists of six rows of grains, the main bristles of which are short-haired. On the ledge of the spike base there are three fully developed fruiting spikelets. The ears are yellow, black, brown, of varying compactness and length. The grains are open or covered with a film, the middle ones are located symmetrically, and the side grains are random.

Important! The species is characterized by drought resistance, cold resistance, and high productivity.

The multi-row type is divided into two groups according to density:

• regularly six-rowed, where dense spikelets in cross-section form a regular hexagon;
• irregularly six-rowed - they are loose spikelets forming a tetrahedral shape (square or diamond).

Double row barley

An annual herbaceous crop native to Central Asia. Includes spring and winter varieties. A plant with an erect culm, half a meter to a meter high, linear flat ears of black, brown or yellow color.

Spikelets are awnless or furcated, bearing straight, long, fan-shaped awns. The grains are filmy, yellow or black, collected in three spikelets located on the ledge of the stem. Of these, only the middle ear bears fruit. The main seta is long-haired.

Intermediate barley

Rarely seen. The ledge of the spike shaft contains from one to three fruiting spikelets; the spike develops six-rowed. The intermediate type of barley has no production value.

Interesting things about culture:

How to make malt from barley at home

Simple recipes for barley moonshine

The benefits and harms of coffee drink made from barley and rye

Varieties

Now let's take a closer look at specific varieties of barley.

On the Internet on thematic forums, summer residents often ask different questions: what is Despina barley and Pamyat Chepelev barley, descriptions of the Explorer, Calkul, Prairie, Beatrice, Nur varieties, characteristics of the Raushan variety, reviews of Canadian barley, etc. We will focus on the main ones and We will share with you useful information about the most popular varieties.

Winter varieties

Do not tolerate sudden temperature changes in winter and autumn. They are sown in September, when the average daily air temperature reaches +11-12°C. Earlier sowing reduces crop yield.

Recommended for growing in regions with mild winters. Depending on the variety and region of growth, the total growing season is 230-290 days. It is used as a protein feed for livestock, in the production of cereals and in the brewing industry.

This is interesting. In spring, winter varieties develop faster and yield earlier than spring varieties.

Most popular varieties:

1. The ark. It has a high protein content, the weight of 1000 grains is 52 g. The grain is slightly pubescent, resistant to shedding. Ripens 275 days after sowing, yield - 64 c/ha.
2. Selena Star. A high-yielding variety, a yield of 78 c/ha was recorded. The height of the stem reaches 1 m, the ripening period is 285 days. The grain is resistant to diseases and shedding, the weight of 1000 grains is about 47 g.
3. hard worker. Characterized by high protein content. Productivity is 60 c/ha, maturation is 288 days after emergence. Drought resistant. The weight of 1000 grains is 44 g, the stem height is about 1 m.
4. Dobrynya 3. Under favorable conditions, they achieve the maximum yield - 99 c/ha. The plant reaches a height of 95 cm and is resistant to powdery mildew and dwarf rust. Weight of 1000 fruits is 42 g.
5. Casket. The spikelets are 6 cm long, the stems are resistant to lodging and drought. The grains ripen in 276 days, are rarely subject to diseases, weight 1000 pcs. - 41
6. Rostovsky 55. The stem is 85 cm high, the length of the ear is 5 cm. The plant is resistant to diseases, the harvest is harvested after 270 days, the average yield is 45 c/ha. The weight of 1000 grains is small - only 38 g.
7. Prikumsky 50. A variety with a medium-early ripening period - 225 days from the moment of germination. If the rules of crop rotation are observed, the yield is 60 c/ha. The stem grows 80 cm high, the spikelet is 5 cm long. The weight of the grain is 0.042 g.
8. Babylon. A high-yielding variety with high protein content and increased disease resistance. Grain weight 0.046 g. Productivity 90 c/ha, ripens after 250 days.
9. Skorokhod. Resistant to known leaf diseases, ripens in 220 days. Productivity reaches 80 c/ha, grain weight is 0.040 g. The height of the stem is no more than 1 m, the ear has a straw-yellow color.

Spring varieties

Cereals and flour are made from spring barley. When baking baked goods, it is not used in its pure form; it is mixed with wheat and rye flour in an amount of 20-25%. The grain is fed to horses and pigs and used in the production of alcohol and beer.

Known varieties and hybrids:

1. Viscount. A forage intraspecific hybrid with an erect hollow stem of medium thickness, the growing season is 73-127 days. Grain weighing 0.042-0.054 g with a high protein content. The yield rate is 70 c/ha. Resistant to diseases and soil and climate changes.
2. Vakula. It has an early ripening period - 100 days. The yield is 7 t/ha. It tolerates transportation well, is resistant to disease and climate change. The grains are low-film, large, weighing 0.06 g, with a low protein content, therefore they are used in brewing.
3. Mameluke. It develops intensively in the initial stages of growth due to its high photoperiodic sensitivity. Resistance to lodging is average, but despite this it is included in the Russian list of valuable varieties. The grain is used for fodder and for the production of cereals. Productivity is increased with early sowing, the yield is 68-70 c/ha.
4. Duncan. Bred in Canada. Due to its high yield and germination rate, it is grown all over the world. The strong stem ensures resistance to lodging and overgrowth. The grain weight is 0.049 g, the yield reaches 8 t/ha.
5. Priazovsky 9. A flexible, drought-resistant variety, included in the Russian list of valuable varieties. It has a short growing season - 80-82 days, yield 42-63 c/ha. Resistant to powdery mildew, dwarf rust and most pests. Grain weight 0.045-0.055 g.
6. Heather. The height of the stem is 80-85 cm, the grains are elongated, even, weighing 0.046 g. Resistant to drought, ripens in 85 days, yield 48 c/ha.
7. Helios. Characteristics are similar to the Vakula variety, with higher grain quality and increased yield. The ripening period is 90-93 days, the yield is 49 c/ha.

Read also:

How to germinate barley at home and why it is needed

Beware of gluten: does barley contain it?

High-yielding varieties

From spring and winter varieties the most productive ones are:

1. Worthy. The stem height is 1 m, the grain is yellow, elongated, weighing 0.043 g. It is characterized by increased resistance to cold and disease. The harvest is harvested after 270 days, productivity is 100 c/ha.
2. Helios. Fruits in 95 days, is resistant to lodging, shedding, and diseases. Grain weight 0.05 g, stem height 80 cm. Productivity 89 c/ha.
3. Mikhailo. The variety with a meter-long stem is suitable for cultivation in all regions, brings 95 c/ha, and ripens in 250 days. The grain is round, large, weighing 0.05 g.
4. Elf. Cereals weighing 0.055 g with a high protein content. Ripens in 95 days, does not fall off, yield reaches 9 t/ha. The plant is drought resistant.

Brewing varieties

High-quality grain varieties are used in brewing. In total, breeders have developed several hundred varieties of malting barley, each yielding a harvest only in a certain climatic zone. European farmers grow six- and two-row winter varieties, while in Russia they give preference to spring crops.

Important! It is not advisable to use barley with a protein content of less than 9%, as it produces beer with weak foam.

Most common:

1. Bios 1. The stem is 0.8 m high, the grain is 0.054 g with a high protein content. Resistant to most known diseases, ripens 100 days after sowing, yield - 49 c/ha.
2. Traveler. Large elongated grains weighing 0.052 g. The stem is resistant to lodging and diseases. Ripens in 80 days, 33 centners of harvest are obtained per hectare.
3. Gin. Sturdy stem, 85 cm in height with a spike 8 cm long. Resistant to climate change.Harvest 90 c/ha 85 days after emergence.
4. Eiffel. Cylindrical spikelets yield a yield of 4 t/ha after 89 days. The stem is not prone to lodging and is characterized by increased immunity to diseases.
5. Scarlett. The ear is of low density, loose. Weight of grains is 0.05 g. Recommended for growing in regions with black soil. Productivity 6.5 t/ha. Cleaning is carried out after 90 days.
6. Consita. Harvesting in 80 days, yield - maximum 88 c/ha. Spikelets with a waxy coating, grain weight - 0.055 g. The variety is resistant to lodging and not susceptible to loose smut.

Conclusion

When choosing varieties for cultivation, they are determined for the purpose of cultivation, taking into account the region for cultivation and the required volume of the expected harvest.

Spring varieties are suitable for food purposes. Special varieties have been bred for brewing. A competent choice will allow you to obtain a high-quality product suitable for the implementation of the task at hand - obtaining grain for the food industry, feed or other purposes.