27 Jun Dual purpose Barley: Boon for farmers of dry areas
In last couple of years, it was observed that dual purpose barley can be utilized as an alternative source of green forage in the arid and semi arid regions as parts of states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, M.P. and U.P due to increasing scarcity of green forage availability (Fig. 1). The marginal farmers would prefer to grow barley varieties giving high forage yield for their live stock and food-grain for human consumption, as it is an outstanding source of proteins, vitamins and minerals. Also in case of hills, most of the farmers are growing barley in apple orchards mainly for utilization as green forage. During the late seventies a few varieties like Azad, K141 and Ratna were recommended for single cut for green forage. The Barley Network took a new initiative during last few years to look at the possibility of utilizing barley as a dual purpose crop to meet the requirements in association with AICRP-FC, Jhansi. It was found that barley crop can be given one cut (at 50-55 days after sowing in plains and 70-75 days after sowing in hills) for green forage and the regenerated crop can be utilized for grain purposes. A new series of yield trials was initiated from 2003-04 crop season for dual-purpose barleys in plains...