Package of Practice for Barley Cultivation
SOIL:- Loam and clay loam, sandy soil are suitable for barley crop production. The soil should have good drainage. It can also be grown in slightly saline soils.
FIELD PREPARATION:- For a good barley crop, the first ploughing should be done with a soil-turning plough, followed by 2-3 ploughings using a desi plough, cultivator/rotavator/harrow.
SEED QUANTITY:- For irrigated farming, 30 kg of high-quality seed is sufficient, and for rainfed farming, 40 kg. For late sowing, 45 kg seed should be used. For two-row varieties, 35 kg seed is sufficient.
TIME OF SOWING:- In Haryana, the best time for sowing is from 15th October to 15th November. Sowing in December is considered late sowing. In South-West Haryana, sowing is done from the last week of October to the first week of November.
МЕТHOD OF SOWING:- For better yield, do not broadcast barley seeds. Maintain 22 cm row spacing and 5 cm plant spacing using a seed drill. For late sowing, reduce row spacing to 18 cm. Barley can also be sown by zero-tillage method. For zero-tillage sowing, to control weeds before sowing, spray half a liter/acre Gramoxone (Paraquat) in 200 liters of water in the field. By adopting zero-tillage, farmers can save water.
FERTILIZERS:- In Haryana, for irrigated barley farming, apply Nitrogen 24 kg (50 kg Urea), P₂05 12 kg (75 kg SSP), K₂O 6 kg (10 kg Muriate of Potash). Mix phosphorus, potash, and zinc in the soil during field preparation, and apply urea at the time of first irrigation.
TREATMENT:- Before sowing, treat the seed with 1 gram per kg Tabuconazol (Raxil) or 2 grams/kg Carboxin-Vitavax or Carbendazim (Bavistin) to protect barley from loose smut, covered smut, and leaf stripe.
WEED CONTROL:- To control broad-leaf weeds like Bathua, Khabbathu, Spinach grass, Peet Papra etc., spray Metsulfuron Methyl (Algrip 8 g/20 DP) + 200 ml surfactant or Affinity 40 D.F. 20 g mixed in 200 liters of water, after 35 days with irrigation. If both types of weeds are present, use ATLANTIS (3% Metsulfuron Methyl) 160 g/acre.
IRRIGATION:- For best yield of barley, two irrigations are sufficient – first irrigation 40-45 days after sowing, and second irrigation 80-85 days after sowing.
CROP PROTECTION:- (A) Diseases:- For Loose Smut and Covered Smut, treat seeds with 2 g/kg Carbendazim (Bavistin) or Carboxin (Vitavax) before sowing. For Yellow or Black Rust, before its appearance, spray 800 g Mancozeb or Zineb in 200 liters of water.
NOTE:- The comprehensive crop production recommendations in this leaflet are based on research and experiences of agricultural universities, Krishi Gyan Kendra, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, agricultural scientists, progressive farmers, and government agricultural experts. The yield of crop/variety does not depend solely on seed but also on soil, fertilizers, manures, other factors, and environment. Farmers from different states/regions, according to local conditions, should use the advice of local agricultural scientists, experts, and their own experiences to achieve not just good but the best production.
