Performance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties for growth, yield and yield attributes and malt quality parameters

Abstract

Malting barley is grown as a cash crop in a number of developed and developing countries’ including India and malt is the second largest use of barley. Among cereals, barley is most preferred for malt, as its husk protecting the coleoptile (acrospire) during germination process and provides aid in filtration, firm texture of grains and its amylase activity makes it unique for malt recovery. The major portion of the produce is utilized for feed and food purposes and nearly 20-25% of the produce is consumed by the malting industry. With the growing urbanization, more open economy and changing lifestyles demand for quality malt and malt products has increased in last two decades. The malt utilization for different uses has also changed in recent years, with an increase in proportion of malt being used for brewing and decrease in distillation. The selection of a suitable variety is the prime aspect of production technology. Barley is grown under different growing conditions viz.,irrigated or rainfed, timely or late sown, for feed, food or malt purposes and for problematic soils having salinity or sodicity. Several researchers and eminent investigators observed that the performance of barley varieties differs with respect to growth, yield and malt quality parameters under different agro climatic conditions.