Evaluation of Dual Purpose Barley Varieties under Mid Hill Conditions of Himachal Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted at CSKHPKV , Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan, during 2009­10, to evaluate dual (grain and fodder) purpose three barley genotypes viz. BHS 169, HBL 276 and BHS 380 for cutting management (cut 70 days after sowing and no cut ) and irrigation (no irrigation and one irrigation). One cut at 70 days provided more than 4 tonnes/ha green fodder but lowered grain yield by 5.54 q/ha compared to no cut (29.04 q/ha). Significant improvement in growth (plant height), effective ears/m2, number of grains/ear and grain yield (by 14.6%) was brought by irrigation compared to rainfed crop (24.48 q/ha). Thus, farmers can grow BHS 169, HBL 276, BHS 380 dual purpose varieties to get both green fodder during lean period (January) and grain yield in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh.