MART-AZR Project Research Report 52: Rain-Fed Crop Production Systems of Upland Balochistan 2. Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Abstract

This is the second in a series evaluating the potential for improved crop productivity in upland Balochistan. The growth and yield of a number of Syrian barley land-races and varieties were compared with that of the local land-race on farmers· fields under dryland conditions from 1985 to 1989. Rainfall during crop growth varied from 32 to 220 mm, and grain yields varied from 10 to 1250 kg ha-1, averaging 350 kg ha-1• The Syrian landraces generally produced higher grain yields than the local, but with the exception of Arabi abiad produced lower straw yields. Genotype-environment analyses indicated that Arabi abiad could be expected to produce more grain, similar amounts of straw and higher gross benefits than the local in all environments except the most severe in which crop failure was assured.