Qualitative indicators of spring barley varieties (Hordeum vulgare L.) under different growing conditions

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the quality indicators of spring barley seeds grown under different soil and climatic conditions. Methods. Laboratory, calculation and statistical methods were used during the research, analysis and synthesis methods were used to draw conclusions. Results. As a result of research, the dependence of spring barley quality indicators, namely: grain uniformity and protein content, on soil and climatic zones and growing conditions was revealed. Thus, grain uniformity ranged from 86.7% (high, Polissia) to 95.1% (very high, Forest Steppe) in the different test years. In 2021, thanks to favorable meteorological conditions during the growing season, its indicators increased by 4.3% in the Steppe, 4.6% in the Forest Steppe and almost 6.0% in Polissia compared to 2020. On average, the uniformity of grain grown in different bran­ches of UIPVE increased by 5.6%. The maximum values were obtained for the varieties ‘Avus’ – 93.9% (Steppe), ‘Novyi Svitanok’ – 94.5–96.6% (Polissia, Forest Steppe). Depending on the soil and climate zone and the year of the experiment, the protein content in the grain varied from 10.9 (low, Steppe) to 13.4% (medium, Forest Steppe). On ave­rage, this indicator decreased by 2.5% in 2021 compared to 2020, and only in the Polissia zone it increased by 2.6%. The highest protein content was found in the varieties ‘Istr’ – 13.5–13.9% (Steppe and Forest Steppe) and ‘Hercules’ – 13.4% (Polissia). The varieties ‘Amadei’, ‘Istr’ and ‘Novyi Svitanok’ combined both economic and valuable traits. Optimum air temperature and high grain uniformity cont­ribute to increasing the yield of spring barley. At the same time, during the formation of a high yield in the culture, the protein content in the grain decreases. Conclusions. It was revealed that, on average, in 2020–2021, the uniformity of spring barley grain was 92.3% (Steppe), 95.4% (Forest Steppe) and 93.2% (Polissia); the protein content in the grains was 11.8% (Steppe), 12.4% (Forest Steppe) and 11.6% (Polissia). The formation of quality indicators of spring barley seeds was influenced by the growing conditions in the relevant soil and climatic zone.