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Agriculture

Ba

Barley

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is generally called “Jau”. It is quite significant cereal after wheat, maize & rice. In India, it is produced in a summer season in temperate area while, winter seasons in tropical zones. In India it is planted in rabi season. It possesses excellent drought resistance capacity thats why in Haryana it is cultivated in areas having less irrigation facility.

Climate

Barley is a versatile and hardy crop that can adapt to a wide range of climates. However, for optimal growth and yield, the following climatic conditions are considered suitable:

  • Temperature : 10°C to 25°C
  • Sowing Temperature: 15°C to 20°C.
  • Harvesting Temperature: 20°C and 30°C
  • Rainfall: 250–400 mm

Soil

Barley’s adaptability to a wide range of soils and its ability to grow in marginal conditions make it a valuable crop for Pakistan, especially in areas with challenging soil conditions.

1. Soil Type:

  • Loamy Soil: Barley grows best in well-drained loamy soils, which provide a balance of sand, silt, and clay, offering good drainage and moisture retention.
  • Sandy Loam to Clay Loam: These soils are also suitable as long as they have adequate drainage.

2. Soil pH:

  • Barley thrives in soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0.
  • It tolerates slightly alkaline soils, which are common in Pakistan, especially in the plains of Punjab and Sindh.

Fertility

  • Barley prefers soils that are moderately fertile, with sufficient levels of organic matter.
  • Excessively fertile soils (like those high in nitrogen) may cause excessive vegetative growth, reducing grain yield and increasing lodging.

Soil Drainage

  • Well-drained soils are crucial. Barley is sensitive to waterlogging, which can lead to root rot and poor plant growth.
  • It is well-suited for arid and semi-arid regions where drainage is not an issue.

Soil Salinity and Sodicity

  • Barley is tolerant to salinity and sodicity, making it suitable for cultivation in saline soils found in parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.

Soil Moisture

  • Adequate soil moisture is important during germination and early growth stages.
  • Barley is a drought-tolerant crop, so it can be grown in rain-fed areas or regions with limited irrigation.

Regions with Suitable Soil in Pakistan

  1. Punjab: Sandy loam and loamy soils with moderate fertility are widely available.
  2. Sindh: Loamy and saline soils are suitable due to barley's salinity tolerance.
  3. Balochistan: Barley thrives in the sandy and loamy soils of this region, where drought resistance is essential.
  4. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): Hilly and loamy soils with moderate fertility levels are ideal.

Popular Varieties with their yields

In terms of seed varieties, several have been developed to suit different regions and conditions, including:

  1. FRONTIER-87
  2. CLIPPER
  3. BARLEY DWARF
  4. TJ-70
  5. NEELUM
  6. JAU-83
  7. JAU-87
  8. AAJ 2013

These varieties have seed rates ranging from 35 to 40 kg per acre, depending on the specific type and regional recommendations.

Land Preparation as per PQNK Principals

  • Topograph
  • Farm Map
  • Hardpan Breaking
  • Laser Levelling
  • Water Wash
  • Raised Bed Making 
  • Proper Water Channel Designing

Sowing

Time of sowing

Sowing typically takes place during the Rabi season (October to December), when cooler temperatures prevail, ensuring proper germination and seedling establishment.

Spacing

Use row to row spacing of 22.5cm. In case of delay sowing, use spacing of 18-20cm.

Sowing Depth

Use depth of 3-5cm for crop under irrigated conditions and 5-8cm depth for rainfed conditions.

Method of Sowing

For sowing use PQNK Precision Planting Method.

Seed

Seed Rate

seed rates ranging from 35 to 40 kg per acre, depending on the specific type and regional recommendations.

Seed Treatment

As per PQNK recommendations

Weeds are the solution

PQNK slowly unraveled nature's algorithms and helped us to see that weeds are friends rather than foe and needed for good soil health. By growing PQNK food, we can mitigate floods, droughts, heat, coldness, heavy winds, and other weather challenges.

Irrigation

In PQNK no inundation and periodic irrigation is required. Follow the PQNK recommended schedule for irrigation.

Plant Protection

In PQNK none of pesticide or spray is used to protect plants or crops or vegetables

Harvesting

Crop matures at end of March or April depending upon variety use. To avoid over ripening avoid delay in harvesting. The right stage for harvesting is when moisture in grain reaches to 25-30%. For manual harvesting use serrate edge sickles. Store in dry place after harvesting.

Pruning

In PQNK Pruning is very important and its application varies from crop to crop.

PQNK is ready to transform your conventional farming to organic plus farming innovatively.

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