Barley, known for its resilience, produces antioxidants such as tocopherol and flavonoids in its flag leaf. Such compounds may combat inflammation, cancer, and heart disease.
Barley thrives in subtropical climates, needing 12-15°C while growing and 30°C at maturity. It's intolerant to frost at any stage, especially during flowering, which severely impacts yield.
Prepare barley fields by ploughing with a disc harrow or soil-turning plough to remove weeds. Level and irrigate heavily before sowing.
Barley can be grown with irrigation, rain, or limited water. Typically, it needs 2-3 irrigations for optimal yield. Malt barley requires 3 irrigations for better quality and uniformity.
Glufosinate-ammonium aids harvest in weedy barley, not seeds if moisture is below 30%. Diquat dries weeds in laid crops, applied 4-7 days pre-harvest.
In India, barley is sown in the Rabi season (Oct-Nov) and harvested in March-April. Major producers include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.