Evaluation of 16 Barley Genotypes under Calcareous Soil Conditions in Egypt

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the Experimental Research Station at Nubaria, ARC representing newly reclaimed areas during two successive seasons of 2005/06 and 2006/07 to evaluate 16 barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes grown under water stress and calcareous soil conditions. The evaluation included yield and its components, growth attributes, earliness and kernel protein content. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications. Only two irrigations, i.e. at sowing and heading were applied to expose plants to water stress. Results showed that there are significant differences among the 16 barley genotypes for most of the characteristics. Four barley genotypes; Malouk//Aths/Linee686,Alanda-02/4/Arizona5908, Alanda/3/CI08887/CI05761//Lignee640, and Alanda/ Harma//Alanda01out yielded the check cultivars in grain and biological yield with some other advantages such as earliness, harvest index, leaf area index, and higher protein content. It is suggested that those genotypes could have more genetic stability studies to be grown in such calcareous soils.