Agrobiological characteristics and productive capabilities of spring barley accessions

The study was conducted during the period of 2021-2023 at the Institute of Agriculture in Karnobat. It examined 34 breeding lines and varieties of spring barley from Bulgarian plant breeding and introduction. The aim of the present study was to provide an agrobiological characterization and to investigate the productive capabilities of 34 breeding accessions—varieties and lines of spring barley. It was found that the Astoria variety had the highest 1000-grain weight at 53.0 g, followed by the Bulgarian perspective line KT 1248 at 52.0 g. The highest crude protein content of 13.2% was found in the Venera variety and perspective line KT 1254. The year conditions had the greatest influence on the productivity of the studied breeding accessions of spring barley, accounting for 52.07% of the total variation. The genotype factor accounted for 28.76%, while the interaction of the two factors had the weakest influence, accounting for 19.17% of the total variation. The introduced varieties Annabell and Jacinta had high and stable yields over the three years of the study. Out of the Bulgarian selection, the most productive were the perspective lines KT 1733 with 6,780 kg/ha, KT 341 with 6,750 kg/ha, and KT 1248 with 6,720 kg/ha. The year 2023 was the most favourable in terms of climate conditions for realizing the productive potential of the studied varieties and lines. Keywords: spring barley, agrobiological characteristics, productivity, quality