MART-AZR Project Research Report 29: The Potential of New Barley Varieties in the High Elevation Dryland of Baluchistan, Pakistan

Abstract

In upland Baluchistan winter cereals are grown under dryland conditions, with the addition of conserved moisture from monsoonal rains. The major constraints to production are limited water, uncertain rainfall and extremes of temperatures in winter. The most productive manner to reduce the effects of environmental stresses is through the development and evaluation of tolerant genotypes. Four Syrian barley landraces, that have proved to be better adapted to dry conditions than conventionally bred improved material were tested for two years against the local landrace under rainfed conditions at three sites which were chosen to represent the broad range of environmental conditions experienced in upland Baluchistan. Arabi Abiad and Arabi Aswad were found to be more tolerant to environmental stresses and gave higher grain yield than the local barley landrace under dry conditions.