Croc

Croc is a spring barley variety of grain-forage type, registered in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine since 2013. It belongs to the steppe ecotype and is a semi-intermediate, medium-maturing variety with a vegetation period of 80–85 days. Recommended cultivation zones are the steppe and forest-steppe. Plants have a semi-erect habit, and the stem reaches a height of 70–80 cm with weak tillering. The ear is two-rowed, cylindrical, medium in length and density, yellow in color, and semi-erect in position. Spikelets are long, saw-toothed, and slightly divergent; grains are large, elongated-elliptical, with a 1000-grain weight of 47–50 g. The Croc variety exhibits high resistance to lodging, leaf and stem diseases, and drought, making it a reliable choice for cultivation under adverse climatic conditions. It is well adapted to semi-intermediate cultivation and effectively recovers the cost of initial mineral fertilizer application. The potential yield of this variety reaches 7.5–8.0 tons per hectare, with protein content in the grain varying from 13.4% to 14.5%, ensuring high-quality fodder material. The recommended seeding rate is 4.0–4.5 million viable seeds per hectare. Seeds are supplied in 40 kg bags and are not treated, but fungicides and insecticides can be purchased separately for disease and pest protection. Thanks to its agronomic characteristics and resistance to adverse factors, the Croc variety is an effective and reliable choice for farmers producing grain and fodder in steppe and forest-steppe regions.