Barley Espada

ESPADA is a winter barley variety (Hordeum vulgare L.) characterized by medium ripening, multiple rows, and a lack of awns. It was created through multiple rounds of individual selection from spontaneous hybrids with natural awnless mutants discovered in the Dobrynya 3 variety. This variety is the first awnless winter barley entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements and is recommended primarily for cultivation in the Central Steppe Zone of the Stavropol Krai. ESPADA is intended for grain and fodder use, featuring a dense six-rowed ear, medium straw thickness and strength, and a smooth ventral groove.

The variety demonstrates high productivity: the average yield in the region is about 45.3 centners per hectare, with maximum indicators reaching 78.3–84 centners per hectare. ESPADA has good drought resistance and heat tolerance, making it suitable for the conditions of the Central Steppe Zone. The variety's winter hardiness is rated as moderate; the plant grows intensively in spring and is resistant to lodging. Protein content in the grain varies from 9.7% to 15.7%, ensuring high-quality fodder raw materials.

Regarding diseases, the variety shows moderate resistance to helminthosporiosis and root rots, weak resistance to powdery mildew, but is susceptible to loose smut and brown rust. Despite this, ESPADA remains a sought-after variety due to its agronomic characteristics and high yield. It is recommended to grow it primarily after non-fallow predecessors to achieve maximum productivity.