Iosif is a mid-ripening winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) variety intended for grain and fodder use. It belongs to the six-row type and is characterized by a vegetation period of 223 to 255 days, maturing 1-2 days later than the Mikhailo variety. Plants are medium-height with a 1000-grain weight ranging from 39 to 47 grams. The ear is six-rowed, large, cylindrical, and loose, with a semi-hanging arrangement and weakly expressed waxy bloom. The grain kernel is semi-round, large, with an unglabrous abdominal groove and frontal lodicule. Protein content in the grain ranges from 9.7% to 13.6%, providing high nutritional value.
The variety exhibits high winter hardiness and resistance to lodging, achieved due to a strong straw and improved anatomical stem structure. Despite being medium-height, the plants withstand adverse weather conditions, including drought, thanks to a deeply penetrating root system that provides moisture during dry periods. Intensive initial growth and high tillering allow reducing the sowing rate to 3.5-4.0 million viable seeds per hectare, which contributes to seed material savings.
Iosif is recommended for cultivation in the Central region of Krasnodar Krai and is included in the State Register for the North Caucasian region. The average yield of the variety in the region is about 44.4 centners per hectare, while maximum figures reach 75.7 centners per hectare. The variety demonstrates good immunity, allowing its cultivation on a medium agro-ecological background without the use of fungicides, and on a high background with just one treatment. To prevent lodging on a high agro-ecological background, the use of retardants is recommended. Cultivating the Iosif variety contributes to increased yield, reduced production costs, and increased profitability of winter barley production.
