Ruchey is a mid-early variety of spring six-rowed barley, developed at the Kemerovo Research Institute of Agriculture and Ecology — a branch of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The plant is of medium height, features anthocyanin pigmentation on the flag leaf's awns, and is distinguished by its drought resistance, resistance to lodging, and powdery bunt. The mass of 1000 grains ranges from 41 to 50 grams, while protein content reaches 16.5%. The average yield of the variety in recommended cultivation regions, such as the Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, and Tyumen regions, is approximately 36.9 centners per hectare.
The Ruchey variety stands out for its technological and quality characteristics, surpassing the standard variety Omsk six-rowed 1. Six-rowed barley forms, including Ruchey, are characterized by a high content of biochemically important components in the grain. Compared to hulled varieties, they contain significantly more essential and non-essential amino acids, such as lysine, methionine, arginine, histidine, isoleucine, and leucine, which enhances their nutritional value.
Additionally, six-rowed barley Ruchey is rich in tocopherols, tocotrienols, and flavonoids, including procyanidin B3 and catechin, which possess antioxidant properties. High content of β-glucans, non-starch polysaccharides, makes this variety particularly valuable for dietetic nutrition and grain production. It is also widely used in feeding agricultural animals, contributing to increased productivity.
