SURSKY FAVORIT

The spring barley variety 'Surky Favorit' represents a mid-season grain forage type recommended for cultivation in the southwestern zone of the Penza region, as well as in the regions of the Middle Volga and Lower Volga districts, including the Samara and Volgograd regions and the right-bank zones of the Saratov region. The vegetative period is 73 to 88 days, allowing the variety to mature simultaneously with the variety Preriy and slightly later than the variety Nutans 553. The plant is of medium height with a semi-erect bush, cylindrical loose ear with long barbed awns, and large grain weighing 43-54 g per 1000 grains. The ear and leaf sheaths have characteristic anthocyanin colors and a strong waxy coating, which is a distinguishing feature of the variety.

The average yield of the variety in the permitted regions is about 20.7-25.9 c/ha, while the protein content in the grain varies from 11.3 to 15.8%, which makes it valuable for grain forage use. The variety demonstrates drought resistance at the level of standard varieties Preriy and Nutans 553, but has moderate susceptibility to powdery bunt and some susceptibility to brown rust, dwarf rust, and helminthosporium. In terms of resistance to lodging, it is slightly inferior to standards Preriy and Kamyshinsky 23.

To increase field germination, seeds of the variety 'Surky Favorit' are recommended to be treated with growth regulators such as Epin-Extra, Mival-Agro, Ribav-Extra, and Cresacin. Such pre-sowing treatment contributes to faster seed swelling, increased enzyme activity, which ultimately increases germination energy and laboratory germination. In field conditions, this ensures an increase in the density of the agrocenosis and an increase in yield by 6.3-6.5% over several years of research.