Cultivation Adaptability in Northern Fujian and Potential Utilization of Entire Plant as Livestock Forage of Four Barley Cultivars

To broaden the varieties of winter crops available for cultivation in Fujian, a search was targeted on four barley cultivars. The selected materials included Hua 22(Barley Hordeum vulgare L. cultivar 'Hua 22'), SP-1 (Barley Hordeum vulgare L.Line 'SP-1'), SP-2 (Barley Hordeum vulgare L.Line 'SP-2') and HH-1 (Barley Hordeum vulgare L.Line 'HH-1'). The adaptability or suitability for local cultivation in winter season, as well as the potential of utilizing the entire plant for animal feeding, was evaluated. The results showed that the tested barley varieties could indeed complete an annual phenological period in northern Fujian with acceptable adaptability. Insofar as the use as forage is concerned, the entire plant had a higher nutritional value than maize. Among the cultivars, Hua 22 and HH-1 had the greatest hay yield of 8 226.51 kg·hm^-1 and 7 888.82 kg·hm^-1, respectively, with a recommended harvest in late filling stage. These barley cultivars also showed a strong resistance to scab, and therefore, were considered a choice access for the development of local livestock industry.