TITLE:
Mutated Barley: A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Food Security and Biodiversity Management
AUTHORS:
Habibah S. Al-Menaie, Ouhoud Al-Ragam
KEYWORDS:
Mutant Barley, Fresh Water Irrigation, Brackish Water Irrigation
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.3 No.3B,
August
25,
2015
ABSTRACT:
Increased agricultural production under the
harsh environmental conditions with limited water resources and scarce natural
resources is a major challenge in arid regions like Kuwait. The implementation
of sustainable agricultural practices holds paramount importance in delivering
better agricultural environment for increased production. Barley (Hordeum
vulgare) is one among the most dependable cereal crops under saline and drought
conditions. Mutant barley genotypes that have evolved under stress conditions
using the improved genetic resources have the desired morphological,
physiological and agronomic traits. As Kuwait lack local barley genotypes, it
is important to find suitable barley genotypes adaptable to drought and
salinity, with high crop water productivity. In this study, several mutant barley
varieties were screened for better performance under drought and salinity, with
high feed quality. The growth performance and the nutritive value of twelve
different barley cultivars were evaluated under both fresh and brackish water
irrigation in Kuwait. The seeds of the superior lines were multiplied for
fodder production trials and their nutritive value was evaluated in animal
production systems. It was found that two parental lines Gustoe and California
Marriot and two mutant barley genotypes ari-e.228 and Golden Promise produced
high grain yield of 3 - 4 ton/ha. The mutant genotype Golden Promise was the
most tolerant, while ari-e.156 was the most susceptible genotype to saline
stress. Both proximate analysis and animal feeding trial showed that the dry
matter content of the air dry straws varied from 91.26% to 93.35%. The crude
fat contents were within the acceptable range (1.13% to 1.93%), and high
concentrations of ash and crude protein were found in straw in all genotypes.
Thus, the evolution of farming systems that are economically viable,
competitive, sustainable and environmental friendly improves the production
efficiency, productivity and product quality of various crops.