RD 2552
A dual-purpose barley for the North Western Plains under irrigation: green fodder first, then grain. Valued for dependable yield, not for a malt premium.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Barley
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 115–120 days
- Expected yield
- 38–46 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Disease resistance
- Moderate resistance to yellow rust and covered smut
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
RD 2552 is a dual-purpose barley recommended for the North Western Plains Zone under irrigated, timely-sown conditions. ICAR-IIWBR Karnal's Barley Improvement page lists it as dual-purpose: cut it for green fodder 50–55 days after sowing in the plains, then leave the regrown crop to mature for grain. Several other sources give about 46.10 q/ha for irrigated, timely-sown North Western Plains fields and about 38.4 q/ha in the North Eastern Plains Zone.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose RD 2552 if you keep animals or sell green fodder and want grain from the same field. The dual-purpose routine is specific and it works: cut it for green fodder 50 to 55 days after sowing, then leave the regrown crop to come to grain. On grain alone it is still the strongest barley here, about 46.10 q/ha in the North Western Plains against RD 2035's 42.70, so the fodder cut comes off a crop that was going to yield well anyway — that is what makes the dual use worth taking rather than a compromise. It drops to 38.4 q/ha in the North Eastern Plains, which is worth knowing if you farm east of its home zone. It also carries a moderate rating for yellow rust and covered smut, where RD 2035 has none. Two limits. It is not sold as malt, so take DWRB 182 if you have a malt buyer. And it has no nematode rating, so on infested land RD 2035 is the one to plant.
Sowing & cultivation
Pest & disease considerations
Management notes
- Can be cut for green fodder 50–55 days after sowing in the plains; the regenerated (ratooned) crop is then left to mature for grain — a dual-purpose cut-and-regrow use documented directly on ICAR-IIWBR Karnal's own Barley Improvement page
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Confirmed dual-purpose use directly from ICAR-IIWBR Karnal's own page: cut once for green fodder around 50–55 days after sowing, then let the regenerated crop mature for grain — extra fodder value without a separate fodder-only planting
- Listed for three states (Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab). Reported yields run from about 46.10 q/ha in the North Western Plains to about 38.4 q/ha in the North Eastern Plains, so it also grows outside its home zone
Things to consider
- A government list of notified varieties gives RD 2552 the notification S.O. 340(E) dated 3 April 2000. Treat the date as reported, not confirmed.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
- Haryana
- Punjab
Planning the fodder cut
ICAR-IIWBR says to cut RD 2552 for green fodder 50–55 days after sowing in the plains, then let the regrown crop mature for grain.
Count from your sowing date. Sown on 15 November, the cut falls between 4 and 9 January. Line up the cutting labour and the animals' need before then.
If you do not need the fodder, leave the crop uncut and it is simply a grain barley. If you sell the fodder, that money is extra, on top of the grain.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Barley variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWRB 137 | A six-row feed barley for irrigated, timely-sown fields in the eastern plains and the Central Zone, with grain that also tests well for malt | 130–135 days | 38–42 q/ha (zone trial averages) | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat |
| DWRB 182 | A two-row malt barley for irrigated, timely-sown fields in the North Western Plains, grown for a maltster | 120–125 days | 45–50 q/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh |
| DWRB 223 | India's first released hulless barley, for the food and health-food market with no dehulling step | 115–120 days | 40–43 q/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh |
| Jyoti | An older irrigated barley with recorded resistance to loose smut, still the yardstick in eastern-plains trials | 120–130 days | 35–40 q/ha | Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal |
| K 560 (Haritma) | Rainfed barley for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, where there is no assured water | 115–120 days | 30–32 q/ha | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal |
| RD 2035 | A dual-purpose barley (grain and green fodder) with nematode resistance, for irrigated fields in Rajasthan and the North Western Plains | 120–125 days | 35–40 q/ha | Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh |
| RD 2552this page | Grain-and-fodder barley for irrigated, timely-sown fields in Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab | 115–120 days | 38–46 q/ha | Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab |
| RD 2660 | Rainfed six-row feed barley for the dry parts of Rajasthan | 110–115 days | 25–30 q/ha (rainfed) | Rajasthan |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Barley is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Barley plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Barley variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Barley into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Barley in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Barley rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Barley seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Is RD 2552 only a grain variety?
No — ICAR-IIWBR Karnal's own page describes it as dual-purpose: it can be cut once for green fodder around 50–55 days after sowing, and the regenerated crop is then left to mature for grain.
What zone is RD 2552 recommended for?
The North-Western Plains Zone (NWPZ), under irrigated, timely-sown conditions, per IIWBR's own Barley Improvement page — consistent with the Rajasthan/Haryana/Punjab states.
When was RD 2552 released?
Not confirmed. A government listing gives a notification dated 3 April 2000, but treat the date as reported, not confirmed.
How does RD 2552's yield compare across zones?
About 46.10 q/ha in the irrigated North-Western Plains Zone and about 38.4 q/ha in the North-Eastern Plains Zone — the yield rating (38–46 q/ha) is set to span both zones rather than average them away.
Does RD 2552 have malt-grade quality?
No. It is a food-and-fodder dual-purpose barley, unlike the malt-focused DWRB series from the same institute.
Is RD 2552 or DWRB 182 the better pick in Punjab?
It depends on your buyer. RD 2552 gives grain plus a green-fodder cut and is sold as feed and food. DWRB 182 is a malt barley and pays only if a maltster takes it. With no malt contract, RD 2552 is the safer pick.
Can I grow RD 2552 in the eastern plains?
Reported trial yield in the North Eastern Plains Zone is about 38.4 q/ha, against about 46.10 q/ha in the North Western Plains. So it grows there but gives less. For the eastern plains, DWRB 137 and K 560 were released for that zone.
Does cutting RD 2552 for fodder lower the grain crop?
IIWBR's page does not publish a grain figure for a cut crop. It says only to cut once, 50–55 days after sowing, and let the regrown crop mature. Keep an uncut strip if you want to see the difference on your own soil.
RD 2552 or RD 2035 on irrigated land?
RD 2552 if you want a dual-purpose barley with reported yields of 46.10 q/ha in the North Western Plains and a moderate rating for yellow rust and covered smut. RD 2035 if nematodes trouble your field: it is recorded as nematode resistant and averages about 42.70 q/ha in trials. Both give a green-fodder cut and then grain.
Does a moderate rating for yellow rust mean I can skip scouting?
No. Moderate resistance means yellow rust can still appear, mainly in cool, humid weather. Walk the field every week from tillering, check the lower leaves for yellow stripes, and follow your state's advice on spraying if it starts. The rating lowers the risk. It does not remove it.
Sourced from: ICAR-IIWBR Karnal — Barley Improvement (Barley Network). editorial policy.