RD 2660
A rainfed six-row feed barley for dry parts of Rajasthan, listed by ICAR as a rainfed feed variety.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Barley
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 110–115 days
- Seed rate
- 45 kg of seed an acre for a rainfed or late-sown crop (PAU), against 35 kg an acre for a timely sown irrigated crop
- Expected yield
- 25–30 q/ha (rainfed)
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- Good drought tolerance; moderate disease tolerance
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
RD 2660 is a rainfed barley for the dry parts of Rajasthan in the North Western Plains Zone. An ICAR review of barley seed production lists it as a rainfed six-row feed barley. Seed indents for it grew from 65 q in 2012-13 to 110 q in 2013-14 and 238 q in 2014-15. Other sources describe a timely-sown food-and-fodder barley that averages about 24.30 q/ha under rainfed conditions, close to the 25–30 q/ha shown here, with good drought tolerance. ICAR-IIWBR's Barley Improvement page does not name RD 2660.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose RD 2660 if your land in Rajasthan is rainfed, you sow on time and you want a feed and fodder barley rather than a malt one. Read its yield honestly: about 24.30 q/ha under rain, the lowest of the barleys here and roughly half what RD 2552 reaches on irrigated North Western Plains land. That is not a failing of the variety — it is what a rainfed feed barley does — but it means the case for it is the water you do not have, not the grain you will get. If you can irrigate, RD 2035 or RD 2552 will give you far more from the same field. What does argue for it is that farmers are taking it up: an ICAR review of barley seed lists it as a rainfed six-row feed variety, and the seed indents for it rose from 65 q in 2012-13 to 110 q the next year and 238 q the year after — nearly fourfold in three seasons, which is a better signal than any single trial figure. Do not sign a malt contract on RD 2660.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing time15 October to 15 November gives the best result, and yield falls gradually as sowing slips towards the end of December (PAU package for Punjab)
- Seed rate45 kg of seed an acre for a rainfed or late-sown crop (PAU), against 35 kg an acre for a timely sown irrigated crop
- Sowing methodOn rainfed land, sow with a kera if the soil holds enough moisture, and with a pora if the upper layer is too dry. Run a sohaga after sowing with a kera but not after sowing with a pora. Late-sown rows go 18–20 cm apart
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Rainfed drought tolerance in a barley for dry Rajasthan, where irrigated malt barleys do not fit
- Seed demand grew from 65 q in 2012-13 to 238 q in 2014-15, a sign that farmers took it up
Things to consider
- RD 2660 is a feed barley. Some web pages call it malt-suitable, but ICAR's review lists it as six-row feed, so do not plan a malt contract on it.
- The release year and parentage are not published.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
Sell it as feed, not malt
Some web pages call RD 2660 malt-suitable. ICAR's barley seed review lists it as a rainfed six-row feed barley, so plan to sell it as feed and fodder.
On rainfed land the crop lives on stored soil moisture and timely sowing more than on fertiliser. Sow on time and keep the cost low.
If a malt buyer offers you a contract on RD 2660, ask for the grading terms in writing before you sow. If the terms are vague, grow it for feed.
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 2552 | 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 2660this page | 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 2660 a malt barley?
No. ICAR's barley seed review lists it as a rainfed six-row feed barley. Some web pages call it malt-suitable, but that is not its official class, so do not sign a malt contract on it.
Where is RD 2660 grown?
It is recommended for Rajasthan only. ICAR's review and other sources tie it to the rainfed, drought-prone parts of Rajasthan in the North Western Plains Zone.
How does RD 2660's yield compare to irrigated barley varieties?
Lower, as expected for a rainfed variety — secondary sources cite about 24.30 q/ha under rainfed, timely-sown conditions, close to the 25–30 q/ha (rainfed) band, versus 40+ q/ha for many irrigated NWPZ varieties.
Is RD 2660 listed on the ICAR-IIWBR website?
Not on its Barley Improvement page, which names other varieties but not RD 2660. It appears in an ICAR journal review of barley seed production, which is where its feed class and seed-indent figures come from.
How many farmers have taken up RD 2660?
No farmer count is published. ICAR's seed review shows that indents (seed orders) for RD 2660 grew from 65 q in 2012-13 to 110 q in 2013-14 and 238 q in 2014-15, which points to growing demand.
Can I irrigate RD 2660?
It was released for rainfed, timely-sown fields. With water, RD 2035 (about 42.70 q/ha) and RD 2552 (about 46.10 q/ha) give more grain per hectare in trials, so they suit irrigated land better.
How does RD 2660 compare with K 560?
Both are rainfed barleys. K 560 is for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and gives 30–32 q/ha in 115–120 days. RD 2660 is for Rajasthan and gives 25–30 q/ha in 110–115 days. Choose by where you farm.
How long does RD 2660 take to mature?
About 110–115 days, the shortest of the eight barley varieties compared here. That helps a rainfed crop finish before the soil dries out.
RD 2660 or RD 2552 if irrigation becomes available?
Move to RD 2552, or RD 2035 if nematodes trouble you. RD 2660 is a rainfed six-row feed barley at 25–30 q/ha, bred for dry parts of Rajasthan. Under irrigation RD 2552 reports 46.10 q/ha in the North Western Plains and gives a green-fodder cut and then grain. Keep RD 2660 for land that gets no assured water.
Is RD 2660 seed easy to find?
Demand has been real: seed indents grew from 65 q in 2012-13 to 110 q in 2013-14 and 238 q in 2014-15. That shows farmers took it up, but it is not a stock listing for this season. Ask the Rajasthan state seed corporation or your KVK for certified seed, and check the variety name and lot label on the bag.
Sourced from: Trends of seed production, varietal scenario and future prospects in barley — Journal of Cereal Research (ICAR), Package of Practices for Rabi Crops, Punjab Agricultural University: barley — rainfed and late-sown seed rate and sowing method (written for Punjab, not for RD 2660 specifically). editorial policy.