Abstract
Dual-purpose barley is an alternative approach to producing high-quality forage yield plus an acceptable grain yield in marginal environments of arid regions that are characterized by lack of forage. Field experiment was performed in two consecutive growing seasons at an arid region affected by salinity in irrigation water and soil at Western Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The study aimed to optimize sowing date and screen salt-tolerant barley genotypes that perform better in terms of forage yield and quality as well as grain and biomass yield production in salt-affected environment. Sowing dates, genotypes, and their interaction significantly impacted most of the studied variables such as forage yield, crude protein yield, and grain and biomass yields. The early sowing in late October yielded higher than intermediate sowing in mid-November and late sowing in early December. Some of the tested genotypes performed better than others as indicated by about 50% higher forage yield, 6% crude protein content, 39% grain and 21% biological yields (total aboveground dry matter), suggesting higher adaptation capacity. Interestingly, grain and biological yields did not differ significantly between dual-purpose approach and grain-only pattern. In conclusion, dual-purpose barley was found favorable for producing grain and forage production in similar environments under early sowing date.