6-zeilige Nacktgerste (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare var. coeleste)
Description
Six-row hulless or "naked barley" has a relatively loose ear and soft straw. The ears aren't strictly six rowed. The grains can be easily parted from husks. The naked barleys in the Swiss gene bank are without exception summer barleys, plants seeded in autumn die during winter.
The naked barley together with the husked barley was among the first plants to be cultivated in the Alps. The six-row naked barley is no longer commercially available. Some land types from Valais and Grisons still exist. In the past, the cantons Berne and Vaud also had naked winter barley types.
Distribution in the past and today
The naked barley was formerly widespread and popular. The husked barley is still used for brewing and as animal Food. The naked barley has basically disappeared from agriculture.
Cultivation
Naked barley is hard to cultivate owing to ist low stability. In wet years and at high elevations one obtains the highest Quality.
Utilization
For flour, barley flour together with wheat and rye flour can be baked to bread. The portion of barley is about 20%.
The straw can be fed to animals.
Suitability
Barley has a low Vegetation period and in the form of summer barley can be cultivated at similar altitudes as winter rye.
Literature
Schilperoord, Peer und Heistinger, Andrea 2011. Literaturstudie alpine Kulturpflanzen Vs. 5.1
Schilperoord, Peer (2013): Kulturpflanzen in der Schweiz - Gerste. Alvaneu Dorf: Verein für alpine Kulturpflanzen.
