Technical Bulletin: Ponoka Barley

Ponoka is a 2-row, rough-awned, hulled feed barley registered by the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) at Lacombe in 2003. It is marketed by SeCan Association. Ponoka has high grain and biomass yield potential and excellent disease resistance for the western Prairies.

Ponoka was tested in the Western Cooperative Registration Trials as TR 01656 and in FCDC trials as H93003006Z. Its pedigree is H92001F₁/TR229 (H92001F₁=(Harrington/Camelot)F₁).

The Field Crop Development Centre yield data show that Ponoka yields 15% higher than the feed check CDC Dolly under high yielding conditions (>8.0 t/ha) with an average yield advantage of 6%. Silage yields are 7% higher than those for AC Lacombe (the most common silage variety in Alberta) and 11% higher than CDC Dolly. While Ponoka yields well in the brown soil zone, it’s percent plump is low probably due to late season drought.

Ponoka has the following disease reaction: Resistant (R) to the surface-borne smuts and true loose smut. Moderately resistant (MR) to the net form of net blotch; moderately susceptible (MS) to the spot form. Its reaction to scald ranges from R to MS depending on the race of scald, giving it an overall rating of MR. Its reaction to fusarium head blight and common root rot is MR/MS; to spot blotch MS, and to stem rust, septoria and barley yellow dwarf is susceptible.