Onerva ^BOR

Onerva is one of the earliest six‑row barleys. Its growing time — 865 degree days — is on the same level as Aukusti, which has been widely cultivated for a long time. Suitable for cultivation in Finnish zones I–IV.

Onerva is a high‑yielding variety for its growing time. In the 2019–2021 Finnish official variety trials, it ranked among the best in its maturity class across all  cultivation zones and soil types. Onerva has shown good adaptability to different farming intensities.

Onerva is an exceptionally high‑quality variety suited for feed and starch barley.

Its key grain‑quality traits:

• very large grain size
• high thousand grain weight (TGW)
• high hectoliter weight
• very high percentage of larger grains

In terms of grain quality, Onerva is comparable mainly to two‑row barleys.

Compared with the control variety Aukusti:

• protein content is slightly higher
• starch content is marginally lower

Onerva has a short and very strong straw, providing excellent standability.

Onerva has good resistance to both forms of net blotch, with clear advantages compared to Aukusti. The variety does not have specific resistance to powdery mildew or Rhynchosporium scald.

Onerva thrives best on moderately fertile soils in Finnish zones III–IV.

Disease management recommendations:

• Treated seed and diverse crop rotation reduce disease pressure
• Monitor leaf diseases in high‑risk conditions or when barley follows barley
• Apply fungicides only when necessary

Sowing density recommendations:

• 450–500 viable seeds/m² on humus soils
• 500 viable seeds/m² on mineral or clay soils

Fertilisation:

• As an early variety, a single spring fertiliser application is typically sufficient
• Growth regulator is usually not needed on clay and mineral soils
• Growth regulator shoulb be used in more nutrient-rich soils or intensive systems or when using manure
• High humus soils or long‑term manure use reduce nitrogen needs — adjust fertilisation accordingly

Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd
Line number: BOR 14552
Added to variety list: 2020

Early six‑row barley varieties. Source: Official variety trials 2017–2024, px.luke.fi, (M) = control variety