The Potential of Different Barley Varieties in Mitigating Climate Change

In the fight against climate change, it is important to recognize the role that agriculture can play. As a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture also acts as a carbon sink and holds great potential for mitigating climate change. Faced with growing challenges, it is increasingly important to explore ways in which agriculture can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration. This study investigates four different barley varieties (Rex, Lord, Barun, Panonac) grown in the continental Croatia during 2021 and 2022 to assess their potential for climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration and sustainable biomass management. The aim of this research is to determine the dry matter yield, the amount of carbon sequestered by barley biomass, and its distribution among different plant parts. Total dry matter yield ranged from 12.97 t/ha (Rex) to 15.43 t/ha (Panonac), while the amount of sequestered carbon ranged from 5.86t C/ha to 6.74 t C/ha, depending on the variety. Annual differences were statistically significant (P< 0.05), with 2022 showing a 29% reduction in both biomass and carbon content compared to 2021. The highest proportion of carbon was found in the grain and husk (approximately 45%), while the lowest was recorded in the awn (around 1%).