PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND ELEMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.) GRAINS USING CONVENTIONAL ANALYTICAL  METHODS AND ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

Cereals are a significant source of energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber. They also contain a range of micro-nutrients and bio-active components notably vitamins and minerals. Barley(Hordeum vulgareL.) isalso important member of cereals family, asitremained the part of the human diet sincehistoric times.The chemical andnutritional composition of barley(Hordeum vulgare L.) crops vary widely and depends on several factors, such as; environmental and soil conditions, variety, fertilizer management, and agricultural practices such as seeding rate. In This study evaluates the proximate composition and elemental profile of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), five barley(Hordeum vulgare L.) grain samples were collected from different regions of Sindh, Pakistan, using standardized AOAC procedures and instrumental analysis. The results of this study showed that, Moisture contentranged from 9.76%to11.65%,ash from 1.13%to1.98%, crude protein from 11.21% to12.13%, crudefat from 1.01%to11.82%, crudefiber from 5.78%to6.32%,and carbohydratesfrom 57.72% to 68.31%. Energy values ranged from 632.4 to 775.4 kcal/100 g. Elemental analysis using microwave-assisted acid digestion followed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) indicated very low concentrations of Pb (0.056–0.081 ppb), Cd (0.02–0.04 ppb), Cr (2.34–4.53 ppm), and Cu (0.02– 0.08 ppm), all within internationally acceptable limits. The nutritional richness and negligible heavy- metal content demonstrate the safety and quality of barley cultivated in Sindh, reinforcing itssuitability for food, feed, and industrial purposes.