AbstractSome parameters for screening drought resistance in barley were examined during various stages of plant development using two contrasting cultivars (local Iraqi cv. Black and Australian cv. Clipper). These parameters include leaf growth, tiller number, relative water content (RWC), proline accumulation and ionic composition. More pronounced drought resistance in Black was expressed by significantly lower reduction in leaf area, cell and tiller numbers compared with Clipper; proline concentration, RWC and ionic (N, P, K) concentration in expanded leaves, on the other hand, did not clearly distinguish the cultivars. Black was particularly drought tolerant at the post‐flowering stag