The field experiment was conducted in 2002-2006 at the Experimental Farm Czesławice (central part of Lublin region) on lessive soil developed from loess (2nd bonitation class). The study included naked form of spring barley cultivated in crop rotation and in 6-year monoculture. In both crop sequence systems, extensive and intensive protection methods were used. Spring intercrop species (white mustard, leguminous mixture – spring vetch + field pea, and rye grass), biomass of which was ploughed in autumn after cutting, were the factor that regenerated the field in monoculture. The subject of analysis was the influence of particular regeneration methods in monoculture on the energy effectiveness of spring barley cultivation. The results were compared with monoculture without intercrop and with crop rotation. Intensive protection and the sowing of intercrops in spring barley monoculture were proved to have a positive effect on the cereal yielding. However, the above factors caused a deterioration of the energy effectiveness index. This resulted from the increased labour and drawbar pull expenditure typical of such technologies. The best energy effects were obtained from spring barley cultivation in crop rotation where extensive protection was used.