Nitrogen and cutting management of dual-purpose barley (Hordeum vulgare) varieties for their production potential and profitability

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2016–17 and 2017–18 at Research Farm, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan), to study the effect of nitrogen and cutting management on production, potential and profitability of dual-purpose barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations, comprising of 4 levels of cutting management, i.e. 0, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), 2 varieties, viz. ‘RD 2552’ and ‘RD 2715’, and 3 levels of nitrogen, i.e. 100, 125 and 150% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN), laid out in a factorial randomized block design, replicated thrice. The maximum green fodder yield (26.30 t/ha) and protein content (8.34%) were noticed when cutting was done at 60 DAS, whereas the highest net returns (` 74,447/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.02) were recorded at 50 DAS. The highest fodder yield (16.55 t/ha) was recorded with ‘RD 2715’, while the highest net returns (` 68,002/ ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.92) were obtained in variety ‘RD 2552’. Nitrogen fertilization of 125% RDN to barley recorded significantly higher grain and straw yields, crude protein and benefit: cost ratio.