Effect of level and time of nitrogen application with and without vermicompost on yield, yield attributes and quality of malt barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 1998-99 and 1999-2000 at Hisar, to de- termine the impact of N fertilizer applied at different growth stages, with and without vermicompost on yield com- ponents, grain yield and malting quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare L., s.1.) in the first trial and to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus with and without vermicompost on yield and nutrient uptake by barley in the second. Nitrogen application significantly enhanced the grain and straw yields up to 90 kg Nlha. All the yield components, grain yield and nutrient uptake attained their maximum value with 10 tonneslha vermicompost. The grain and malt quality of barley was also influenced significantly with the application of vermicomposf and nitrogen levels. The result indicated that N fertilizer strategies for malting barley should en- sure relatively small amount of available one-third N at sowing for crop establishment and initial tiller develop- ment. Additional one-third N would then be applied at first irrigation (35 days after sowing) and one-third N at flowering (70 days). The highest grain yield and nutrient uptake were recorded with N,,P,, level of fertility.