Effect of levels and mode of nitrogen application on dual purpose barley (Hordeum vulgare) under semi-arid condition

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2005–06 and 2006–07 at Avikanagar, Rajasthan to study the response of multi cut barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to 3 levels of N (30, 60 and 90 kg N/ha) and 3 modes of its application. Significantly higher green fodder (32.0 t/ha), total dry fodder (8.22 t/ha) and grain yield (3.57 t/ha) was obtained with 90 kg N application. Application of 90 kg N/ha increased the green fodder, total dry fodder and grain yield by 5.8, 0.95 and 0.93 t/ha over 30 kg N/ha, respectively. Nitrogen content and uptake, protein content and yield increased progressively as nitrogen application increased from 30 to 90 kg/ha. The highest gross return (49,096/ha) and net return (41,785/ha) were obtained with the use of 90 kg N/ha. However, the partial factor productivity (PFPn) for green fodder at first cut decreased from 848 kg/ha N to 306 kg/ha N as the level of N was increased from 30 to 90 kg N/ha. Nitrogen x mode of N application interaction was significant and showed that application in 3 split doses was better than its application in 2 split doses only at 90 kg N/ha.