Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Productivity and Quality of Malt Barley (Hordeum distichon L.)

Abstract

Information on the effect of combined use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures in Malt Barley is limited. Also, the effect of incorporation of rice straw on growth and yield of Malt Barley and use of the fungus Trichoderma viride for acceleration of decomposition of rice straw has not been studied much. Therefore, this present investigation entitled, “Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity and quality of malt barley (Hordeum distichon L.)” was carried out during the rabi season of 2017-18 at Amritsar, Punjab, India. Treatments comprised of T1: Control, T2: 100% Inorganic fertilizers (IF), T3: 100% Farmyard manure (FYM), T4: 100% Chopped rice straw (CRS), T5: 100% CRS + Trichoderma viride (TV), T6: 75% IF + 25% FYM, T7: 50% IF + 50% FYM, T8: 75% IF + 25% CRS, T9: 50% IF + 50% CRS, T10: 75% IF + 25% CRS + TV, T11: 50% IF + 50% CRS + TV. Application of 100% NPK through inorganic fertilizers (IF) increased the ear length (7.92 cm), number of grains/ear (28.3), grain yield (44.6 q/ha) and straw yield (64.6 q/ha) and at par with 75% NPK through IF + 25% N through FYM. For a sustainable agriculture practice, up to 25% inorganic fertilizers can be substituted by FYM with less yield compensation. Furthermore, the soil pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon content in the soil did not exhibit much affect in this single year trial. However, 100% NPK through IF significantly increased available N content over control and it was at par with 75% NPK through inorganic fertilizers + 25% N through FYM.