Effects of Cultivar and Nitrogen Dose on Grain Eight in Romanian Winter Barley

Abstract

During 2014-2016 at National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea three yield trials with winter barley cultivars under three levels of nitrogen fertilization were performed. The objective of this study was the evaluation of Romanian winter six and two row barley cultivars across three years, in order to analyse the effects of cultivar and fertilizer dose on yield and grain weight. As the main source of variation, the nitrogen level influenced significant the grain yield, which registered a progressive increase according to nitrogen dose, while the grain weight decreased from the second to third nitrogen level. Influence of grain weight on yield was different and much stronger in a few cases, comparing winter six row with two row varieties and their reaction to the nitrogen dose. Variations in grain weight were related to the number of row/spike and at the three levels of nitrogen fertilization were highly correlated (r = 0.93*** and 0.85***). The most productive winter six row varieties registered on average the lowest grain weight (Cardinal, Smarald and Lucian) and the highest yield. Winter two row variety Artemis and Gabriela presented an increased value of grain weight at 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen level and this quality index contributed to achieve higher yield.