Grain Yield of Malt Barley (Hordium Vulgare L.) Production as Influenced by Nitrogen Split-Application Timing in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Legesse Admassu

doi:10.7176/jnsr/10-1-05

Abstract

This experiment was initiated to evaluate the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer split application timing for malt barley. This experiment was done at Holeta Agricultural Research center, West Shoa, Ethiopia. The split nitrogen application times were ½ at planting + ½ at mid tillering, ½ at planting + ½ at anthesis, nil at planting + ½ mid tillering + ½ at anthesis, nil at planting + full at mid tillering, nil at planting + full at anthesis, ½ at planting + 2/3 at mid tillering, 1/3 at planting + 1/3 mid tillering + 1/3 at anthesis, nil at planting + 1/3 mid tillering + 2/3 at anthesis, 2/3 at planting + 1/3 mid tillering, 2/3 at planting + 1/3 at anthesis, full at planting and negative control. The experiment was laid out randomized complete block design with three replications. Timing of split nitrogen fertilizer applications has significant effect on the yield and yield component barley. Application of nitrogen fertilizer one third at sowing plus two third at mid tillering gave the highest grain yield though it did not show significant differences with commonly practiced 1/2 at sowing and 1/2 at mid tillering. Keywords: nitrogen fertilizer, split application timing, Nitisols, malt barley DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/10-1-05 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Highlights

Barley one of the most important food crops predominantly grown from 1500 to 3500 m above sea level in Ethiopia (Lakew et al, 1996)
Result and Discussion The effects of time N fertilizer application on malt barley grain and biomass yield and spike length were presented in table 1
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) result showed that time of N fertilizer application significantly (p

Summary

Introduction

Barley one of the most important food crops predominantly grown from 1500 to 3500 m above sea level in Ethiopia (Lakew et al, 1996). It is the major food source in many North African countries. It is the staple food crops in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, It ranks fourth after tef, maize, sorghum in terms of cereal area production. It covers an area of about 951, 993 ha, but its national average yield is still low at 2.1 ton ha−1 (CSA, 2018). Barley serves as a major animal fodder, base malt for beer and certain other distilled beverages

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Discussion

Conclusion