Micro-meteorological parameters, growth indices and productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars as influenced by clipping and zinc biofortification

Abstract

A study was carried out during the winter (rabi) season of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to assess the effect of different barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars (2- and 6-row) on micro-meteorological parameters, growth indices, photosynthetic parameters and productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in relation to different clippings time along with Zn foliar application. The results indicated that cultivar ‘DWRUB 52’ intercepted more photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than ‘PL 807’ and ‘PL 426’, whereas, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) values of ‘DWRUB 52’ and PL 807 were statistically similar and significantly better than ‘PL 426’. Cultivar ‘DWRUB 52’ showed the highest absolute growth rate (AGR) and crop-growth rate (CGR), followed by ‘PL 807’ and ‘PL 426’ during both the years of study. Cultivar ‘DWRUB 52’ gave 6.0 and 18.7% higher grain yield than ‘PL 807’ and ‘PL 426’ respectively. Foliar application of Zn at anthesis and early milk stages enhanced the PAR and NDVI, AGR, CGR and RGR at 90–120 days after sowing (DAS) and at 120 DAS to maturity. Foliar application of Zn with both clippings, i.e. 50 and 60 DAS resulted in the statistically similar transpiration rates and were significantly higher than the other treatments. There was an increase of 12.6% in grain yield when clipping was done at 50 DAS with foliar application of Zn and an increase of 8.9% in grain yield when clipping was done at 60 DAS with foliar application of Zn than control crop.