Productivity and profitability of malt barley (Hordeum vulgare) varieties at different nitrogen levels under saline water irrigation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Hisar, Haryana during the winter (rabi) seasons of 201718 and 201819, to study the growth, yield and economics of 4 varieties, viz. BH 902, BH 946, BH 885 and DWRB 101 of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at different nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) under saline-water irrigation. Variety BH 946 recorded significantly higher dry-matter accumulation, leaf-area index, grains/spike, grain yield, gross returns, net returns and benefit: cost ratio, while variety DWRB 101 produced significantly higher number of effective tillers, spike length and 1,000-grain weight than BH 902, BH 946 and BH 885 varieties. Variety BH 946 gave 5.1, 7.3 and 14.7% higher grain yield and 7.2, 8.0 and 19.1% higher net returns than DWRB 101, BH 902 and BH 885 varieties, respectively. Nitrogen levels significantly increased growth and yield attributes over the control. Each increment of nitrogen dose resulted in significantly higher grain yield, straw yield, gross returns, net returns and benefit: cost ratio only up to 60 kg/ha and further increasing the dose to 90 kg N/ha did not show any significant improvement. For getting higher productivity and profitability, malt barley variety BH 946 with 60 kg N/ha under saline water irrigation was found most suitable