Effect of Time of Nitrogen Application on the Growth and Yield of Two Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Cultivars

A field experiment was conducted in China during winter season of 2001-2002 to study the response of time of nitrogen application on two cultivars (Xiumei 3 and 92-11) of barley. Apart from basal dose of 40 kg N/ha, 110 kg N/ha was applied at tillering (Ti) or in two equal splits at tillering and boot stages (T-2) or at boot stage (T-3). Cultivar 92-11 attained significantly lower plant height at boot stage and number of spikes/plant but took significantly more number of days to heading, registered significantly more chlorophyll content in leaves at different growth stages, produced significantly more number of grains/spike, grain weight/spike, single grain weight, N. concentration at boot stage and consequently produced significantly higher grain yield (3764 kg/ha) than cultivar Xiumei 3 (3201 kg/ha). Application of nitrogen at boot stage significantly reduced the plant height at both stages, dry matter accumulation, days taken to heading, leaf chlorophyll content at boot stage, grains per spike, grain weight per spike and individual grain weight but recorded significantly higher chlorophyll content in leaves at heading stage and higher N content as compared to its application at tillering. Split application of nitrogen at tillering and boot stages also recorded significantly better growth and yield attributes, N concentration and grain yield than its application at boot stage alone but was at par with nitrogen applied at tillering except grain weight per spike. Consequently application of nitrogen at tillering or its split application at tillering and boot stages produced statistically similar (4052 and 3816 kg/ha, respectively) but significantly higher grain yield than its application at boot stage (2500 kg/ha).