Reduction of drought stress effect in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) by nitrogen fertilization

An effect of nitrogen rates (0.0 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g N per pot) on NRA (nitrate reductase activity) in leaves of spring barley (cultivar Kompakt) was investigated in a pot experiment. Plants were grown under optimum moisture regime and drought stress was induced during the growth stages of tillering, shooting and earing. Before and after respective stress period plants were grown under optimal water regime. In all the fertilized and unfertilized treatments, NRA was significantly higher under optimal water regime than in drought stress conditions. Nitrogen fertilization alleviated adverse effects of drought stress on the yields of grain; the rate of 1 g N per pot increased the grain yield of plants stressed during tillering 3.73 times compared to unfertilized and stressed treatment. When the stress was induced during shooting or earing grain yields declined by over 50% compared to optimal water regime; when compared with stressed and unfertilized treatment, the rate of 1 g N however increased yield by 29% (stress at shooting) and 55% (stress at earing). NRA values were significantly higher when plants were grown under optimum water regime than under stress conditions as well as when fertilized with nitrogen compared to unfertilized control both under optimum water regime and drought stress.