Effect of organic manure and nitrogen fertilization on growth, yield and economics of barley (Hordeum vulgare)

A field experiment was conducted on a loamy sand soil, low in available N and P and medium in available K at agronomy farm of the College, Jobner, Rajasthan to study the response of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to organic manure and nitrogen fertilization. The results showed that the application of vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha remained at par with vermicompost @ 3 tonnes/ha recorded the maximum plant height at 60 (49.5 cm) and 90 days after sowing (75.1 cm) and at harvest (99 cm), number of tillers at 60 days after sowing (69.4) and dry matter accumulation 1/m at 60 (80.5 g) and 90 days after sowing (206.4 g) and net return (Rs 27831/ha) of barley over no organic manure, vermicompost @ 1.5 tonnes/ ha and farmyard manure @ 5, 7.5 and 10 tonnes/ha. Whereas, vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha produced significantly the highest dry matter/m at harvest (269.5 g), number of tillers at 90 days after sowing (72.2) and at harvest (72.9), chlorophyll content in leaf at 50% flowering (2.64 mg/g), grain yield (5.26 tonnes/ha) and straw yield (6.79 tonnes/ha) over no organic manure, vermicompost @ 1.5 and 3 tonnes/ha and farmyard manure @ 5, 7.5 and 10 tonnes/ha. Application of 60 kg N/ha significantly increased the plant height, dry matter accumulation and number of tillers at all the growth stages, chlorophyll content in leaf at 50% flowering (2.67 mg/g) and grain yield (5 tonnes/ha), straw yield (6.73 tonnes/ha) and net return (Rs 30 087/ha) over 0, 20, and 40 kg N/ha. The combined application of vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha + 40 kg N/ha gave higher grain yield (5.59 tonnes/ha) and straw yield (7.06 tonnes/ha) over rest of other combinations of organic manure and nitrogen. Whereas, farmyard manure @ 7.5 tonnes/ha + 60 kg N/ha gave maximum net return (Rs 30 543/ha) over rest of the combinations of organic manure and nitrogen.