Response of rainfed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to phosphorus and potassium application

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi seasons of three years (2012-13 to 2014-15) at the Experimental Farm of Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Bajaura, Kullu (H.P.) with the objective of studying the impact of phosphorus and potassium application in rainfed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The trial was laid out in split plot design, replicated thrice, with four phosphorus levels (0, 20, 30 and 40 kg P2O5 / ha) in main plot and three potassium levels (0, 20 and 40 K2O / ha) in subplot. Barley variety VLB 118 was used in the present investigation which was raised using recommended package of practices except for the treatments. Application of higher dose of phosphorus hastened the flowering by about a week as compared to no phosphorus application. Significantly highest grain yield was recorded with the application of 40 kg P2O5 / ha followed by application of 30 kg / ha, 20 kg / ha and control in that order, each treatment differing significantly from one other. The higher yield recorded with the application of 40 kg P2O5 / ha was due to the higher values of yield attributes viz., number of grains / spike and 1000 – grain weight recorded with its application. Straw yield also followed the similar trend with the exception that the difference between the application of 30 and 40 kg P2O5 / ha was not significant. Potassium application also increased the grain and straw yield of barley with each level bringing about significant increase with highest value recorded with the application of 40 kg K2O / ha. Higher values of all the economic indices (gross return, net return and benefit: cost ratio (B:C ratio) were also recorded with the application of highest doses of phosphorus and potassium. The present study proved the importance of phosphorus and potassium application for obtaining higher yield and profitability of rainfed barley cultivated in North Western Himalayan region.