Effect of irrigation scheduling, nitrogen and hydrogel levels on productivity and profitability of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

In order to study the entitled “Effect of Irrigation scheduling, Nitrogen and Hydrogel levels on productivity and profitability of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)” was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm (Department of Agronomy), Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri (Agra). The variables (Three factors) involved in this study; A. Irrigation scheduling (Main plot) viz., control (No irrigation, I0), Active tillering at 30-35 DAS (I1) and Active tillering at 30-35 DAS, flag leaf at 60-65 DAS and milking at 80-85 DAS (I2); B. Nitrogen levels (Sub plot) viz., 75% RDN (45 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 + 20 kg K2O) (N1) and 100% RDN (60 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 + 20 kg K2O) (N2); C. Hydrogel levels (Sub-sub plot) viz., control (No hydrogel, H0), Pusa Hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 (H1), Pusa Hydrogel @ 5.0 kg ha-1 (H2) and Pusa Hydrogel @ 7.5 kg ha-1 (H3). Thus, all factors were compared in a split plot design with three replications. Different studies were made in this experiment viz., Growth and development (Germination counts at 15 DAS and crop stand, plant height (cm), Fresh and Dry matter accumulation (g) per 25 cm row length, leaf area index, crop growth rate (g m-2 day-1) and relative growth rate (g g-1 day-1) estimated between 30-60, 60-90 DAS and 90 DAS to at harvest); Yield attributes viz., Effective tillers m-2, length of spike (cm), spikelet’s spike-1, number of spike m-2, number of grains spike-1, grain weight spike-1 (g) and test weight (g); Yield studies (Per hectare) viz., biological yield (q ha-1), grain yield (q ha-1), straw yield (q ha-1) and harvest index (%) and economics viz., cost of cultivation (` ha-1), gross returns (` ha-1), net returns (` ha-1) and Net B: C ratio, during Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23. Applying of water at active tillering at 30-35 DAS, flag leaf at 60-65 DAS and milking at 80-85 DAS along with 100% RDN (60 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 + 20 kg K2O) and Pusa Hydrogel @ 7.5 kg ha-1 recorded higher crop growth, yield attributes and yield of barley. Highest economic returns were fetched with the application of three irrigation at active tillering at 30-35 DAS, flag leaf at 60-65 DAS and milking at 80-85 DAS along with 100% RDN (60 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 + 20 kg K2O) and Pusa Hydrogel @ 7.5 kg ha-1. However, the maximum net B: C ratio was fetched with the application of three irrigation at active tillering at 30-35 DAS, flag leaf at 60-65 DAS and milking at 80-85 DAS along with 100% RDN (60 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 + 20 kg K2O) and Pusa Hydrogel @ 5.0 kg ha-1.