Optimum Nitrogen Dose and Malt Quality of Barley Varieties under Saline Water Irrigation

Abstract

Background: A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Research Farm of Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to find out the optimum dose of nitrogen and to evaluate malt quality parameters of different barley varieties under saline water irrigation. Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design by keeping four varieties (BH 902, BH 946, BH 885 and DWRB 101) in main plots and four nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) in sub plots with four replications. Result: On an average, variety BH 946 produced maximum grain yield of 5151 kg/ha which was 5.1, 7.3 and 14.7% higher as compared to DWRB 101, BH 902 and BH 885, respectively. Under saline water irrigation, the optimum dose of nitrogen for variety BH 902, BH 946, BH 885, DWRB 101 was found as 74.5, 74.9, 71.8, 69.2 kg/ha and economic optimum dose as 72.9, 73.2, 70.0, 67.7 kg/ha, respectively. Diastatic power, α-amylase activity and protein content were significantly higher in 6-row barley varieties BH 902 and BH 946, whereas hectolitre weight, starch content and malt recovery were significantly higher in 2-row barley varieties BH 885 and DWRB 101. Nitrogen application significantly enhanced the hectolitre weight, protein content in grain, á-amylase activity and diastatic power, while starch content and malt recovery were significantly decreased under various nitrogen levels.