Response of Barley (Hordium Vulgare L.) to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels under Cold Arid Region of Ladakh (J&K), India

A field experiment was carried out during summer season of 2005 and 2006 on a sandy loam soil, low in available nitrogen and phosphorus, medium in available potassium and slightly alkaline in reaction at RARS, SKUAST-K, Leh to study the effect of various levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 80, and 100 kg N ha⁻¹) and phosphorus (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) on growth and yield of barley. Application of nitrogen @ 100 kg ha⁻¹ and phosphorus @ 40 kg ha⁻¹ enhanced the plant height, ear length, 1000 grain weight, straw and grain yield significantly during both the years over all treatments of nitrogen and phosphorus. Application of nitrogen increased significantly the grain yield (21.15 q ha⁻¹) of barley up to 100 kg ha⁻¹ which was 75.22 % higher than control (12.07 q ha⁻¹). The crop responded up to 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, which increased the grain yield by 49.32 % over control (13.24 q ha⁻¹). Significant higher grain yield of barley were observed in all treatments of nitrogen and phosphorus over control.