Malt and seed quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare) as affected by lopping and nitrogen schedules

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2014–15 on two-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) variety “DWRUB-52’ to study the effect of different lopping schedules in conjunction with nitrogen application modules on malt and seed quality. No lopping with application of whole nitrogen (N) during sowing served as control. Other eight treatments included combination of two lopping schedules (50/60 days after sowing-DAS) and four N application modules, viz. application of whole N at sowing, half at sowing + V₂ with first irrigation, % at sowing + % after first irrigation + V after lopping, % at first irrigation + % after lopping. It was found that seed germination and viability were not affected by any treatment. However, seedling dry weight and seedling length were highest in unlopped crop, followed by that in lopped 50 DAS. Unlopped crop produced higher proportion of large sized kernels (>2.5 mm) with more protein (11.7%) and lower husk content (16.8%) than that in lopped 50/60 DAS. Malt recovery (89.4%) and yield (3513 kg ha⁻¹) were also highest in unlopped crop closely followed by lopped 50 DAS. Application of N modules did not alter either malt or seed quality to any extent. Results of the study suggest that barley crop lopped at 50 DAS can serve as good fodder without affecting the seed and malt quality.