Effect of cutting management and nitrogen levels on biomass production and proximate quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare) in saline soil

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 1997–1998 to 1999–2000 on an alluvial loamy sand saline soil at Hisar, to find out the effect of cutting management and nitrogen levels on biomass production and proximate quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare L). Dry forage yield of barley was 6.3% higher when harvested once at 50% heading compared with 2 cuttings at 60 days of growth and 50% heading. The total biomass was 3.8% higher when harvested for grain purpose compared to the treatment in which the crop was first harvested for forage at 60 days and subsequently left for grain purpose. However, no significant differences were observed in the yield equivalents of barley grown for grain purpose or green forage and grain. Application of N significantly increased the yield from 22.5 q/ha with 60 kg N/ha to 29.3 q/ha with 80 kg N/ha. The protein and mineral matter contents were higher in grains (9.2 and 4.7%) and fodder (5.3 and 10.3%) harvested at the early stages than 9.0 and 4.6% in grain; and 4.9 and 9.8% in fodder at the late stage. However, the fibre and lignin contents were more in fodder harvested at later stages. With increasing levels of N application, the mineral matter remained unaffected, while the crude protein and lignin contents increased and fibre decreased in both fodder as well as grain.