Effect of organic manure and nitrogen fertilization on productivity of barley (Hor-deum vulgare)

The results of the field experiment conducted during winter (irrigated) seasons of 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 revealed that application of organic manure improved yield attributes and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L, s.l.). Application of vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha resulted in the highest grain yield over no-organic manure, vermicompost @ 1.5 and 3.0 tonnes/ha and FYM @ 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 tonnes/ha respectively. However, vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha being at par with vermicompost @ 3.0 tonnes/ha recorded significantly highest net returns. However, vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha brought significantly highest uptake of NPK over rest of the treatments. Further, the vermicompost @ 1.5 tonnes/ha was almost equally effective with FYM @ 7.5 and 10.0 tonnes/ha. Increasing dose of nitrogen improved significantly the yield attributes, yields, net returns, total uptake of NPK in barley crop. The combined application of vermicompost @ 4.5 tonnes/ha + 40 kg N/ha obtained higher grain yield.