Performance of high yielding barley variety under biotic and abiotic stress conditions in Nagaur district of Rajasthan

An on-farm trial was conducted during rabi, 2018-19 to 2019-20 at Bedwa village of Nagaur district of Rajasthan with the objective to evaluate the performance of high yielding variety of barley in water stress condition with slightly saline water in sandy loam soils. From the on farm trial, it was observed that the high yielding variety RD-2786 recorded higher grain (51.35 q ha^-1) and straw yield (56.4 q ha^-1) as compared to the farmers’ practiced variety RD-2552 (43.75 q ha^-1 and 54.3 q ha^-1). Among the yield components assessed, the number of ears per plant (13.0); the number of grains per year (61.25) and 1000 grain weight contributed more to the yield and are considered to be the most important factors responsible for yield gap difference. The increase in grain yield of RD-2786 over the farmers’ practice was 20.76 per cent. The straw of this variety was excellent quality and was incredibly soft. The net returns (Rs. 86438 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.70) was higher under technology, while these values were Rs. 73279 ha^-1 and 3.27, respectively under farmer’s practices. The additional returns in technology (Rs. 13159 ha^-1) were also high. The limitations and possibilities of the barley can also be determined by conducting on-farm trials in farmers’ fields in that specific area in realizing the nutritional, economic and social security.