Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Online published on 12 July, 2013.
Twenty malt barley genotypes including seven commercial cultivars were evaluated for grain quality parameters in timely and late planting conditions giving two nitrogen levels during winters of 200506 and 2006–07. Significant differences due to dates of sowings (DOS) and due to genotypes were observed during both years for all the three grain quality parameters namely 1000-grain weight, test weight and grain plumpness. The differences due to levels of nitrogen (LON) were significant for all the parameters in first year. The interactions of genotypes with DOS as well as with LON and the three way interactions were found to be significant for all the parameters during both years of study. The planting time and nitrogen levels significantly influenced the grain quality parameters during both years of study. In late sown crop, significant decrease for 1000-grain weight, test weight and plump grain fraction was observed. The higher nitrogen dose significantly decreased 1000-grain weight, test weight and grain plumpness indicating that there is need to optimize N dose to achieve the desired grain quality parameters. The genotypes least affected due to DOS or LON for their performance for various traits were also identified. The 1000-grain weight, test weight and grain plumpness were found to be positively associated with each other.
Barley, Grain quality, Hordeum vulgare, Nitrogen levels, Planting time
