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Nitrogen Fertilizer and Seeding Rate Influence on Grain and Forage Yield of Dual‐Purpose Barley
Author(s) -
Hajighasemi S.,
KeshavarzAfshar R.,
Chaichi M. R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2015.0447
Subject(s) - forage , agronomy , cultivar , seeding , yield (engineering) , hordeum vulgare , nitrogen , grain yield , fertilizer , mathematics , biology , poaceae , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Clipping fall‐sown cereals provides a good source of high‐quality forage during late winter. Farmers usually use more inputs, including fertilizers and seed, in dual‐purpose systems compared with grain‐only systems. A 2‐yr field study was conducted in Karaj, Iran, to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg N ha −1 ) and seeding rates (400, 600, 800 seed m −2 ) on forage and grain yields of two barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars (Fasih and CB 744) in grain‐only and dual‐purpose systems. Fasih and CB 744 grain yields in the grain‐only system were 2996 and 3250 kg ha −1 , respectively (averaged over experimental treatments). Forage removal in the dual‐purpose system resulted in 25% grain yield penalty. Despite the lower grain yield, the economic return of the dual‐purpose system was considerably greater due to the high price of forage during late winter in the region. Grain yield response to N was linear in the grain‐only system, but the trend was not significant in the dual‐purpose system. In both production systems, grain yield response to seeding rate was quadratic, and the highest yields of both cultivars (2534 and 3192 kg ha −1 for Fasih and CB 744, respectively) were obtained from 600 seed m −2 . In both production systems, 600 seed m −2 and 100 kg N ha −1 were optimum for grain and forage production. Our results showed considerably higher revenue in the dual‐purpose system compared with the grain‐only system in this region. Moreover, no additional inputs of N and seed are required for dual‐purpose barley than those usually used in a grain‐only system. Core Ideas Dual‐purpose barley yielded 25% less grain than that in grain‐only system. Despite a lower grain yield, economic return of dual‐purpose barley was considerably greater. In both production systems, 600 seed m −2 and 100 kg N ha −1 were optimum for grain and forage production. No additional N and seed are required for dual‐purpose barley than those usually used in grain‐only system.