The Effects of Seeding and Nitrogen Rate on Yield, Yield Related Traits and Grain Quality of Malt Barley Varieties in the Highlands of Bale

Agronomy research

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at major barley growing districts (Sinana,Goba and Dinsho) of Bale zone for three years from 2016-2018 during the main cropping season with the objective of  elucidating the effects of seeding  and nitrogen rate  on agronomic performance and grain protein content of the improved malt barley varieties. The experimental design in all locations was a split-plot with three replications. Two malt barley varieties (Grace and Traveler) were randomly assigned as main plot factor. On the other hand, factorial combinations of three seeding rates (100,125 and 150 kg ha^-1) and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 23, 46 and 69 kg N ha^-1) were arranged in sub-plot factors. The main effects of seeding rate significantly influenced Bio-mass yield and TKW, while main effects of nitrogen rate significantly (P < 0.05) influenced plant height, spike length, kernels per spike, bio-mass yield, harvest index TKW, HLW and grain protein content. The main effects of seeding rate and nitrogen rate interacted to significantly influenced grain yield of malt barley varieties. The grain yield ranged from 1905 kg ha^-1to 3957kg ha^-1.The lowest grain(1905 kg ha^-1)d was obtained from the interaction effect of the lowest seeding rate and nil nitrogen rate. The ^.highest (3957kg ha^-1) was obtained from the interaction effects of the highest seed and nitrogen rate. The second highest grain yield was recorded from the interaction effects of the second and the highest nitrogen rate in statistical parity with the grain yield from the interaction effects of the highest seed rate and the second  nitrogen rate. Main effects of nitrogen rate significantly and variably influenced TKW and grain protein contents of malt barley. The highest TKW (40.2g) and grain protein content (12.2%) were obtained from the highest nitrogen rate(69 kg N ha^-1).. The lowest TKW (36.1g) and grain protein content (9.2g) was recorded from nil nitrogen rate. According the result of this study optimum malt barley grain yield was obtained at seeding rate of 150kg ha^-1and economic analysis also indicated that optimum grain yield and quality of the improved malt barley varieties were obtained at the rate of nitrogen application (46 kg N ha^-1).Therefore, malt barley farmers in the study area should use seeding rate of 125 kg ha^-1and nitrogen rate 46 kg N ha^-1  to realize maximum grain yield and grain quality of the crop.