Effect of Nitrogen Levels and Cutting Treatments on Forage and Grain Yields of Dual Purpose Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Egypt

In order to determine the effects of three nitrogen fertilizer levels (60, 90, and 120 kg N/fad) and three cutting strategies (uncut, once at 35 DAS, and twice at 35 DAS and 55 DAS) on forage and grain yields of dual-purpose barley, two field experiments were performed at the sandy soil experimental farm of the faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt, during the winter seasons of 2022/23 and 2023/24, using split plot arrangement in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results showed that raising N fertilizer level from 60 to 120 kg/fad resulted in significant increments in barley yield attributes and components, in favor of 120 kg N/fad which recorded the highest fresh forage yield, while 90 kg produced the highest significant dry forage one. N variation had no effect on harvest index. Cutting treatments significantly influenced barley yield components, where once-cut plants yielded the highest grain yield through maximized number of spikes/m2, grains/spike and seed index. Cutting barley plants once promotes rapid regrowth and maximizes the role of vegetative material in grain yield assimilation. The effect of interactions between nitrogen levels and cutting treatments on barley plants was significant in favor of uncut plants aligned with 90 kg N/fad. The lowest fresh and dry forage yields were found in once and twice cutting treatments. The highest grain yield was achieved through uncut strategy and the combination 90 kg N/fad × once cut, while the lowest yield obtained from twice cut plants treated with 60 kg N/fad.