Combined effect of nutrient management and biofertilizer on productivity and economic benefit of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Instructional Farm, Department of Agriculture under Mewar University Gangrar, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) during Rabi season of 2024-25 to study evaluated the effect of integrative nutrient and biofertilizer strategies to enhance productivity of barley “variety RD-2036”. The result revealed that the maximum plant height (91.30 cm), number of tillers (91.3), dry matter per m row length (91.30 g) and yield parameter such as number of number of effective tillers (82.00 per m row length), length of ears (10.13 cm), spike length (11.05 cm), grains per year (48.0), grain yield (51.93 q/ha), straw yield (76.92 q/ha) and biological yield (128.85 q/ha) was recorded with application of T11- (100% RDF + ZnSO₄ 25 kg/ha + FeSO₄ 10 kg/ha + Azotobacter + PSB). So, it was concluded that the treatment combination B4-Azotobacter + VAM + M4-ZnSO4 @ 25 kg/ha + FeSO4 @ 50 kg/ha are best treatment in compare to all the treatments because in this treatment recorded maximum growth and yield of barley crop as compare to others treatments. The net return 79905/ha and benefit: cost (B:C) ratio (2.09) was found to be highest in T11. In conclusion, the combined application of T11-100% RDF + ZnSO4 (25 kg/ha) + FeSO4 (10 kg/ha) + Azotobacter+ PSB proved to be the most effective strategy for increasing barley production and profitability. It not only improved growth and yield but also enhanced nutrient use efficiency. Hence, this integrated nutrient and biofertilizer approach is recommended for farmers to achieve better yield and net return of barley.