Efficacy of Organic Soil Conditioners for Barley ( <i>Hordeum vulgare</i> ) Production in Arid Regions

Introduction Barley cultivation in arid regions can be enhanced through deficit irrigation, which reduces water usage while minimizing yield loss. This method maximizes water‐use efficiency, making barley suitable for areas with limited water resources. Objective. To evaluate the effects of different soil amendments on improving barley production under deficit irrigation conditions (ETc 60%) in arid environments. Materials and Methods Two field experiments were conducted to test three types of soil amendments on barley grown under water deficit conditions (ETc 60%). The treatments were applied at varying rates over four growing seasons (2021–2023), and the crop performance was assessed. Results The highest dry biomass yield was recorded with the application of a soil conditioner at 10 tons/ha, resulting in yield increases of 91.6%, 94.2%, 85.5%, and 81.1% over four consecutive seasons ( P &lt; 0.01). Likewise, the application at 7.5 tons/ha led to yield increases ranging from 78.2% to 93.5% ( P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion The results highlight the significant potential of organic soil conditioners in enhancing barley yield and conserving water in arid regions, offering a promising solution for sustainable agriculture in water‐scarce environments.