Effect of nitrogen and zinc levels on growth and yield of barley” (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The field experiment was on the Effect of nitrogen and zinc levels in the growth and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and it was conducted in Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.) during the Rabi season of 2024 2025. The soil type was sandy loam with pH of 6.5, organic carbon content of 0.4 and 250, 135 and 344 kg of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium resp. A Randomized Block Design experiment was done in which ten treatments with different combinations of zinc (20, 25, and 30 kg/ha), and nitrogen (50, 75, and 100 kg/ha) were established. A control (RDF: 80:30:30 NPK kg/ha) was involved too, and the experiment was replicated thrice. Treatment of (T9) yielded the best results of all the treatment using 100 kg/ha of nitrogen and 30 kg/ha of zinc. Maximum height of plants (121.79 cm), effective tillers/m2 (201.33), grains per spike (57.27), test weight (38.71 g), grain yield (4.35 t/ha), straw yield (7.21 t/ha) and economic returns (₹2,21,755.45/ha gross return, ₹160,145.00/ha net return, 2.60 benefit cost ratio). Findings of the study indicate that the optimal level of growing barley in agroclimatic conditions of Prayagraj region is to use 100 kg/ha of nitrogen and 30 kg/ha of zinc to increase its growth, yield, and profitability.