Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Level on Grain Yield and Quality of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties in Malga Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the 2013 cropping season at the Malga district, Sidama zone, SNNPRS, to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer level on grain yield and quality of malt barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties. Factorial combination of three malt barely cultivars (Sabini, Bahat and local) and five rates of N fertilizer (52.5, 64, 75.5, 87 and 98.5 kg ) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The variety Bahat exhibited higher values in productive tillers, thousand-kernel weight, kernels per spike, harvest index, grain yield, hectoliter weight, and grain protein contents. On the other hand, the Local variety exhibited greater values in spike length, plant height and straw yield. Considering N rate, almost all agronomic parameters except harvest index increased in response to N rates up to 98.5 kg . Based on the present finding, the maximum grain yield (4918.3 kg ) was obtained from Bahat variety with the highest levels 98.5 kg N fertilizer application. But the grain from such combination was beyond the acceptable grain protein contents for malting purpose. However, N fertilizer rate of 75.5 N kg for Bahat produced optimum (4578.7 kg ) yield with acceptable grain protein content for malt barley production in the study area.

Keywords: Nitrogen fertilizer, Malt barley variety, Quality, Yield.