Effect of different amounts of urea spray on growth characteristics, yield and yield components of barley

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in Field Experimental Area, at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Balkh University during winter (1402) AH to spring (1403) AH to investigate the effect of different amounts of urea spray on growth characteristics, yield and yield Components of Barley. In this experiment, (Turkey 1) variety was sown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications and different amounts of urea fertilizer in the form of spray (T1= control (no spray), T2= 3% (45 kg/ha), T3= 6% (90 kg/ha), T4= 9% (135 kg/ha)) were considered. Results showed that, urea spray had a significant effect on (plant height and length of each spike), but it had no significant effect on the number of leaves and the number of bundles in the stem. As the highest plant height (134.17 cm) and spike length (18.37 cm) were obtained from the fourth treatment, and the lowest plant height and spike length were obtained from the first treatment (116.67 cm) and (16.24 cm), respectively. Applying urea fertilizer at a rate of (135 kg/ha) in the form of a 9% spray (T4) caused excessive growth of the plant height and also caused (35%) lodging. Significant effect of different amounts of urea spray was also observed on yield and yield components of barley (weight of each spike per plant, weight of grain per spike, number of grains per spike, thousand grain weight, total grain yield and weight of straw). The total grain yield and weight of straw in the fourth treatment were (3970 kg/ha) and (7975 kg/ha), respectively which, is not differ significantly from the third treatment. But, spray in the form of 6% (T3) caused a significant increase in total grain yield (3655 kg/ha) and straw yield (7410 kg/ha) compared to treatments (T1 and T2). According to the results we can suggest for the formers to use 90 kg/ha of urea fertilizer in the form of 6% spray which gave the best and highest yield