Barley Yield Response to Nitrogen Application under Different Weather Conditions

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Plant Physiology

Background:

• Global warming poses a significant threat to barley production due to rising temperatures.
• Developing weather-adaptive cultivation techniques is crucial for maintaining barley yields.
• Nitrogen (N) management is a key factor in crop productivity, but its effectiveness can vary with environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of nitrogen application rates at heading on barley grain yield.
• To analyze how different weather conditions across two cropping seasons influence nitrogen's effect on yield.
• To understand the relationship between nitrogen, tillering, and grain production under variable temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Conducted field experiments over two distinct cropping seasons (2016-2017 and 2017-2018).
• Applied varying rates of nitrogen (N) at the heading stage of barley.
• Measured grain yield and tiller production, including late-emerging tillers, under different weather conditions.

Main Results:

• Grain yield significantly increased with higher N rates in the 2017-2018 season.
• Late-emerging tiller production increased with higher N rates in the 2016-2017 season.
• The 2016-2017 season experienced high temperatures, limiting tillering and grain set compared to 2017-2018.

Conclusions:

• Nitrogen application strategy should be adapted to prevailing weather conditions for optimal barley production.
• In warmer seasons with limited tillering duration, nitrogen effectively enhances grain yield.
• In cooler seasons, nitrogen can promote the development of late-emerging tillers, potentially increasing future yield potential.