Growth and Physiological Performance of Barley Plants Produced under Nitrogen Management

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen dose management on the growth responses and physiological performance of barley seeds. Two barley cultivars (BRS Brau and BRS Cauê) and four nitrogen doses were used. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks in a 2 X 4 factorial scheme (cultivars BRS Brau and BRS Cauê x nitrogen doses 120, 150, 180, and 210 kg ha-1). Successive collections of primary data were performed every fourteen days for growth analysis. The analyzed variables were total dry matter, dry matter production and relative growth rate, assimilated partition, and seed electrical conductivity. Increasing nitrogen doses caused a temporal-quantitative difference in growth, partition, and the accelerated aging test of barley seeds. The 150 kg ha-1 N dose resulted in total dry matter over time (Wt) superiority for both evaluated cultivars. The variable dry matter production rate achieved an increase with the 150 kg ha-1 N dose at 70 days after emergence (DAE) for BRS Brau and at 56 DAE for BRS Cauê supporting Wt. The 180 and 150 kg ha-1 N doses increased the relative growth rate for BRS Brau and BRS Cauê.