The effects of cattle slurry and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and quality of spring barley

Abstract

SummaryIn experiments over 3 years (1974–6) cow slurry in the range 0–112·5 t/ha and ammonium nitrate in the range 0–120 kg N/ha were applied to field plots factorially to test the effects on the yield and quality of spring barley grain.In 1974 slurry application markedly improved the grain yield (cv. Golden Promise) at each rate of inorganic N and increased grain size. Applying N fertilizer with more than 37·5 t slurry/ha reduced grain yield below the maximum. Grain with the highest crude protein content (15·1 %) was obtained from a combination of slurry and inorganic N. The residual effects of the slurry treatments gave satisfactory grain yields in 1975 without additional fertilizer.Grain yields (cvs Julia and Abacus) in other experiments carried out on a different soil type in 1975 and 1976 were approximately half those obtained in 1974, due in part to drought conditions. The pattern of the results was similar. Heaviest grain yields were harvested from plots receiving 70 t slurry/ha with no additional N.