Production characteristics of different malting barley genotypes in intensive nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

Two-year trials have been conducted in Technological Research Center in Zajecar. Research objects were six malting barley genotypes. The experimental crop was top dressed with the following amounts of nitrogen: 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha-1. The control variant was not top dressed. The obtained results showed that the genotypes reacted significantly to the increased amounts of nitrogen by changing their production characteristics and seed quality. In addition, the genotypes demonstrated certain varietal differences. A new genotype, Premijum, was highest yielding and it had the lowest total proteins in the grain. The genotype NS-525 had the highest 1000-grain weight (46.8 g). The effect of nitrogen on the studied characteristics depended on N quantity applied. Increasing amounts of nitrogen decrease positive effects on spike length, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight and yield. However, the protein content in grain kept increasing to the highest nitrogen dose, which lowered the quality of malting barley. The highest yield was obtained by applying 80 and 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, depending on the year of study.