Effect of different irrigation and mulch levels on growth and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

A field experiment was conducted to assess the improving barley productivity under different irrigation and mulching practices at School of Agricultural Sciences, CPU, Kota (Rajasthan) during Rabi, 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The experiment consisting of 12 treatments combinations with irrigation levels in main plot viz., one irrigation at active tillering stage (30-35 DAS), two irrigation at active tillering and milking stage and three at active tillering, boot stage (60-65 DAS) and milking stage (80-85 DAS) and four mulching levels in sub plot No mulch, 2 t/ha, 4 t/ha and 6 t/ha. Growth and yield parameters were significantly increased with application of three irrigation at active tillering stage, boot stage (60-65 DAS) and milking stage (80-85 DAS) over one irrigation at active tillering stage (30-35 DAS). The maximum plant height (114.6 cm and 112.1 cm), number of tillers/m² (365.32 and 351.34), dry matter accumulation (320.3 and 307.14 g/meter row length) and effective tillers/m² (84.2 and 78.9), no. of grains/ear (40.2 and 37.4), test weight (41.37g and 40.27g) highest seed yield (4320 and 4180 kg/ha), straw yield (6530 and 6355 kg/ha) and biological yield (10850 and 10535 kg/ha) fetched net return (49972 and 47910) and benefit cost ratio (1.46 and 1.43) of barley were recorded under application of three at active tillering, boot stage (60-65 DAS) and milking stage (80-85 DAS) and application of 4 t/ha mulch followed by application of two irrigation at active tillering and milking stage and 6 t/ha mulch application over one irrigation at active tillering stage (30-35 DAS) and no mulch.