Enhancing water use efficiency of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through the use of smart agrochemicals
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Date
2021-09
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CCSHAU, Hisar
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Enhancing water use efficiency of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through the use of smart agrochemicals” was carried out at Regional Research Station, Bawal, Rewari of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana) during Rabi 2019-20. The objectives of the investigation were to study the effect of smart agrochemicals on growth, yield and water use efficiency of barley under different irrigation regimes and to work out economics of different treatments. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the fourth most important cereal crop in world following wheat, rice and maize. The experiment was carried on barley variety BH 393 in split plot design with three levels of irrigation in main plot and six treatments of smart agrochemicals in sub-plots and replicated thrice. The main plot treatments were no irrigation (I0), one irrigation at tillering (I1) and two irrigation at tillering and heading stage (I2) and; treatments used in subplot were control (T1), seed treatment with Tragacanth katira @ 100 g kg-1 seed (T2), soil application of Tragacanth katira @ 5 kg ha-1 (T3), foliar spray of salicylic acid (SA) @ 200 ppm at booting and grain formation stage (T4), combination of Tragacanth katira @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + foliar spray of SA @ 200 ppm at booting and grain formation stage (T5) and; foliar spray of KNO3 @ 1% at booting and grain formation stage (T6).
Results of the experiment revealed that among irrigation levels, one (I1) and two irrigation (I2) and among smart agrochemicals, spray of salicylic acid (T4), potassium nitrate (T6) and combination of Tragacanth katira and salicylic acid (T5) significantly improved growth, physiological, phonological and; quality parameters, yield attributes, yield, economics and water use of crop. I2 (two irrigation) among irrigation levels and T5 (combination of Tragacanth katira @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + foliar spray of SA @ 200 ppm at booting and grain formation) treatment among smart agrochemicals were found most productive (17.17 and 21.8% higher over control, respectively) and economical (net returns-: ₹ 47379 and 48295 ha-1), respectively. Highest water use efficiency i.e., (22.92 and 20.29 kg ha-1mm-1) was achieved with no irrigation (I0) and combination of Tragacanth katira and salicylic acid (T5) among irrigation levels and smart agrochemicals, respectively.