Effects of NPK and Zn Fertilizer Application on Growth and Yield Attributes of Barley

Barley is a rich source of nutrients and dietary fiber, and it is more productive under adverse environments than other cereals. The field experiment consisting of two barley varieties and treatments: F0 (control), F1 (recommended dose of fertilizer N120, P60, K30, and Zn4.2 kg ha-1), F2 (F1 minus nitrogen), F3 (F1 minus phosphorus), F4 (F1 minus potassium), and F5 (F1 minus zinc) was laid out in a factorial randomized block design, replicated three times. To study the effects of NPK and Zn on growth and yield attributes of two barley cultivars under semi-arid conditions of Afghanistan. Results revealed that the growth attributes (viz., plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulation) and yield attributes (such as number of spikes, spike length, grains spike-1, grain weight, test weight, grain yield, straw yield, and biological yield) were significantly higher with the Takhar Barley-013 genotype over ‘Darulaman Barley-013. ' Combined effects of NPK and zinc application increased growth attributes, viz., plant height, number of tillers, and dry matter accumulation. Similarly, yield attributes, viz., number of spikes, spike length, grains per spike, grain weight, test weight, grain yield, straw yield, and biological yield, were significantly higher with the application of recommended fertilizer rates (N.P.K. and Zn) than with nutrient omission. Whereas, N-omitted plots recorded significantly lower growth and yield parameters than other nutrient-omitted plots. Therefore, the Takhar Barley-013 genotype, along with the recommended fertilizer rate, was found to be more productive and economically remunerative for cultivation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.