Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

The present field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri Agra, during Rabi season of 2021-22 to evaluate the “Effect of Zinc application on growth, productivity and profitability of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties” to fulfill the requirement of objectives of the investigation field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2021-22.. The Variables involved in this study were six levels of Zinc viz., T₁ (Control), T₂ (Soil application of zinc 12.5 kg ZnSO₄ ha^-1), T₃ (Soil application of zinc 25.0 kg ZnSO₄ ha^-1), T₄ (Two foliar application 0.5% ZnSO₄ at heading and early milk stage), T₅ (Soil application of zinc 12.5 kg ZnSO₄ ha^-1 and Two foliar application 0.5% ZnSO₄ at heading and early milk stage) and T₆ (Soil application of zinc 25.0 kg ZnSO₄ ha^-1 and Two foliar application 0.5% ZnSO₄ at heading and early milk stage); and Two varieties of barley BH-946 (V₁) and DWRB-123 (V₂). Thus, in all 12 treatment combinations were compared in a “split plot design” having levels of zinc in main plots and varieties in sub plots with three replications. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture with a pH 8.16. The soil was low in available nitrogen (181.50 Kg ha^-1), medium in available phosphorus (27.86 P₂0₅ ha^-1) and potash (286.36 kg K₂O ha^-1). Studies were made during the investigation viz., Growth and development (germination counts at 15 DAS and no. of shoots metre^-1, plant height (cm), dry matter accumulation (g), days to 75% blooming and days to maturity; yield attributes viz., spike length (cm), no. of spikelet’s spike^-1, no. of grains spike^-1and test weight (g); per hectare studies viz., Biological, grain, straw yield (q ha^-1) and harvest index (%); economics viz., Gross returns, net returns (Rs. ha^-1) and B: C ratio. Application of fertilizers half amount of recommended nitrogen (30 kg ha^-1), full amount of phosphorus (30 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) and full amount of potassium (20 kg ha^-1) were applied through urea, DAP and MoP as basal dressing. The remaining half amount (30 kg ha^-1) of nitrogen was applied after first irrigation. Zinc was applied in soil through ZnSO₄ at the time of sowing and as foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO₄ at heading and early milk stage as per treatments.