M.A. Thesis:

Effect of foliar application of mono-potassium phosphate and micronutrients on yield and yield components of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

To evaluate the effect of foliar application of mono-potassium phosphate and micronutrients on yield and yield components of barley, a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in Sabzevar. Experimental factors include four levels of foliar application of mono-potassium phosphate: foliar application at tillering, stem elongation and two foliar applications at tillering and stem elongation stages and three levels of foliar application of micronutrients: no foliar application, foliar application at stem elongation and flag leaf appearance stages. The mono-potassium phosphate and micro-nutrients foliar application was conducted at a concentration of 4 parts per thousand and 2 parts per thousand, respectively. Barley cultivar used in this experiment was Reyhan. The results indicated that the foliar application of mono-potassium phosphate had significant effect on all characteristics; except for leaf chlorophyll index. The foliar application of mono-potassium phosphate significantly increased plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of reproductive tillers per plant, spike length, number of seeds per spike, seed weight, seed yield and biological yield compared to control. Two foliar applications of mono-potassium phosphate at tillering and stem elongation stages produced the highest plant height, number of tillers per plant, spike length, number of seeds per spike and biological yield. However, the maximum number of reproductive tillers per plant, seed weight, seed yield and harvest index were observed at mono-potassium phosphate foliar application in stem elongation stage. The foliar application of micro-nutrients had no significant effect on leaf chlorophyll index and number of tillers per plants, but had significant effect on other traits. The foliar application of micronutrients at stem elongation stage improved growth characteristics and substantially increased the yield and yield components of barley compared to non-use of micronutrients. According to the results, a foliar application of mono-potassium phosphate and micronutrients at stem elongation stage is recommended to ensure maximum yield of barley in similar weather conditions.

Keywords: barley, Potassium, phosphorus, micronutrient, foliar application