Growth, productivity and water use efficiency of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as affected by sowing date and cutting Management

A study was carried out during winter season of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at the research farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana with the objective of finding out optimum time of sowing and suitable cutting management for higher productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Sowing early on October 15 recorded significantly higher plant height, number of tillers/m² and dry matter accumulation. Significantly higher grain and biological yields were obtained in early sowing (i.e. October 15). The highest amount of water was used in early sowing (i.e. October 15) and minimum in late sowing (i.e. November 15). Water use efficiency in October 15 and October 30 sown crops was statistically similar during first year. But during second year, water use efficiency of October 30 and November 15 crops was statistically at par with each other. Un-cut crop recorded significantly higher plant height and dry matter accumulation. Significantly higher number of tillers/m² at 90 DAS was in un-cut, while at 120 DAS, number of tillers in un-cut was statistically at par with the fodder cut at 50 DAS + additional 15 kg N ha⁻¹ after fodder cut (N₁₅). Fodder cut at 50 DAS and un-cut produced similar grain and biological yields. However, the cutting can be delayed up to 60 DAS to get more production of green fodder (40.5 to 41.8% than that at 50 DAS) but at the cost of 20.6–22.7% reduction in grain yield.