Effect of fertilizer and biofertilizer management on growth parameters of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Introduction

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), a member of the grass family, is one of the world's first cultivated grain crops and currently ranks as the fourth most important cereal globally, following wheat, rice, and maize (Kant et al., 2016) [2] . Highly versatile and hardy, barley thrives across temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions and exhibits strong resilience to adverse agroclimatic conditions such as drought, salinity, and alkalinity. Globally, barley production stands at 142.64 million tonnes across an area of 46.90 million hectares (ICAR-IIWBR, 2023). In India, the crop covers 0.62 million hectares, producing approximately 1.69 million tonnes with an average productivity of 2733 kg/ha (ICAR-IIWBR, 2023). Rajasthan is the leading producer in the country, accounting for over 55% of the area and 56% of national production, yielding 0.94 million tonnes at a productivity rate of 2815 kg/ha (ICAR-IIWBR, 2023; DA&FW, 2025). Achieving the desired grain quality and maximizing yield requires meticulous fertilizer management. Optimizing growth parameters such as biomass accumulation, cellular development, and photosynthetic efficiency relies heavily on the synchronized application of major macronutrient (Marschner, 1995) [4] . As the most crucial nutrient for plant development, nitrogen is a core component of protoplasm and chlorophyll. It directly influences vegetative growth parameters and photosynthetic capacity, driving the activity of every living cell. Essential for plant metabolism and biochemical processes, phosphorus facilitates energy transfer and storage (via ADP and ATP) and is a vital constituent of DNA and RNA, directly impacting cell division and genetic transmission. Potassium regulates cellular osmotic pressure and cell membrane potential, ensuring the proper hydration of the protoplasm. It also activates enzymes necessary for protein synthesis, aids in carbohydrate translocation, and bolsters the plant's resistance against fungal and bacterial diseases (Wang et al., 2023) [12] . To sustainably harness potential yields and improve soil fertility, the integration of biofertilizers has emerged as a vital agronomic practice. Biofertilizers introduce live or latent efficient microbial strains that accelerate nutrient cycling and produce plant growth promoting (PGP) substances (Singh et al., 2025) [8] . Key microbial agents include: Free-living soil microbes that bind atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form accessible to the plant roots, thereby supporting sustained vegetative growth. These bacteria convert applied and naturally occurring insoluble soil phosphates into available forms, directly enhancing root development and overall crop yields (Sun et al., 2026) [10] .

Materials and Methods

The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Rama University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, during the rabi season of 2025-26. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium, and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 8.18). The barley variety DWRB-160 was sown at a seed rate of 100 kg/ha. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were: T 1 (Control), T 2 (50% RDF), T 3 (50% RDF + Vermicompost), T 4 (50% RDF + Vermicompost + PSB), T 5 (75% RDF), T 6 (75% RDF + Vermicompost), T 7 (75% RDF + Vermicompost + PSB), T 8 (100% RDF), T 9 (100% RDF + Vermicompost), and T 10 (100% RDF + Vermicompost + PSB). Biometric observations for growth parameters like plant height, number of tillers m-2, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter accumulation were recorded at 30, 60, 90 DAS, and at harvest.

Results and Discussion

Plant height (cm) Plant height was significantly enhanced by nutrient treatments across all growth intervals, with treatment T 10 (100% RDF + Vermicompost + PSB) consistently recording the maximum heights: 27.45 cm at 30 DAS, 59.68 cm at 60 DAS, 81.58 cm at 90 DAS, and 109.53 cm at harvest. Treatments T 9 and T 8 closely followed, reaching 106.93 cm and 104.76 cm at harvest, respectively. Conversely, the T 1 (Control) treatment consistently exhibited the shortest plants at every stage, culminating at 82.58 cm at harvest. This increase is attributed to the stimulation of root and shoot growth and cellular elongation through continuous mineral supply. The findings are consistent with the results of Khan et al. (2016) [3] , Yadav et al. (2017) [13] and Singh et al. (2018) [9] .

Number of tillers m -2 row length

The number of tillers reached its peak at 60 DAS, after which a decline was observed at 90 DAS and at harvest due to physiological tiller mortality. The maximum number of tillers m-2 was recorded in T 10 (100% RDF + Vermicompost + PSB), achieving 142.83 at 60 DAS and maintaining a high of 111.83 at harvest. The T 1 (Control) treatment consistently exhibited the lowest tiller count across all stages, with 94.50 at 60 DAS and 64.66 at harvest. These findings align with the results of Tejalben et al. (2017) [11] and Rathwa et al. (2018) [6] .

Leaf Area Index (LAI)

LAI increased significantly up to 60 DAS before declining due to crop senescence. Treatment T 10 achieved the highest LAI at 60 DAS (4.77), followed closely by T 9 (4.56). The minimum LAI was consistently observed in the control group (3.15 at 60 DAS). The integrated approach enhanced vegetative growth and canopy architecture. The integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly increases the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of barley by providing a continuous, balanced nutrient supply that accelerates early leaf expansion and delays senescence. This synergistic nutrient management optimizes the crop's photosynthetic canopy architecture, leading to superior dry matter accumulation compared to using either fertilizer source alone. The findings are consistent with the results of Singh et al. (2018) [9] .

Dry matter accumulation was maximized across all growth intervals under treatment T 10 , which recorded 355.39 g m -2 at harvest. Treatments T 9 and T 8 closely followed with harvest accumulations of 351.74 g and 348.67 g, respectively. The T 1 (Control) treatment exhibited the poorest performance, terminating with 296.58 g m -2 at harvest. The combination of vermicompost, PSB, and chemical fertilizers stimulated vegetative growth, leaf area expansion, and net photosynthetic rate. The findings are consistent with the results of Singh et al. (2011) [7] , Patel et al. (2018) [5] and Singh et al. (2018) [9] .

Number of days to 50% flowering and maturity

Integrated nutrient management significantly accelerated the crop's phenological development, with treatment T 10 achieving the earliest 50% flowering at 61.50 days and the earliest maturity at 108.96 days. The maximum duration for both parameters was consistently observed in the T 1 (Control), taking 78.53 days to reach 50% flowering and 126.50 days to mature. These findings align with the results of Dwivedi et al. (2014) [1] and Khan et al. (2016) [3] .

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that integrating chemical fertilizers with organic and biological sources promotes vigorous vegetative growth in barley. The application of 100% RDF + Vermicompost + PSB (T 10 ) emerged as the best practice, significantly boosting plant height, tillering, LAI, dry matter accumulation, and ensuring early phenological development.

References

1. Dwivedi SK, Meshram MR, Pandey N. Response of customized fertilizer on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Chhattisgarh condition. The Bioscan. 2014;9:1509-1512.
2. Kant L, Amrapali S, Babu BK. Barley. In: Genetic and Genomic Resources for Grain Cereals Improvement. Academic Press; 2016. p. 125-157.
3. Khan AZ, Muhammad H, Khalil SK, Shah Z, Amin R. Phenology, yield and nutrient uptake efficiency of wheat as affected by organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer alone and in combination with effective microorganism. Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research. 2016;5(4):435-441.
4. Marschner H. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 1995.
5. Patel GG, Sadhu AC, Patel HK, Shan SN, Lakum YC. Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers in comparison with humic acid on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). International Journal of Agriculture Sciences. 2018;10:65246527.
6. Rathwa PG, Mevada KD, Ombase KC, Dodiya CJ, Bhadu V, Purabiya VS, et al. Integrated nitrogen management through different sources on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology. 2018;12(2):905-911.
7. Singh CM, Sharma PK, Kishor P, Mishra PK, Singh AP, Verma R, et al. Impact of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Asian Journal of Agricultural Research. 2011;5:76-82.
8. Singh SK, Pachauri RK, Khatoon H, Katiyar D, Agnihotri G. The role of biofertilizers in enhancing soil and productivity: a review. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science. 2025;37(3):141-161.
9. Singh V, Rana NS, Dhyani BP, Kumar R, Vivek Naresh RK, Kumar A. Influences of organic and inorganic fertilizers on productivity and soil fertility of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Typic Ustochrept soil of Uttar Pradesh. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2018;7(1):260-265.
10. Sun X, Tian X, Jia M, Hu X, Zhang C, Zhao L. Phosphatesolubilizing bacteria: a review of diversity, mechanisms, and applications in sustainable agriculture. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2026;17:1778470.
11. Tejalben P, Patel KC, Patel VN. Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield attributes and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). International Journal of Chemical Studies. 2017;5(4):1366-1369.
12. Wang M, Zheng Q, Shen Q, Guo S. The critical role of potassium in plant stress response. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2013;14(4):7370-7390.
13. Yadav KK, Raju N, Kumar PNS, Kumar S. Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and availability of micronutrients in soil. Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences. 2017;6:25-30.