Dual-purpose barley cultivation has become popular in recent years, especially in regions with restrictions on growing roughage. Despite its growing popularity, proper nitrogen doses and plant densities in the cultivation of dual-purpose barley are yet to be determined. Hence, this study was carried out at the Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, on research fields in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons, in order to follow the effect of different nitrogen doses (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1) and plant densities (450, 550 and 650 plant m-2) on dual-purpose barley. To evaluate the performance of dual-purpose barley under different nitrogen doses and plant densities, properties of forage yield, quality, nutritive value, grain yield, yield characteristics and grain quality were investigated. The applied nitrogen doses and plant densities affected some parameters of the forage yield, quality and nutritive value, and grain yield. Better forage yield was obtained from dual-purpose barley fertilized with nitrogen doses of 120 kg ha-1 and 180 kg ha-1 at 550 plant m-2 and 650 plant m-2 plant densities. Similar results were obtained in terms of the forage quality and nutritive value of dual-purpose barley. In general, yield and yield characteristics of grain obtained from dual-purpose barley were not affected by nitrogen doses or plant densities. However, plant growing years affected some characteristics related to the yield, and this result was explained by meteorological factors. Thus, the most appropriate nitrogen dose and plant density were determined to be 120 kg ha-1 and 550 plant m-2, respectively, for dual purpose barley cultivation in regions with the Mediterranean climate.

27.1.2022