The effect of seedbed preparation and nitrogen on yield traits of dryland barley cultivars in the climate of Darehshahr, Ilam Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

2 Agricultural Jihad Organization of Lorestan Province, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22034/plant.2025.144142.1168

Abstract

Introduction: Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), the world’s fourth most important cereal crop and a strategic agricultural commodity, plays a key role in food security and the livestock feed industry. Owing to its high ecological adaptability, dryland barley is well suited to semi-arid and low-rainfall regions such as Ilam Province. However, its yield potential is severely constrained by inefficient nitrogen fertilizer management and intense weed competition. Excessive nitrogen use reduces nitrogen use efficiency, increases production costs, and causes environmental problems through leaching and greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, weed interference can reduce barley yield by up to 60%, threatening production sustainability. In this context, innovative practices such as the stale seedbed technique provide a sustainable option by reducing the weed seed bank and improving soil conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of seedbed management (conventional versus stale), nitrogen fertilizer rates, and dryland barley cultivars on quantitative and qualitative traits under the climatic conditions of Dareh Shahr. The specific objectives were to identify the optimum nitrogen rate, compare the performance of the cultivars Nader, Khorram, and Mahour, and assess the efficiency of the stale seedbed technique relative to conventional practice in order to develop practical recommendations for local farmers.
Materials and Methods: The field experiment was conducted during 2022–2023 growing season in Arame village, Dareh Shahr County (33°11′ N, 47°48′ E; 630 m above sea level; mean annual precipitation 392.6 mm). A split–split plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Seedbed management (conventional and stale), barley cultivars (Nader, Khorram, and Mahour), and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha⁻¹ from urea) were assigned to main plots, subplots, and sub-subplots, respectively. Nitrogen was applied at sowing and tillering. Grain yield, biological yield, thousand-grain weight, grains per spike, and grain protein content (Kjeldahl method) were measured. Data were analyzed using SAS software, and mean comparisons were performed using the LSD test.
Results: The results showed that significant effects of seedbed management, cultivar, and nitrogen rate on grain yield. The highest grain yield (2169 kg ha⁻¹) was obtained from the stale seedbed combined with 75 kg N ha⁻¹, indicating reduced weed competition and improved nutrient availability. Among cultivars, Mahour produced the highest mean grain yield (1984 kg ha⁻¹), reflecting better environmental adaptation. In contrast, the highest grain protein content (8.43%) was recorded in cultivar Nader at 75 kg N ha⁻¹, demonstrating its strong genetic capacity for nitrogen uptake and allocation to grain. These results highlight the importance of aligning cultivar choice with production goals.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that integrating the stale seedbed technique with optimized nitrogen fertilization (75 kg ha⁻¹) and appropriate cultivar selection is an efficient and sustainable strategy for dryland barley production. This approach reduces weed competition, improves nitrogen use efficiency, and enhances both yield and grain quality. For maximizing grain yield, the combination of a stale seedbed, 75 kg N ha⁻¹, and the Mahour cultivar is recommended, whereas Nader cultivar is more suitable when grain protein quality is prioritized. Adoption of these practices can improve economic returns while reducing reliance on chemical inputs, thereby supporting sustainable dryland barley production in Dareh Shahr and similar environments.

Keywords

References

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Plant Production and Genetics
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 10
February 2026
Pages 239-254

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