Experiments with nitrogen and potash on barley

Extract

1. Four experiments in 1958 and five in 1959 compared responses to potassium (as combinedrilled muriate of potash) in the absence of nitrogen and in the presence of single and double doses of nitrogen (as broadcast sulphate of ammonia) on soils selected because they contained very little acid-soluble potassium.

2. Responses to 0·5 cwt. K₂O/acre were obtained at six centres (two significant), but the effects of a further 0·5 cwt. K₂O/acre were more variable and gains and losses (each at four centres) were almost equally balanced.

3. Gains from nitrogen were associated with previous cropping. N₁ raised yields at seven centres (six significantly), but N₂ raised yields further at only five centres (three significantly) and depressed yields significantly at three centres where barley followed a root crop or ley.

4. Potash did little to improve the strength of straw and therefore standing capacity in a wet season (1958) and had little effect upon the size of the grain, whereas nitrogen increased lodging and reduced the average size of the grain.

5. Increases in potassium uptake were associated with yield increases, whereas increases in nitrogen uptake were associated with both higher nitrogen percentage in grain and higher yields.