INFLUENCE OF SOWING TIME AND SEED RATE ON OVERWINTERING AND PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER BARLEY (HORDEUM SATIVUM L.)

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to investigate the influence of sowing time and seed rate on winter barley overwintering and productivity. The experiment was conducted in 2023–2024 at the Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Agriculture Experimental Station. The soil granulometric composition is light loam on medium and heavy loam. The arable layer of the soil is 20–25 cm thick. The agrochemical properties of the experimental soil were studied in 2020. Soil pH 6.0–6.7, phosphorus content on average 285.8 mg kg^-1, and potassium content–240.0 mg kg^-1. In the two-factor experiment, factor A: different sowing time (August 25, September 5 and 15 day), factor B: different seed rate (2, 3 and 4 million units ha^-1). The experiment was conducted in four replicates.

The highest number of germinated plants (427, 389 and 435 pcs. m^-2) was found in crops where winter barley was sown at a seed rate of 4 million pcs. ha^-1, compared to crops where winter barley was sown at a seed rate of 2 million pcs. ha^-1 and 3 million pcs. ha^-1. Sowing time did not have a significant impact on winter barley germination. Winter barley sown at the earliest date (August 25), at a seed rate of 3 million pcs. ha^-1 and 2 million pcs. ha^-1 had the best winter survival (89.8 and 86.2 percent). The highest winter barley productivity (9.30 t ha^-1) was found on September 15 at a seed rate of 3 million pcs. ha^-1 seed rate in the sown crop, and the lowest (6.75 t ha^-1) in the crop sown on August 25, in which the seed rate is 4 million units ha^-1.