Impact of residue management practices of rice on growth, productivity and soil physical properties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

Rice residues are important natural resources and recycling of these residues improves the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Management of rice straw is a major challenge as it is considered to be a poor feed for the animals. The field experiment was conducted on effect of rice residue incorporation on barley productivity and soil physical properties at Research Farm of University College of Agriculture, Bathinda during rabi season of 2019-20. The trail was laid out in split plot design with two barley varieties (V -'PL 807' and V -'DWRB 123') in main plots and five levels of 1 2 rice residue incorporation (0, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 t ha-1) in sub plots and replicated thrice. Barley variety 'PL 807' recorded higher growth attributes viz., plant height, dry matter, number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter and yield attributes viz., number of effective tillers, number of grains/ear, 1000-seed weight and grain yield, straw yield and biological yield than 'DWRB 123'. Barley varieties 'PL 807' recorded 17.53% higher grain yield than 'DWRB 123'. Rice residue incorporation of 7.5 t ha-1 recorded higher growth attributes viz., plant height, dry matter, number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter and yield attributes viz., number of effective tillers, number of grains/ear and grain yield, straw yield and biological yield than other treatments of residue incorporations. Grain yield obtained with rice residue incorporation of 7.5 t ha-1 found 14.64%, 10.38%, 6.76%, 12.73% higher than 0, 5, 10, 12.5 t ha-1, respectively. The soil water content and saturated soil water content markedly increased with residue incorporation treatments compared with control. Residue incorporation significantly decreased the soil bulk density in all incorporation treatments compared with control.