Effect of Planting Date and Seeding Density on Agronomic Traits, Grain Yield and Harvest Index of Barley Cultivars in Yazd Region in Iran

To evaluate the effect of planting date and seeding density on agronomic traits, grain yield and harvest index of three barley cultivars, a field experiment was conducted as split plot factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications at Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Yazd Provience, Yazd, Iran, in 2009-2011 Cropping cycles. Main plots included three planting dates (03 November, 20 November and 06 December) and Sub-plots consisted of cultivars (Nosrat, Yousof and Fajr 30) and seeding density (350, 400 and 450 seed m-2) as factorial arrangement. During the growing seasons different traits including days to tillering, days to stem elongation, days to spike emergence, days to physiological maturity, plant height, spike length, grain yield and harvest index were measured and recorded. Combined analysis of variance indicated that the effect of planting date on plant height and grain yield was significant. Significant differences in spike length, plant height and grain yield was bserved among cultivars. However, the effect of seeding density on studied traits was not significant. The highest grain yield (6224.7 kg ha-1) obtained in planting date of 03 November, Nosrat cultivar (5868.3 kg ha-1) and density of 400 seed m-2 (5538.1 kg ha-1 without significant difference with other seeding density). The lowest grain yield belonged to planting date of 06 December (4368.6 kg ha-1), Yousof cultivar (4930.5 kg ha-1) and seeding density of 350 seed m-2 (5341.8 kg ha-1 without significant difference with other seeding density). Nosrat cultivar with seeding density of 400 seed m-2 in planting date of 03 November had the highest grain yield (7260.7 kg ha-1).