EFFECT OF SOWING DATES AND SEED RATE OF FEED BARLEY IN RELAY CROPPING OF COTTON

To standardize seed rate and date of sowing of feed barley in standing cotton for quality and higher productivity and to build the confidence among farmers for relay cropping of feed barley in cotton, field experiments were conducted with farmers’ participatory research mode at Amrik farm, Hajwana of district Kaithal with four dates of sowing (D1- 12-18 November, D2 - 26 Nov-02 December, D3 - 10-16 December and after the harvesting of cotton) in main plot and three seed rates(100,125 and 150 kg/ha) in sub plot during 2013-14 and 2014-15. Yield of feed barley reduced significantly with delay in sowing after D2 (26 Nov-02 December). The reduction in yield on mean basis was 11.1 and 13.1% respectively when sowing was delayed by 15 and 30 days after D2 during 2013-14. Similar trend was observed during 2014-15. Yields were significantly higher using seed @ 150 kg/ha in November sowing. Returns over variable cost and B:C ratio (2.45) were maximum when feed barley was sown during November with 150 kg seed ha-1. Seed quality and grain quality also deteriorated due to delay in sowing after D2.