The effect of seed rate on grain yield and yield components of barley cultivars in rainfed cold regions

Abstract To achieve the suitable seed rate and barley cultivar in cold regions, a research was conducted as factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design in three replications during 2013- 2015 at Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Maragheh Station, Iran. Three barley cultivars of Sahand, Abidar and Dayton were evaluated in 300, 400, and 500 seeds/m2 seed rates. Abidar was better than others in thousand kernel weight, green cover percentage, rainfall productivity index, and biological and grain yields. Also, the seed rate of 400 seeds/m2 was the best regarding better productivity degree, rainfall productivity index, and biological and grain yields. Interaction between cultivar and seed rate was significant in thousand kernel weight, harvest index, productivity degree, rainfall productivity index, grain yield, plant height, green cover percentage in flowering stage and grains number in spike. Sahad in 500, and Abidar and Dayton in 400 seeds/m2 seed rates had the highest yield. On the whole, Abidar in 400 seeds/m2 seed rate had the most green cover percentage in flowering stage, harvest index, productivity degree, rainfall productivity index, biological and grain yield, thus could be recommended for rainfed barley fall cultivation in Maragheh and other similar regions.