Irrigation scheduling parameters and nitrogen fertilization for barley crop in the cerrado region

Abstract

This study was carried out in the experimental field of the Agricultural Research Center of Cerrado to determine the irrigation scheduling parameters and nitrogen fertilization for barley to maximize yield and maintain malting quality. The irrigation scheduling was made measuring the soil-water tension. The treatments were four levels of soil-water tension: 52, 162, 526 and 894 kPa; and four levels of nitrogen fertilization: 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg.ha^-1. Irrigation was applied when soil-water tension at 0.15 m depth reached values set for the treatments. For the range of 52 to 526 kPa and 40 to 120 kg.ha^-1 of nitrogen no difference in yield was verified. The maximum yield of barley was 5,416 kg.ha^-1 and the consumptive use was 668 mm. To obtain high yield with adequate quality of barley cultivated after soybean, nitrogen should be furnished at a dose of 40 kg.ha^-1 and water should be applied when soil-water tension, measured at a depth of 0.15 m, reaches values around 500 kPa.