A comparison of fertilizer strategies for spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) based on measured yield response to applied N on morainic soils in SE Norway
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Spring barley was grown for four years (2001-2004) in field trials consisting of 20 replicate blocks at two sites on morainic soil in central SE Norway. Five N level treatments were used within each block: 0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1. Regression analyses showed that a selection of soil properties could explain 55-96% of the spatial yield variation and 18-91% of the variation in yield response to N. A variable-rate strategy, accounting for variation between both years and replicate blocks (VRs+t), was compared with a strategy, which accounted for variation between years, and a uniform strategy, which did not account for any variation. The VRs+t strategy had the highest potential yield, apparent fertilizer recovery and net revenue (yield value minus N cost). Using the VRs+t strategy, even at sub-optimal N rates, would increase the profit of barley cropping as long as the increase in net revenue was at least 24 and 42% of the estimated potentials, respectively.