Feed Barley has been an important rotational crop in Jiangsu, China for many years. It is important as a feed grain, but till now the economic value of is quite related to the malting industry. Barley requires adequate nitrogen for good yields, but since grain protein in excess of industry limits often results in rejection of a crop, and since excess nitrogen results in smaller kernel sizes of the feed barley, the line between adequate nitrogen and excessive nitrogen is fine. What is more, too much nitrogen may result in lodging, which not only cuts down yields, but also increases the incidence and severity of diseases in some years.

Due to the irregularity of rainfall in Jiangsu, China, a pre-plant application of nitrogen is key to adequately feed the crop through its short growing season. All of the nitrogen should be applied pre-plant. Top-dressing after crop establishment is discouraged because it contributes more to increased protein than increased yield. Once the nitrogen application is made, managing the crop for higher yield is very crucial. Farmers have a great many of things they could do to increase the yield in any given year, though yield is most linked to the temperatures, soil moisture and rainfall of a growing season. Pay attention that high fertilizer applications will not prompt yield higher than environment and decisions permit. So being conservative on nitrogen rates is significant to broaden the odds of producing feed barley.