Within the scope of barley cultivation studies conducted at the Kızılırmak Research and Application Field of Çankırı Karatekin University Vocational School of Food and Agriculture, the top dressing fertilization application—an agronomic practice of critical importance for plant development—was carried out on 17 March 2026.
Nitrogen (N) fertilization, one of the main factors directly influencing yield in barley production, significantly contributes to increasing the number of productive tillers, supporting spike formation, and ultimately enhancing yield per unit area when applied particularly during the tillering stage.
In this application, NBPT-inhibited slow-release urea (Slowfert) was preferred in order to reduce nitrogen losses and increase fertilizer use efficiency. The NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) inhibitor temporarily suppresses the activity of the urease enzyme present in the soil, thereby delaying the conversion of urea into ammonia. In this way, ammonia volatilization (nitrogen loss in gaseous form)—which is commonly observed in surface applications—is significantly reduced.
The slow-release urea formulation used in the application enables nitrogen to be released gradually over time rather than dissolving completely in a short period. This allows the plant to utilize nitrogen more efficiently and over a longer duration. Such a fertilization strategy supports balanced and continuous plant nutrition from the tillering stage to the stem elongation stage, enabling multiple growth phases to be supported with a single application.
During the application, the fertilizer was distributed on the soil surface using a tractor-mounted centrifugal fertilizer spreader. Subsequent rainfall is expected to facilitate the dissolution of the fertilizer into the soil solution and its movement into the root zone. With the presence of soil moisture, the dissolved nitrogen is expected to be taken up more rapidly by the plants and contribute particularly to the preservation of productive tillers.
Following the application, anticipated rainfall in the region is expected to accelerate the movement of the fertilizer into the soil solution and increase nitrogen uptake by the plants. This process is expected to positively influence plant growth and enhance yield potential.
The studies conducted at the Kızılırmak Research and Application Field are planned in accordance with scientific data and modern agricultural techniques. These activities contribute to the practical training of students while also serving as a model for agricultural practices in the region.