A field experiment conducted in the years 2002–2004 in Samotwór near Wrocław assessed the usefulness of three kinds of nitrogen fertilisers – CAN (27% of nitrogen), Norwegian saltpetre (15.5% N) and Puławy saltpetre (34% N) –in the cultivation of spring brewing barley cv. Scarlett on a light soil under sprinkling irrigation. The soil had average levels of phosphorus and magnesium and a high potassium content. The soil reaction (5.6–6.4) was too low for the needs of brewing barley. Under natural precipitation the yields of barley grain ranged from 34.06 dt ^. ha^-1 (2002) to 54.16 dt ^. ha^-1 (2003). Sprinkling irrigation, regardless of the kind of nitrogen fertiliser, caused a 7.5% increase in the grain yield. Among the fertilisers compared, CAN proved the best: its use led to the highest yields in non-irrigated treatments (45.71 dt ^. ha^-1) and the largest yield increase due to irrigation (8.3% on average). That fertiliser also brought about a significant rise in the number of ears per square metre.

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