The excessive use of fertilizers and herbicides is frequent under the current intensive production systems. Unfortunately, their inappropriate application is implicating the ecosystem with drastic consequences. Herbicides application is changing the habitats of birds and animals and is also hazardous to human health. While excessive nitrogen applied is partially lost to the environment through volatilization and leaching. Therefore, this study was designed to identify the potential alternative management practices and their interactive effects on barley production. The study was comprised of three greenhouse (Group A) and two field experiments (Group B), conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Greenhouse Experiment 1 was designed to study the genotypic behavior of barley under different cropping systems (fallow-barley, maize-barley and alfalfa-barley) and seed priming (control, hydropriming, and osmopriming) techniques. In greenhouse Experiment II, barley growth and physiological phenomena were studied under the treatments i.e seed priming, nitrogen-fertilizer sources (urea and ammonium sulfate) and nitrogen levels (0, 50 & 100 kg ha-1). The third greenhouse experiment included seed priming, mulching and N-levels. Under field conditions, two experiments were performed. The field Experiment I was to study the influence of seed priming and sorghum mulch on barley production in different cropping systems. The field Experiment II was accomplished to study the influence of sorghum mulch at various levels of N under the same cropping systems. The results showed that barley cultivar “Haider-93” performed well under agro-ecological conditions of Faisalabad. Both, seed osmopriming and hydropriming techniques were effective for early establishment of barley. Among the cropping systems barely was more responsive to maize-based cropping system in terms of growth and yield. Sorghum mulch @ 4 t ha-1 made a significant reduction in density and dry weight of weeds. Moreover, it also slowed down the nitrification rate, as NO-3 were lower as compared to non-mulch plots. Therefore, sorghum mulching can be considered useful strategy for improving N recovery and reducing the leaching losses. However, the cost-benefit analysis revealed it a non-profitable practice, as the benefit-cost ratio (BCR), net returns, and net benefits remained less than non-mulch conditions. Optimum nitrogen application rates varied within cropping systems. Nitrogen application at 100 kg ha-1 gave higher net returns in all the treatment combinations. However, 50 kg N ha-1 was a reasonable rate of nitrogen application with high NUE. Moreover, in case of fallow and alfalfa based cropping system higher yield, economic benefits, and BCR were obtained at 100 kg N ha-1. Overall, sorghum mulching and osmopriming were not proved to be valuable management approaches, despite the positive effects on growth and yield. Therefore, these might not gain practical significance, mainly because of the associated higher costs and cannot be recommended for wide-scale adoption to the farming community. However, if we consider additional benefits of mulch such as weed control, nutrient recycling, soil conservation etc. then it may be more economical and environment friendly. In conclusion, maize-based cropping system under non-mulch conditions and at 50 kg N ha-1 would be a suitable strategy for barley production. Among the seed priming techniques, hydropriming would be a suitable pragmatic approach for barley production.