Simplified N fertilization strategies for winter wheat. Part 1: plants: compensation capacity of modern wheat varieties

• Published in: Archiv für Acker- und Pflanzenbau und Bodenkunde Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 847 - 857
• Main Authors: Makary, Thomas, Schulz, Rudolf, Müller, Torsten, Pekrun, Carola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 11.05.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Ammonium; application timing; calcium ammonium nitrate; Calcium nitrate; Compensation; Crop yield; Cultivars; experimental design; farmers; Fertilization; fertilizer application; Germany; grain yield; Loam soils; nitrogen; nitrogen fertilizers; Northern European region; plant density; Planting density; protein content; Proteins; seeds; Silt loam; silt loam soils; splitting; Triticum aestivum; Wheat; Winter wheat; yield components; Northern European region; Germany
• ISSN: 0365-0340; 1476-3567; 1476-3567
• DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2019.1641697

Winter wheat in northwestern Europe is often fertilized with several doses of calcium-ammonium-nitrate (CAN). For economy, farmers fertilize using a combination of N-doses. Here, we examined the necessity of N splitting (1-3) and application timing in experiments conducted in 2010 using a one-factorial fully randomized block design, and in 2011-2012 using a two-factorial split-plot design (four replicates). The study site, in southwestern Germany, had silty loam soil, and modern cultivars (2010: one cultivar, 2011-2012: three cultivars) with different genetic abilities to develop the yield components of interest were tested. A late first or single N application at stage BBCH 29/31 did not lead to differences in grain yields or protein contents compared to three N applications. However, a single N application at stage BBCH 25/27 resulted in a reduced protein content. Yield component development did not significantly differ among the cultivars. Early N application increased plant density but not yield. In two years, low plant densities were compensated by higher numbers of kernels per spike. Hence, under the tested conditions, the number of N applications could be reduced, as the high compensation ability of modern cultivars allows N fertilization consisting of two or even one application.