Zur Eignung des Kornguts unterschiedlich stickstoffgedüngter Getreidebestände als Rohstoff für die Bioethanolproduktion

The Suitability of Grains from Cereal Crops with Different N Supply for Bioethanol Production
The properties of grains of different small grain cereals, produced under increasing N-supply levels, for conversion into bioerhanol were investigated. Grain material of winterwheat, -rye and -triticale, two cultivars each, was used At two locations, field experiments comprising several N-fertilization levels between 0 and 180 kg N/ha were conducted. The main parameters analysed were the bioethanol output (1 bioethanol/dt grain dry matter) and the bioethanol yield (1 bioethanol/ha), both under addition and without addition of technical enzymes. Furthermore, the falling numbers, the protein content and die autoamylolytic quotient (AAQ) were determined. AAQ means the autoamylolytic bioethanol output related to die output under addition of technical enzymes. With a rising N-supply, yields/ha and die protein contents of grain increased differently. Combined with increasing protein contents, decreasing bioethanol outputs were measured, particularly with wheat, to a smaller extent with triticale, and to an even lesser extent with rye. Only with wheat were die AAQ-values significantly reduced as a consequence of rising N-supply levels. In interaction with growing conditions, cultivars and N-levels, the bioethanol yields/ha of rye and triticale equalled or even surpassed the yields of wheat, particularly under autoamylolytic-conversion processing conditions.     

Maize Grain Yield Response to Tillage and Fertilizer Nitrogen Rates on a Tara Silt Loam

Effects of tillage on the appropriate fertilizer N applications needed to achieve maximal grain yield are poorly denned. The study objective was determination of relative corn grain yield response to N application rate for four tillage practices: no-tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT), fall chisel plowing (CP) and fall moldboard plowing (MP). Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and N accumulation were monitored over a 6 year period with the same tillage treatment and the same fertilizer N rate applied each year to each plot. Two hybrids, differing in relative maturity rating, were planted each year. Fertilizer N rates ranged from 10 to 190 kg ha^?1 and consisted of 10 kg ha^?1 of liquid starter N applied at planting with varying amounts of fall applied anhydrous ammonia. With only starter fertilizer, grain yields increased with tillage intensity in the order NT ≤ RT ≤ CP ≤ MP. With ≥ 55 kg total applied Nha^?1, 6 year average grain yields were unaffected by tillage. Total N removed in grain annually with only starter fertilizer ranged from 25–85 kg ha^?1 Maximal amounts of N removed, about 145 kg N ha^?1, occurred with 100–145 kg applied N ha^?1 for all tillage treatments under the more favorable climatic conditions. Several interactions affecting grain yield appear climatically sensitive with exception of tillage by fertilizer N interactions. Because of variability in climate, planting dates varied by almost 4 weeks. Relative yield loss due to planting delay were Fertilizer N (mean change ??124 –?275 kg ha^?1 day^?1) > Starter N only and MP (mean ?? 259 kg ha^?1 day^?1) > other tillages in general. Yield loss due to delayed planting ranged from 0.0–275 kg ha^?1 day^?1. Grain yield gains due to early spring soil temperatures were 16.0–21.8 kg ha^?1 index-degree^?1 with MP tillage and averaged 2.7– 16.7 kg ha^?1 index-degree^?1 more than those of other tillage-hybrid combinations.     

Differences in Wheat Cultivar Response to N Supply. I: Differences in Grain Yield Formation

Two-year field trials with winter wheat cultivars Batis and Toronto were conducted in Southern Bavaria, Germany, to investigate the possible causes of cultivar differences in response to N supply varying in total amount and time of application. Cultivar-related differences in grain yields were observed in treatments with low and medium N supply. High doses of N supply resulted in grain yield adjustment or grain yield advantage for cv. Toronto. The results of this study revealed a consistent, genotypic pattern in response to N fertilization in spite of strong seasonal effects. Systematic modifications in canopy growth rates in response to N supply were of particular relevance and a main factor for differences in tillering intensity resulting in modified stand densities. In the present study, cultivar differences in spike development and interactions with N supply related more to abortion than to initiation processes for number of spikelets and number of flowers per spikelet. High grain density (grains per m²) of cv. Toronto was evident during reproduction stages even under conditions of medium N supply. However, decreased growth rates during the later part of grain filling in combination with low 1000 grain weight, which was barely modified by N fertilization, allowed only partial utilization of this potential. It is assumed that sink limitations were of particular relevance for grain yield development in cv. Toronto, while cv. Batis combined a less intense response to N supply with more stability in the development of grain yield components.     

Effects of Row Spacing, Support Plant Species and Support Plant Mixture Ratio on Seed Yield and Yield Characteristics of Hungarian Vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz)

The effects of row spacing (17.5 or 35.0 cm), support plant species (barley or triticale) and the proportion of crops in mixtures (no support plant or support plant 20, 40 or 60 %, respectively) on the seed yield and yield characteristics of Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz) were investigated. Increasing the row spacing increased the seed yield of V. pannonica from 881.0 to 1248.0 kg ha^?1. On average, in a pure stand the seed yield of V. pannonica was 1141.0 kg ha^?1. In mixtures with barley and triticale, the seed yield of V. pannonica averaged 986.0 and 1143.0 kg ha^?1, respectively. In single mixed stands the seed yield of V. pannonica varied between 551.0 kg ha^?1 (60 % support plant barley) and 1603.0 kg ha^?1 (20 % support plant triticale). The yield advantage of V. pannonica in this triticale mixture was 40 % compared to the V. pannonica pure stand. With respect to the total yield in the mixture with 20 % triticale (1902.0 kg ha^?1) the yield advantage over the V. pannonica pure stand was as high as 65.1 %. In the mixed stands the number of seeds per pod and the thousand‐seed weight of V. pannonica were higher than in V. pannonica pure stands.     

Tillage,cover crops,and nitrogen fertilization effects on soil nitrogen and cotton and sorghum yields

Sustainable soil and crop management practices that reduce soil erosion and nitrogen (N) leaching, conserve soil organic matter, and optimize cotton and sorghum yields still remain a challenge. We examined the influence of three tillage practices (no-till, strip till and chisel till), four cover crops {legume [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)], nonlegume [rye (Secaele cereale L.)], vetch/rye biculture and winter weeds or no cover crop}, and three N fertilization rates (0, 60–65 and 120–130 kg N ha⁻¹) on soil inorganic N content at the 0–30 cm depth and yields and N uptake of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. A field experiment was conducted on Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Plinthic Paleudults) from 1999 to 2002 in Georgia, USA. Nitrogen supplied by cover crops was greater with vetch and vetch/rye biculture than with rye and weeds. Soil inorganic N at the 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths increased with increasing N rate and were greater with vetch than with rye and weeds in April 2000 and 2002. Inorganic N at 0–10 cm was also greater with vetch than with rye in no-till, greater with vetch/rye than with rye and weeds in strip till, and greater with vetch than with rye and weeds in chisel till. In 2000, cotton lint yield and N uptake were greater in no-till with rye or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in other treatments, but biomass (stems + leaves) yield and N uptake were greater with vetch and vetch/rye than with rye or weeds, and greater with 60 and 120 than with 0 kg N ha⁻¹. In 2001, sorghum grain yield, biomass yield, and N uptake were greater in strip till and chisel till than in no-till, and greater in vetch and vetch/rye with or without N than in rye and weeds with 0 or 65 kg N ha⁻¹. In 2002, cotton lint yield and N uptake were greater in chisel till, rye and weeds with 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in other treatments, but biomass N uptake was greater in vetch/rye with 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in rye and weeds with 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹. Increased N supplied by hairy vetch or 120–130 kg N ha⁻¹ increased soil N availability, sorghum grain yield, cotton and sorghum biomass yields, and N uptake but decreased cotton lint yield and lint N uptake compared with rye, weeds or 0 kg N ha⁻¹. Cotton and sorghum yields and N uptake can be optimized and potentials for soil erosion and N leaching can be reduced by using conservation tillage, such as no-till or strip till, with vetch/rye biculture cover crop and 60–65 kg N ha⁻¹. The results can be applied in regions where cover crops can be grown in the winter to reduce soil erosion and N leaching and where tillage intensity and N fertilization rates can be minimized to reduce the costs of energy requirement for tillage and N fertilization while optimizing crop production.     

Effect of Different Preceding Crops and Crop Rotations on Yield of Winter Oil-seed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

To determine the effect of different preceding crops and crop rotations on the grain yield of oil-seed rape, a long-term rotation experiment was conducted at the Hohenschulen experimental station in Kiel, NW Germany. Additional factors included the nitrogen fertilization and the fungicide application. The results reported herein are based upon the harvest years 1988 to 1993. Averaged over the different rotations and husbandry treatments, the grain yields in the 6 experimental years varied between 2.71 t ha^?1 and 3.99 t ha^?1. In contrast, the effect of the different husbandry treatments was smaller and non significant. Averaged over 6 years, only the fungicide application caused small yield increase of 0.2 t ha^?1. The highest grain yields of 3.77 t ha^?1 or 3.65 t ha^?1 occurred when oil-seed rape was directly following peas. Low yields between 3.15 tha^?1 and 3.33 tha^?1 were obtained when oil-seed rape was grown after oilseed rape. The lowest grain yield of 3.13 t ha^?1 was produced with oil-seed rape grown in monoculture only. In rotations with oil-seed rape following a preceding cereal crop (wheat or barley), the grain yields averaged between 3.22 tha^?1 in a two course rotation and up to 3.44 tha^?1 in a four course rotation. In general, the yields of oil-seed rape increase with the length of the rotation and the length of the break between two oilseed rape crops. The yield component number of seeds per m² was affected by the previous cropping accordingly, whereas the thousand seed weight did not respond to the cropping history. Based upon disease assessments in the first years of this experiment, we argue that an increase in the incidence of fungal diseases has considerably contributed to the yield decrease of oil-seed rape in short rotations.     

Annual Medicago as a Smother Crop in Soybean

Use of conservation tillage and narrow row spacing in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production has led to increased use of herbicides for weed control. Some producers are seeking alternative weed control methods, such as smother crops, that would reduce dependence on chemical weed control. A successful smother crop must compete strongly with weeds but minimally with the crop. In four environments, we intercropped three annual Medicago spp. (medics) with soybean to test their utility as a smother crop for weed control. Annual medics were intercropped with soybean at rates of 0, 85, 258, or 775 seeds m^?2, and the intercrops were grown with and without weed control. Increasing medic seeding rate decreased weed yields but also reduced soybean herbage and grain yields. For the weed‐controlled treatment, average soybean grain yields declined 7 kg ha^?1 for every 10 seeds m^?2 increase in medic seeding rate. Soybean grain yield was lower when grown with Medicago scutellata L. cv. Sava than when grown with Medicago polymorpha L. cv. Santiago or Medicago lupilina L. cv. George. Soybean grain yield was negatively related (r=?81) to medic herbage production. In the autumn following soybean harvest, medic residue ranged from 200 to 3700 kg ha^?1 depending on the location and seeding rate. Medics provided residue for soil protection, suppressed weeds, but also reduced soybean yields.     

Productivity and Sustainability of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cropping System as Influenced by Prilled Urea, Farmyard Manure and Azotobacter

Field experiments were conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, during 2001–2002 and 2002–2003, to study the effect of inorganic, organic and Azotobacter combined sources of N on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and their residual effect on succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. The results indicated considerable increase in yield attributes and mean seed cotton yield (2.33 Mg ha^?1) with the combined application of 30 kg N and farmyard manure (FYM) at 12 Mg ha^?1 along with Azotobacter (M₄). The treatment in cotton that included FYM, especially when fertilizer N was also applied could either improve or maintain the soil fertility status in terms of available N, P and K. Distinct increase in yield attributes and grain yield of wheat was observed with the residual effect of integrated application of 30 kg N ha^?1 + FYM at 12 Mg ha^?1 + Azotobacter. Direct application of 120 kg N ha^?1 resulted 67.4 and 17.7 % increase in mean grain yield of wheat over no N and 60 kg N ha^?1, respectively. Integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizer is therefore, recommended for higher productivity and sustainability of the cotton–wheat system.     

Effect of Nitrogen Rate and Stubble Height on Dry Matter Yield,Crude Protein Content and Crude Protein Yield of a Sorghum–Sudangrass Hybrid[Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.] in the Three‐Cutting System

In this study, the effects of nitrogen (N) rate (60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha^?1 applied in three equal dressings at seeding and after the first and second cuttings) and stubble height (7, 14 and 21 cm) on the dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) content, and CP yield of a sorghum–sudangrass hybrid [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf., cv. Pioneer 988] in the three‐cut system was investigated. The N rate had no significant effect in the first and third cuttings, but in the second cutting DM yields increased significantly with increase in N rate. The highest yield of 9.1 t ha^?1 was obtained with 80 kg N ha^?1 for the average of 2 years at the second cutting, but no significant difference was found among the 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha^?1 rates. CP content and yield were not significantly affected by N rate at the first and third cuttings, but CP content and yield were significantly affected by application of N at the second cutting. Stubble height had a significant effect on CP content at the third cutting. However, it had no significant effect on CP content at the first and second cuttings. Stubble height had a significant effect on the CP yield at the first cutting, but no significant effect on CP yield at the second and third cuttings.     

Differences in Wheat Cultivar Response to Nitrogen Supply. II: Differences in N-Metabolism-Related Traits

Two-year field trials with winter wheat cultivars Batis and Toronto were conducted in Southern Bavaria, Germany, to investigate the possible causes of cultivar differences in response to N supply varying in total amount and time of application. The results revealed cultivar-related differences in response to N fertilization in all parameters included in this study. Amount and timing of N fertilization was a strong indicator of N uptake into canopies and three phases of cultivar differentiation became apparent. Cultivar differences in N content were most clearly expressed during early growth stages, but distinctive differences in canopy N uptake were observed during later growth stages. Nitrate reductase activity, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and plant nitrate content varied in response to N supply within cultivar-specific patterns that included reversals in cultivar ranking during canopy development, and provided additional indications for elevated intensity of N metabolism in cv. Toronto when compared with cv. Batis. Apart from such differences Batis partially compensated for delayed N uptake in earlier phases during the latter part of grain filling, presumably due to differences in root system development. Cultivar differences in regression of tillering, stand density, grains per ear and grain density (grains m⁻²) on a number of N metabolism-related parameters have been determined. They contribute considerably to the understanding of cultivar differences in grain yield components, as presented in an earlier communication. For 1000 grain weight, least affected from N supply within each year, large differences between years seemed to relate to differences in WSC content observed between heading and flowering, whereas cultivar differences in the level of grain N content and reaction to N supply were more directly determined by differences in N uptake and remobilization, and possibly enhanced by sink limitations of Toronto in grain size development.     

Konkurrenz und Ertragsvorteile in Gemengen aus Erbsen (Pisum sativum L.) und Hafer (Avena sativa L.)

In field trials on a fertile fluvisol in 1995 and 1996 near Göttingen, Germany, pea (Pisum sativum; cv. Messire/conventional leafed, cv. Profi/semileafless) and oats (Avena sativa; cv. Alf) were grown as sole crops and in substitutive mixtures. The sole crops were established at 80 pea seeds m^?2 and 300 oat seeds m^?2. The mixtures consisted of 67 % (pea) and 33 % (oats) of the monoculture densities, respectively. Interactions of cv. Messire or cv. Profi and oats were similar in 1995 and 1996. The mixtures outyielded the monocultures with respect to total above ground dry matter (RYT = 1.15) and grain yield (RYT = 1.09). Grain yield of pea and oats averaged 4.9 t ha^?1 in monocultures and 5.5 t ha^?1 in mixtures. Oats was relatively the stronger of the two competitors. Decreasing number of pods per plant could be highlighted as the factor for a lower pea seed frequency in the yield of the mixtures. For oats the number of panicles per plant and kernels per panicle were higher in the mixtures compared with the oat monocultures. The average amount of the harvest index (HI) was 0.52 for pea and 0.46 for oats. Favourable growth conditions increased HI values however, prolific vegetative growth in the mixtures resulted in lower HI values. The predicted RYT‐values estimate the maximum combined grain yield of 6.3 t ha^?1 in the mixture of 87 % pea (70 seeds m^?2) and 13 % oats (39 kernels m^?2).     

Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Spring Wheat Genotypes under Field and Lysimeter Conditions

Lysimeters and neighbouring fields were used from 1998 to 2000 to assess parameters of N use efficiency of three Swiss spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. An old (Albis), a new (Toronit) and an experimental genotype (L94491) were compared with no and ample (250 kg N ha^?1) N fertilizer supply. N fertilization increased biomass, grain yield and grain N concentration of all genotypes in all years and in both testing systems (field, lysimeters) but only a few genotype × N interactions were observed. Generally, Toronit was superior in producing biomass and grain yield and L94491 in accumulating N in the grain resulting in identical N biomass yields. Albis showed the lowest and Toronit the highest fertilizer recovery, irrespective of the method of calculation (¹⁵N or difference method). The medium yielding L94491 recovered similar amounts of fertilizer N as Toronit, mainly due to the high N concentration in the biomass. The ranking of the genotypes for the investigated traits was similar in both testing systems and results comparable with those reported in the literature, indicating that the lysimeter facility is suitable for investigations of agronomic traits on soil–plant relationships, where a constant recording of the soil properties is required.     

Effects of Nitrogen and Foliar Sulphur Interaction on Grain Yield and Yield Components in Barley

In this study, conducted from 1979 to 1986 in southern Spain, the objective was to analyze the effects of a possible interaction between soil-applied N and foliar S applied to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) during tillering on grain yield and to identify the mechanism involved. From 1979 to 1982, we used rates of 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg a.i. N ha^?1, together with 12.5 or 25 kg foliar a.i. S ha^?1 during tillering. The results demonstrated that foliar S at both dosages acted as a partial (but not total) substitute for N, when the latter was applied at levels of 40 to 60 kg ha^?1. These effects of S did not appear to result only from a nutritive mechanism, but rather from a hormonal mechanism through the increase in ethylene biosynthesis. Therefore, during 1983 to 1986, we used 40, 60 and 80 kg a. i. N ha^?1, together with 12.5 a. i. S ha^?1 and 0.55 kg a.i. ethrel (2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid) ha^?1. The results showed that the effects of S and ethrel on yield were practically the same. Assayed with 40 and 60 kg N ha^?1, S and ethrel acted as partial (but not total) substitutes for N, exceeding the yield of the control without S or ethrel, and equalling the yield obtained with 20 kg more of N ha^?1. The S or ethrel applied with 80 kg N ha^?1 presented an additive effect with the N. The increases in yield using S or ethrel were in all cases due to the increased final number of spikes m^?2, which was principally a consequence of the higher number of tillers formed but also a result of increased survival of tillers to form a viable spike. In addition, the positive effects of S on yield were greater the smaller the N dosage and the lower the annual yield. Finally, we present a possible mechanism of hormonal action, to explain how foliar S applied during tillering affects grain yield in barley.     

Transfer of Grain Legume Nitrogen within a Crop Rotation Containing Winter Wheat and Winter Barley

In a crop rotation trial, conducted from 1985 to 1988 at TU-Munich's research station in Roggenstein, the transfer of grain legume nitrogen was evaluated in crop rotations containing fababeans and dry peas as well as oats (reference crop) and winter wheat and winter barley as following crops. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: Dinitrogen fixation by fababeans ranged from 165 to 240 kg N ha¹, whereas N₂-fixation by peas amounted from 215 to 246 kg N ha^?1. In all seasons the calculated N-balance where only grain was removed was positive, with a net gain being on average 106 (peas) and 84 (fababeans) kg N ha^?1. After the harvest of peas 202 kg N ha^?1 remained on the field on average over seasons (158 kg N ha^?1 in the above ground biomass and 44 kg N ha^?1 as NO₃-N in 0–90 cm depth). As compared to peas, fababeans left 41 kg N ha^?1 less due to smaller amounts of nitrogen in the straw. After oats very small amounts of residual nitrogen (33 kg N ha^?1) were detected. After the harvest of grain legumes always a very high nitrogen mineralization was observed during autumn especially after peas due to a close C/N-relationship and higher amounts of nitrogen in the straw as compared to fababeans. In comparison with fababeans, N-mineralization after the cultivation of oats remained lower by more than 50%. During winter, seepage water regularly led to a considerable decrease of soil NO₃-N content. The N-leaching losses were especially high after cultivation of peas (80 kg N ha ^?1) and considerably lower after fababeans (50 kg N ha^?1) and oats (20 kg N ha^?1). As compared to oats, a higher NO₃-N content in soil was determined at the beginning of the growing period after preceding grain legumes. Therefore, winter wheat yielded highest after preceding peas (68 dt ha^?1) and fababeans (60 dt ha^?1) and lowest after preceding oats (42 dt ha^?1). The cultivation of grain legumes had no measurable effect on yield formation of the third crop winter barley in either of the growing seasons.     

Impact of Nitrogen and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on yield and yield components of sunflower in a glasshouse environment

The effects of Nitrogen (N) and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var. Hysun-33) grown in the greenhouse under a natural environment were studied. The N-use efficiency of a sunflower crop grown under three N rates (N₁ = 0 kg ha^?1, N₂ = 120 kg ha^?1, and N₃ = 240 kg ha^?1) and three PGPR levels (R₁ = 0 kg ha^?1, R₂ = 30 kg ha^?1, and R₃ = 60 kg ha^?1) were investigated. The maximum amount of N resulted in higher total dry matter production per plant and the effect was prominent from 34 days after sowing (DAS). Seed yields differed significantly among different sunflower crops especially at limiting N supply, with significant shifts according to the N level. N uptake was an important parameter for yield at all N rates. The 240 kg N ha^?1 treatments provided the maximum yield, while the oil contents in these treatments of higher yield showed a lower oil content (%). Harvest index was also significantly correlated to yield across N rates; however, its importance depended much on environmental conditions as well. It can be inferred from the study that sunflower crop is well-supplied with respect to growth, development, yield and yield components, to enhance N efficiency and depends very much on the N supply. All the parameters gave maximum results with the increment of N while PGPR regimes had no prominent impact on the sunflower crop, the target environment, and the target yield level grown under a specified controlled glasshouse environment.     

Maturity Class and P Effects on Soya Bean Grain Yield in the Moist Savanna of West Africa

Field trials were replicated at four sites in the moist savanna ecological zone of West Africa to study the effect of maturity class and phosphorus (P) rate on grain yield and total protein yield (TPY) of some new soya bean varieties. Grain yield and TPY averaged 1.43 Mg ha^?1 and 587 kg ha^?1, respectively. Without P application grain yield and TPY were not significantly different among the varieties. In addition, at zero P treatment, grain yield and TPY were not significantly different among three sites where available P was 6.2 mg kg^?1 or less. P application depressed grain yield and TPY at a site where the available soil P was high (16.2 mg kg^?1). With P application grain yield and TPY were in the range of 1.2–2.28 Mg ha^?1 and 505–948 kg ha^?1, respectively, for the varieties compared with 0.99–1.12 Mg ha^?1 and 454–462 kg ha^?1 when P was not applied. The response of grain yield to 30 kg P ha^?1 was substantial at Gidan Waya (113 %), Kasuwan Magani (63 %) and Fashola (60 %), three sites where available soil P was low. The application of 30 kg P ha^?1 increased grain yield by 21 % in early, 26 % in medium and 58–70 % in the late varieties. Significant variety by P rate interaction effects were observed on grain yield and TPY but not on grain protein concentration (GPC). TPY showed greater response to P in the late varieties than in the early or medium. While seed size correlated significantly and positively with GPC, P application had no significant effect on GPC.     

Performance and application of the APSIM Nwheat model in the Netherlands

APSIM Nwheat is a crop system simulation model, consisting of modules that incorporate aspects of soil water, nitrogen (N), crop residues, and crop growth and development. The model was applied to simulate above- and below-ground growth, grain yield, water and N uptake, and soil water and soil N of wheat crops in the Netherlands. Model outputs were compared with detailed measurements of field experiments from three locations with two different soil types. The experiments covered two seasons and a range of N-fertiliser applications. The overall APSIM Nwheat model simulations of soil mineral N, N uptake, shoot growth, phenology, kernels m⁻², specific grain weight and grain N were acceptable. Grain yields (dry weight) and grain protein concentrations were well simulated with a root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.8 t ha⁻¹ and 1.6 protein%, respectively. Additionally, the model simulations were compared with grain yields from a long-term winter wheat experiment with different N applications, two additional N experiments and regional grain yield records. The model reproduced the general effects of N treatments on yields. Simulations showed a good consistency with the higher yields of the long-term experiment, but overpredicted the lower yields. Simulations and earlier regional yields differed, but they showed uniformity for the last decade.In a simulation experiment, the APSIM Nwheat model was used with historical weather data to study the relationship between rate and timing of N fertiliser and grain yield, grain protein and soil residual N. A median grain yield of 4.5 t ha⁻¹ was achieved without applying fertiliser, utilising mineral soil N from previous seasons, from mineralisation and N deposition. Application of N fertiliser in February to increase soil mineral N to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ improved the median yield to 7.8 t ha⁻¹ but had little effect on grain protein concentration with a range of 8–10%. Nitrogen applications at tillering and the beginning of stem elongation further increased grain yield and in particular grain protein, but did not affect soil residual N, except in a year with low rainfall during stem elongation. A late N application at flag leaf stage increased grain protein content by several per cent. This increase had only a small effect on grain yield and did not increase soil residual N with up to 40 kg N ha⁻¹ applied, except when N uptake was limited by low rainfall in the period after the flag leaf stage. The economic and environmental optima in winter wheat were identified with up to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ in February, 90 kg N ha⁻¹ between tillering and beginning of stem elongation and 40 kg N ha⁻¹ at flag leaf stage resulting in a median of 8.5 t ha⁻¹ grain yield, 14.0% grain protein and 13 kg N ha⁻¹ soil residual N after the harvest. The maximum simulated yield with maximum N input from two locations in the Netherlands was 9.9 t ha⁻¹.     

Heterosis in Primary Hexaploid Triticale with Heterozygous Wheat or Rye Genome*)

Twelve primary hexaploid triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack), synthesized from, three lines of tetraploid wheat (Triticum durum L., T. turgidum L.) and four inbred lines of rye (Secale cereale L.), were used to produce 18 crosses with homozygous wheat and heterozygous rye genome and 12 crosses with heterozygous wheat and homozygous rye genome. Parents and crosses of triticale, wheat, and rye were tested for two years (rye for one year only) in two-replicate block designs with 1 m²-plots. Data were assessed for plant height, grain yield and for yield-related traits. Performance of triticale crosses was considerably lower than that of the wheat and rye crosses. The amount of heterosis varied greatly between years. Positive and mainly significant heterosis was revealed in triticale generations F₁ and F₂. The average values were closer to those in wheat than to those in rye. For most characters a high level of heterosis was retained in tnucalt1 generation F₂. Heterozygosity of the wheat and rye genome both contributed to heterosis in triticale. However, gene action of the rye genome strongly depended on the homozygous wheat background: one wheat line almost completely suppressed and another greatly stimulated the heterotic effect of the rye genome. In the later case, the amount of heterosis was related to that in rye per se. Information from hybrid rye breeding may therefore be used when establishing gene pools for hybrid breeding in triticale.     

Strategies to Improve the Use Efficiency of Mineral Fertilizer Nitrogen Applied to Winter Wheat

Recovery of fertilizer nitrogen (N) applied to winter wheat crops at tillering in spring is lower than that of N applied at later growth stages because of higher losses and immobilization of N. Two strategies to reduce early N losses and N immobilization and to increase N availability for winter wheat, which should result in an improved N use efficiency (= higher N uptake and/or increased yield per unit fertilizer N), were evaluated. First, 16 winter wheat trials (eight sites in each of 1996 and 1997) were conducted to investigate the effects of reduced and increased N application rates at tillering and stem elongation, respectively, on yield and N uptake of grain. In treatment 90‐70‐60 (90 kg N ha^?1 at tillering, 70 kg N ha^?1 at stem elongation and 60 kg N ha^?1 at ear emergence), the average values for grain yield and grain N removal were up to 3.1 and 5.0 % higher than in treatment 120‐40‐60, reflecting conventional fertilizer practice. Higher grain N removal for the treatment with reduced N rates at tillering, 90‐70‐60, was attributed to lower N immobilization (and N losses), which increased fertilizer N availability. Secondly, as microorganisms prefer NH₄⁺ to NO₃^? for N immobilization, higher net N immobilization would be expected after application of the ammonium‐N form. In a pot experiment, net N immobilization was higher and dry matter yields and crop N contents at harvest were lower with ammonium (ammonium sulphate + nitrification inhibitor Dicyandiamide) than with nitrate (calcium nitrate) nutrition. Five field trials were then conducted to compare calcium nitrate (CN) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) nutrition at tillering, followed by two CAN applications for both treatments. At harvest, crop N and grain yield were higher in the CN than in the CAN treatment at each N supply level. In conclusion, fertilizer N use efficiency in winter wheat can be improved if N availability to the crops is increased as a result of reduced N immobilization (and N losses) early in the growth period. N application systems could be modified towards strategies with lower N applications at tillering compensated by higher N dressing applications later. An additional advantage is expected to result from use of nitrate‐N fertilizers at tillering.     

Grain Yields of Perennial Grain Crops in Pure and Mixed Stands

Perennial grain crops were examined in pure stands and in various mixtures for their grain yield potential in, and suitability for, low‐input systems on marginal land. The investigation was based on field experiments conducted at two sites characterized by marginal environmental conditions in south‐west Germany in 1999 and 2000. The experiments included perennial species of rye (Secale cereale × Secale montanum), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus) and linseed (Linum perenne). In some stands, white clover (Trifolium repens) was included as an undersown intercrop for improved N supply. It was found that maturation of the species differed by up to almost 6 weeks, and consequently the threshability of most mixed stands was not satisfactory. Nevertheless, mixtures of either of the grasses (rye or wheatgrass) with lupin or undersown clover proved to be more suitable than pure stands in most cases, for measures such as grain yield, weed suppression and stability of grain yield over years. The grain yield harvested in the experiments in 1999 was low, reaching about 2.7 t ha^?1 with rye, and decreased for most species in 2000. If improved genotypes were available, perennial grain crops could provide an alternative for arable cropping and set‐aside areas under marginal conditions.