The effect of late-season urea spraying on grain yield and quality of winter wheat cultivars under low and high basal nitrogen fertilization

The late-season foliar application of urea may increase yield and grain quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Limited information is available regarding the effect of late urea spraying on the performance of wheat cultivars under various basal N fertilization rates. Field experiments were conducted during 2000 through 2002 to evaluate the responses of six winter wheat cultivars to foliar urea (30 kg N ha⁻¹) treatment around flowering at low (67 kg N ha⁻¹) and high (194 kg N ha⁻¹) basal N fertilization rates. Following urea spraying at low N rate, all cultivars increased grain yields to a similar extent (by an average of 7.8% or 509 kg ha⁻¹) primarily due to an increase in the 1000-kernel weight. No yield response to the late-season urea treatment occurred at high basal N rate where grain yields averaged 24.9% (1680 kg ha⁻¹) higher than those at low N rate. In contrast, late foliar urea application similarly improved grain quality at both low and high N rates by an average of 5 g kg⁻¹ (4.5%) for protein content, 3.2 cm³ (11.9%) for Zeleny sedimentation, and 20 g kg⁻¹ (8.6%) for wet gluten. These quality increments were consistent in all growing seasons regardless of significant variations in grain yields and protein concentrations across years. However, most cultivars failed to achieve breadmaking standards at low N rate as quality increments associated with the urea treatment were relatively small when compared to those achieved by high basal N rate. Late urea spraying had no effect on the falling number, whereas some cultivars showed small, but significant reduction in the gluten index at both N rates. Cultivars improved the hectolitre weight with the late-season urea treatment only at low N rate. Significant cultivar × urea interactions existed for most quality traits, which were due to the cultivar differences in the magnitude of responses. Thus, late-season urea spraying consistently produced larger yields at low basal N rate, and resulted in cultivar-dependent increases in protein content, Zeleny sedimentation, and wet gluten at both low and high N rates.     

Estimation of the N fertiliser requirement of cotton grown after legume crops

In a series of legume-based cropping systems experiments, the economic optimum N fertiliser rate for cotton ranged from 0 to 186 kg N ha⁻¹ depending on the cropping system and soil N fertility. The economic optimum N fertiliser rate was closely correlated with pre-sowing soil nitrate-N (0–30 cm) and petiole nitrate-N (at early flowering). Pre-sowing soil nitrate-N and petiole nitrate-N were also strongly correlated with cotton N uptake at late boll-filling and lint yield of unfertilised cotton.These analyses allow for the estimation of the N fertiliser requirement, providing revised calibrations that more precisely estimate the N-fertiliser requirement of irrigated cotton crops where legume cropping has substantially improved soil N fertility. Such management tools are essential to avoid the problems associated with over- or under-fertilizing cotton crops.The importance of optimising N fertiliser application was demonstrated by examining the effects of crop N nutrition on cotton maturity and fibre quality. Crop maturity (rate of boll opening) was delayed by 1 day for each 83, 16 or 24 kg fertiliser N applied per hectare in the three experiments. Increasing N fertiliser rates generally increased fibre length, and tended to increase fibre strength, whereas micronaire tended to decline.     

Variation in rheological properties of gluten from three biscuit wheat cultivars in relation to nitrogen fertilisation

Rheological properties of gluten from three biscuit wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum, L., cv. Reaper, Ritmo, Encore) were studied. The cultivars were grown in two seasons (1997–1999) with three different nitrogen levels, and nitrogen fertiliser was applied using three different strategies. Protein and gluten contents were significantly affected by the N level (P<0.001), but inter-cultivar differences were only significant in 1999, when growing conditions were restricted by environmental factors. The viscoelastic properties of gluten were characterised by creep recovery and oscillation testing. The results showed a significant inter-cultivar effect (P<0.001), with an additional effect from the N level (P<0.001). Increasing levels of nitrogen fertiliser increased the viscous properties of gluten, through an increase of maximum strain and recovery strain, and through a decrease of the storage (G′) and loss modulus (G′′), whereas the phase angle, δ, increased. This increase in viscous behaviour is suggested to be attributed to a higher gliadin/glutenin ratio in the gluten. The fertiliser application strategy did not influence the rheological properties significantly. Thus, high N fertiliser application in biscuit wheat cultivation may be beneficial to obtain rheological properties, which are suitable for biscuit making.     

Factors Contributing to the Benefits of Foliar Nitrogen Application for Wheat in a Sub-Tropical Winter Environment

Abstract

Beneficial effects of foliar N application to cereal crops have been widely believed to rely on subsequent rainfall or irrigation in the semi-arid region where in-crop rain is insufficient and unreliable. To verify this, factors contributing to the effects of foliar N application were assessed by implementing foliar N application in trials on three farmers' properties in central Queensland, Australia. Solutions of CRN35 (30 kg N ha^?1 at 1.94 N % w v^_1), urea and UAN (both 26, 2.25%), and urea (20, 20%; 40, 20%) and UAN (20, 20%; 40, 40%), were applied to wheat at anthesis respectively at the three properties (sites). Adjuvant chemical agents were also applied in mixture form with the N at the latter two sites. At the first site, with foliar N (CRN35) application, grain protein content on average increased by 1.07 percentage points, and by 1.6 in the presence of basal superphosphate. Superphosphate alone also increased grain yield. At the second site, while the applications of UAN and urea increased grain protein content by 1.3 and 0.9 percentage points, respectively, UAN showed superiority to urea in N recovery.

At the third site, foliar N applications with or without chemical adjuvant did not affect grain protein content, but due to the higher concentration in the N solution, some of them (excluding UAN40) had negative effects on grain yield, compared to the water only control.

Based on our data and supporting literature, to ensure the positive effect on wheat grain protein content, subsequent irrigation or rainfall may not be critical provided that foliar N concentration is lower than 5%. It is also suggested that UAN is superior to urea as an N source for foliar application. For alkaline/sodic soils, while the application of basal superphosphate increased grain yield, the added foliar N ensured an increase of grain protein content.     

Influence of sulphur fertilisation on quantities and proportions of gluten protein types in wheat flour

Although different supplies of sulphur (S) during wheat growth are known to influence the quantitative composition of gluten proteins in flour, an effect on the amount and on the proportions of single protein types has yet not been determined. Therefore, wholemeal flours of the spring wheat ‘Star’ grown on two different soils and at four different levels of S fertilisation (0, 40, 80, 160 mg S per container) were analysed in detail using an extraction/HPLC procedure. The results demonstrated that the amount of total gluten proteins as well as of the crude protein content of flour was little influenced, whereas amounts and proportions of single protein types were strongly affected by the different S fertilisation. The changes were clearly dependent on the Cys and Met content of each protein type. The amount of S-free ω-gliadins increased drastically, and that of S-poor high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits increased moderately in the case of S deficiency. In contrast, the amounts of S-rich γ-gliadins and low-molecular-weight (LMW) glutenin subunits decreased significantly, whereas the amount of α-gliadins was reduced only slightly. S deficiency resulted in a remarkable shift of protein proportions. The gliadin/glutenin ratio increased distinctly; ω-gliadins became major components, and γ-gliadins minor components, whereas the ratio of HMW to LMW glutenin subunits was well-balanced.     

Uptake and balance of fertilizer nitrogen applied to sugarcane

During the 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 cropping seasons, a study was conducted at the Tanganyika Planting Company (TPC) estate in Tanzania, to investigate the uptake and balance of mineral N applied as urea (60 kg ha⁻¹) and ammonium sulphate (AS) (40 kg ha⁻¹) on a saline (pH 8.8) and a non-saline (pH 7.8) soil. Both fertilizers were labelled with 10 at.% ¹⁵N excess. The results showed high recoveries (>90%) in the sugarcane plant growing on a non-saline soil for N applied as both urea and ammonium sulphate. On a saline soil, recoveries were lower but depended on the form of N, being lower (∼34%) with urea than with ammonium sulphate (∼77%). These lower recoveries of N in the plant were also associated with lower recoveries in the soil–plant system and imply that there were significant losses of N to the environment in this soil. Possible causes for the losses were discussed.     

Foliar sprays of concentrated urea at maturity of pigeonpea to induce defoliation and increase its residual benefit to wheat

The pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) crop retains appreciable amounts of green foliage even after reaching physiological maturity, which if allowed to defoliate, could augment the residual benefit of pigeonpea to the following wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a pigeonpea–wheat rotation. The effect of addition of leaves present on mature pigeonpea crop to the soil was examined on the following wheat during the 1999/2000 growing season at Patancheru (17°4′N, 78°2′E) and during the 2001–2003 growing seasons at Modipuram (29°4′N, 77°8′E). At Patancheru, an extra-short-duration pigeonpea cultivar ICPL 88039 was defoliated manually and using foliar sprays of 10% urea (30 kg/ha) and compared with a millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) crop, naturally senesced leaf residue and no-leaf residue controls. At Modipuram, the effect of 10% urea spray treatment on mature ICPL 88039 was compared with the unsprayed control. At both locations, the rainy season crops were followed by a wheat cultivar UP 2338 at four nitrogen levels applied in a split plot design, which at Patancheru were 0, 30, 90 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹ and at Modipuram 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha⁻¹. At Patancheru, urea spray added 0.5 t ha⁻¹ of extra leaf litter to the soil within a week without significantly affecting pigeonpea yield. This treatment, however, increased mean wheat yield by 29% from 2.4 t ha⁻¹ in the no-leaf residue pigeonpea or pearl millet plots to 3.1 t ha⁻¹. At Modipuram, the foliar sprays of urea added more leaf litter to the soil than at Patancheru. Here, increase in subsequent wheat yield due to additional pigeonpea leaf litter was 7–8% and net profit 21% more than in the unsprayed control. The addition of pigeonpea leaf litter to the soil resulted in a saving of 40–60 kg N for the following wheat crops in both the environments. The results demonstrated that pigeonpea leaf litter could play an important role in the fertilizer N economy in wheat. The urea spray at maturity of the standing pigeonpea crop significantly improved this contribution in increasing wheat yield, the effect of which was additional to the amount of urea used for inducing defoliation. The practice, if adopted by farmers, may enhance sustainability of wheat production system in an environmentally friendly way, as it could reduce the amount of fertilizer N application to soil and enhance wheat yield.     

Effects of rice straw,biochar and mineral fertiliser on methane (CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>) and nitrous oxide (N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O) emissions from rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) grown in a rain-fed lowland rice soil of Cambodia: a pot experiment

We studied the effects of water regimes and nutrient amendments on CH₄ and N₂O emissions in a 2 × 3 factorial, completely randomised growth chamber experiment. Treatments included continuously flooded (CF) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and three organic amendments: no amendment-control, rice straw (RS) and biochar (BC). Compound fertiliser was applied to all treatments. Rice was grown in columns packed with a paddy soil from Cambodia. Results revealed faster mineralisation of organic carbon (RS and BC) when applied in water-saturated conditions lasting for 2 weeks instead of flooding. This resulted in lower total CH₄ emissions in treatments under AWD than those under the CF water regime, namely 44 % in RS treatments and 29 % in BC treatments. Nitrous oxide fluxes were generally non-detectable during the experimental period except after fertilisation events, and the total N₂O–N emissions accounted for on average 1.7 % of the total applied mineral fertiliser N. Overall, the global warming potentials (GWPs) were lower in treatments under AWD than those under the CF water regime except for the control treatment with only mineral fertiliser application. Grain yields were slightly higher in treatments under AWD than the CF water regime. Hence, the yield-scaled GWP was also lower in the treatments under the AWD water regime, namely 51 % in RS, 59 % in BC and 17 % in control treatments. Control treatments had the lowest GWP, but provided the highest yield. The yield-scaled GWP under these treatments was therefore lower than under the other treatments.     

N- and S-fertiliser effects on grain composition,industrial quality and end-use in durum wheat

Grain composition, industrial and end-use qualities were analysed in four cultivars of durum wheat subjected to four different nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) fertiliser treatments in field trials conducted in two successive years in soils not deficient in S:N1S1 (both N and S applied), N1S0 (N application only), N0S1 (S application only) and N0S0 (no fertiliser application). Characters analysed were grain protein content (%P), grain sulphur content (%S), SDS-sedimentation (SDSS), Farinograph energy level (EL), Farinograph tolerance (TOL) and viscoelasticity of cooked pasta (VISCO). Important differences were found between the results from the 2 years, where all parameters showed superior performance in the year of lower rainfall and higher mean temperatures in the final phase of the crop cycle. Significant differences were observed between fertilisers and between cultivars for all parameters. In spite of the non-limiting conditions for S-availability, S-fertiliser application caused significant differences in grain %P, SDSS and N:S ratio, although it did not generate changes in rheological parameters and end-use; these latter parameters were only influenced by N-fertiliser application. For SDSS, the fertiliser treatment N1S1 was generally the best treatment. SDSS was, in general, strongly correlated with the rheological parameter EL and the end-use parameter VISCO, verifying the potential utility of this small-scale test in early generation selection during breeding. However, one cultivar, Chagual, with a very distinct glutenin and gliadin allelic composition compared to the other three cultivars, showed markedly inferior performance for SDSS and EL, yet acceptable performance for VISCO. Given that previous studies have shown that this cultivar shows superior grain yield compared to the other three cultivars, this sounds a cautionary note for the use of SDSS in breeding: selection based upon SDSS performance would have meant this valuable line would have been eliminated from consideration early in the breeding programme.     

Performance of polymer-coated urea in transplanted rice: effect of mixing ratio and water input on nitrogen use efficiency

Polymer-coated urea (PCU) is an important alternative to uncoated urea for improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE). Only a few studies discuss their utility for lowland rice systems. A 2-year field study was conducted to examine if nitrogen loading is reduced in lowland rice ecosystem by using mixture of PCU and uncoated urea without sacrificing yield. Five treatments involving two mixtures of PCU with 50 and 70% coated urea each at 70 and 50% of recommended dose (80 kg N ha⁻¹) and one with uncoated urea at 100% recommended dose were laid out in a completely randomized design. Selected plant growth parameters and plant available N contents (NH₄–N plus NO₃–N) in soil solution and ponded water were measured over a period of 65 days after transplanting. Results showed no significant difference for vegetative and yield parameters among different treatments suggesting that treatments receiving lower doses of nitrogen exhibited higher NUE. Analysis of partial factor of productivity (PFP) for N suggested that the total N dose may be reduced by 50% using mixtures of coated and uncoated urea. Similarly, statistically similar PFP values for treatments receiving the same amount of total N for both years and for both total N dose suggested that the proportion of coated urea may also be reduced to as low as 50% without sacrificing yield. Correlation analysis on nitrogen contents in ponded water and soil solutions and the analysis of water productivity and PFP showed that soil water regime could also significantly influence the nitrogen status in soil even when PCU are applied. In turn, both the water regime and N contents in soil ultimately influences grain yield. Although the constant release of N from coated fertilizer ensures adequate N supply for plant uptake, it may not completely avoid N deficit condition especially during heavy rainfall. Analysis of the developed production function suggested that 55–65% polymer coating and about 100 cm total water input may be ideal for achieving maximum yield. The production function was developed for PCU treatments using data observed in treatments receiving 70% recommended N dose. The range of water input in these treatments was 86.5–174.0 cm.     

Recovery of nitrogen from different sources following applications to winter wheat at and after anthesis

The effects of applying nitrogen (30 or 40 kg N/ha) to wheat crops at and after anthesis, after 200 kg N/ha had already been applied to the soil during stem extension, were studied in field experiments comprising complete factorial combinations of different cultivars, fungicide applications and nitrogen treatments. Actual recoveries of late-season fertilizer nitrogen (LSFN), as indicated by ¹⁵N studies, interacted with cultivar and fungicide treatment, and depended on nitrogen source (urea applied as a solution to the foliage, or as ammonium nitrate applied to the soil) and year. These interactions, however, were not reflected in apparent fertilizer recoveries ((N in grain with LSFN − N in grain without LSFN)/N applied as LSFN), or in the crude protein concentration. Apparent fertilizer recovery was always lower than actual recoveries, and declined during grain filling. Fertilizer treatments with higher actual fertilizer recoveries were associated with lower net remobilisation of non-LSFN (net remobilised N = N in above ground crop at anthesis − N in non-grain, above ground crop at harvest). LSFN also increased mineral nitrogen in the soil at harvest even when applied as a solution to the foliage. These effects are discussed in relation to potential grain N demand.     

The efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser for rice in Bangladeshi farmers’ fields

Bangladesh is currently self sufficient in rice (Oryza sativa L.), which accounts for approximately 80% of the total cropped area, and 70% of the cost of crop production. However, farmers are increasingly concerned about the perceived decline in productivity, expressed as the return on fertiliser inputs. Agronomic efficiency is a measure of the increase in grain yield achieved per unit of fertiliser input that can provide a way to quantify the observation of farmers. This study indicates that the yields achieved where only P and K fertiliser were applied ranged from 3–5 t ha⁻¹, indicating good soil fertility, particular in terms of soil N supply (37–112 kg N ha⁻¹). However, at recommended rates and at rates used by farmers, the yield response to application of fertiliser N was low. Data shows that grain yields were significantly correlated in both years (R² = 0.77 and R² = 0.67) with plant uptake in nitrogen. The internal nitrogen use efficiency seems to confirm that sink formation was limited by factors other than nitrogen. Low agronomic efficiency (5–19 kg grain kg⁻¹ N) was caused by poor internal efficiency (45–73 kg grain kg⁻¹ N), rather than low supply of soil N or loss of fertiliser N. Thus, often the applications of large amounts of N fertiliser (39–175 kg N ha⁻¹) by farmers to increase yields of high yielding variety Boro rice were not justified agronomically and ecologically. A rate of 39 kg N ha⁻¹ is very low, hardly an environmental threat. No one single factor could be identified to explain the low internal efficiency. Therefore, it is concluded that the data presented tend to confirm the indication that yields are limited by a factor other than nitrogen, which could be crop establishment, plant density, water or pest management, micro-nutrients deficiency, poor seed and transplanted seedling quality, varieties and low radiation.     

Plant available soil water at sowing in Mediterranean environments—Is it a useful criterion to aid nitrogen fertiliser and sowing decisions?

In regions where rainfall is low and variable, water stored in the soil profile prior to sowing can alter yield expectation and hence management decisions. Thus, wheat farmers in Mediterranean regions may be able to benefit from knowing the amount of soil water at sowing by optimising their nitrogen (N) fertiliser management and by deciding on whether or not to sow a crop. We used the ASPIM-Nwheat model to explore how levels of plant available soil water (PAW) at sowing, N fertiliser rate, soil, site and season-type (below or above median rainfall) affected wheat yields at sites in the Mediterranean area of southwest Australia. Overall, the greatest influence on yield potential and the consequent N fertilisation requirement was season-type. The additional yield per mm PAW at sowing was generally higher in seasons with below median rainfall, except when yields were severely water-limited by below median rainfall of <222 mm combined with <40 mm PAW at sowing on light clay soil with 109 mm plant available water capacity (PAWC). Sowing was generally warranted; only on light clay soil with <10 mm PAW at sowing and below median rainfall of <222 mm was there an opportunity for a conditional sowing strategy. Scope for varying N fertiliser rates with PAW at sowing was limited to soils with higher PAWC (109 and 130 mm, respectively) in below median rainfall seasons at the wetter site (295 mm mean seasonal rainfall), and in both season-types at the drier site (225 mm mean seasonal rainfall). Only in these combinations, soil water at sowing modified the optimal N fertiliser rate for maximum average yield resulting in significant interactions between PAW at sowing and N fertiliser rates. Similar interactions were found for a site in the Mediterranean Basin and a site in the eastern Australian subtropics on soil with high PAWC (183 and 276 mm, respectively). In contrast, there was no benefit from modifying crop management based on PAW at sowing on soil with low PAWC (i.e. sandy soil) and/or under conditions of high in-season rainfall. The conditional N management approach becomes more viable as the proportion of water stored in the soil prior to sowing increases relative to total crop water use and as the PAWC of the soil increases. Knowledge of PAW at sowing × N fertiliser rate interactions in a particular soil × site × season-type context can help to identify sites where a more targeted N management dependent on amounts of PAW at sowing is potentially profitable.     

Temporal variation in nitrogen concentration of above ground perennial ryegrass applied different nitrogen fertiliser rates

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown for seed in field trials in order to investigate the temporal variation in plant nitrogen (N) concentration during ontogeny. Crops were sown in three successive years and grown with five N fertiliser rates applied in the autumn and in the spring (autumn–spring): 0–0, 0–50, 0–100, 30–120 or 60–140 kg N ha⁻¹. Within each N fertiliser rate, N concentration in the plants increased from the initiation of spring growth and reached a maximum of 4.8% at 450–500 growing degree-days (GDD) after which it decreased to 0.8% at 1150–1200 GDD. This pattern of plant N concentration was consistently low at each N fertiliser rate and between years whereas the variation in plant N concentration within each year was high as a result of the different N fertiliser rates. Nitrogen fertiliser rate up to 150 kg N ha⁻¹ increased the seed yields.During spring growth 89% of the variation in plant N concentration could be explained by a non-linear function of GDD. Maximum variation occurred at 480 GDD, with a 95% confidence interval between 428 GDD and 540 GDD. Plant N concentrations measured at 424 GDD in 1998, 447 GDD in 1997, and 497 GDD in 1996, and the resulting correlation coefficients (r²) between N concentration and seed yield were 0.81, 0.71 and 0.92, respectively.It is concluded that the variation in plant N concentration during ontogeny in perennial ryegrass is related to different N fertiliser rates and that the greatest variation in plant N concentration was in the period from 428 GDD to 540 GDD.     

缓释尿素对滴灌玉米农田土壤无机氮及产量的影响

通过研究不同基施比例的缓释尿素与滴灌玉米土壤氮素供应、氮素吸收利用以及农田氮素平衡的相互关系,明确缓释尿素在滴灌玉米上作基肥施用并探讨其施用的适宜基施比例。结果表明,基施缓释尿素对比普通尿素增加了土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量,缓释尿素处理土壤无机氮积累量表现为富集现象,不施氮处理则表现为负积累效应;土壤氮素含量随基施比例的增加而降低。玉米产量、氮肥利用率和农学效率随缓释尿素基施比例的增大表现为先增加后降低的趋势,土壤氮素表观损失量和氮素盈余量随基施比例的增大均先降后增。以缓释尿素50%作基肥的玉米产量及氮肥利用率较高,土壤氮素表观损失量较低。     

小麦贮藏蛋白特性及其遗传转化

小麦籽粒贮藏蛋白由醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白组成。醇溶蛋白在组成上以单体形式存在 ,具有高度的异质性和复杂性。它决定小麦面筋的粘性。谷蛋白是由多个亚基组成的高分子聚合体 ,决定面筋的弹性。它可分为低分子量谷蛋白亚基和高分子量谷蛋白亚基 (HMW- GS)。HMW- GS具有相似的分子结构 ,即由中央重复序列、无重复的 N端和 C端组成。HMW- GS对小麦烘烤品质起着决定性作用 ,但因 HMW- GS类型不同而对加工品质的贡献大小各异。许多 HMW- GS基因已被揭示。实践证明 ,利用基因枪法 ,将 HMW- GS基因导入普通小麦的细胞核内 ,能够达到改良小麦烘焙品质的目的。随着分子生物学技术的不断发展 ,可望从营养和加工角度来改良小麦品质的特性     

Combined nitrogen and sulphur fertilisation and its effect on wheat quality and protein composition measured by SE-FPLC and proteomics

Soil sulphur deficiency, which is increasingly prevalent in Western Europe, lowers wheat yields, and also affects the gluten quality of the flour. Differences in S availability may change the proportion of S-poor to S-rich gliadins and glutenin subunits. This may cause unpredictable and unwanted variations in wheat quality. The combined effects of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) fertilisers and split application of S and N on wheat gluten quality and composition were investigated. The results revealed effects of S fertilisation on dough quality. At high N fertilisation levels significant responses to S fertilisation were found which emphasised the need for precision application of S in intensive wheat production systems. Protein fractionation by SE-FPLC showed that quality differences were associated with changing proportions of high M_r polymeric proteins. Changes in protein composition of salt soluble proteins were also confirmed by proteomics. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and one of the serpin protein spots increased at high N, combined with the lower S level. The enzymes also increased in samples with increased S fertilisation combined with low N, but was not changed at higher N levels. Furthermore, at high N the serpin protein spot, and also a 27 K protein and one unidentified protein spot decreased with increasing S.     

Response of grain sorghum to fertilisation with human urine

Human urine is rich in valuable plant nutrients, and, when separately collected, it can substitute for fertilisers. A high valorisation of urine in crop production requires that each nutrient be balanced to match the actual demand. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of phosphorus- (P) and potassium- (K) balanced urine as a nutrient source for the cultivation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). For this purpose, human urine, mineral fertiliser and compost plus urine were compared in field experiments. Triple super phosphate and potassium chloride were added to the urine fertiliser and potassium chloride to the compost-urine fertiliser to supply similar amounts of nitrogen (N), P and K (100, 44, 83 kg ha⁻¹ in 2006; 50, 22, 42 kg ha⁻¹ in 2007 and 2009) as NPK mineral fertiliser. The mineral fertiliser treatment was repeated with the addition of water at the same volume as contained in urine to one variant.No distinct changes in the chemical soil properties were detected, but a consistent decrease in pH and cation content was observed for mineral fertiliser, while these parameters increased in the urine and compost treatments. The plants responded to all fertilisers with faster development and significant increases in the number of green leaves, size and total area. One hectare produced 520 kg grains in non-fertilised control soil while grain yields per hectare were 1657 kg in urine fertilised, 1244 kg in mineral fertilised and 1363 kg in mineral fertilised and water added and 2127 kg in compost fertilised plots.Our results demonstrate that for the cultivation of sorghum, the N requirement can be fully met and the P and K requirements can be partially met by urine and substitute mineral fertilisers. Where feasible, the combined application of compost and urine is recommended. The long-term impact of fertilisation with human urine requires further investigation with respect to N efficiency, the effect of sulphur and soil salinisation.     

Effect of heat on rheology of gluten fractions from flours with different bread-making quality

Flours from wheat varieties of differing bread-making quality were fractionated using a sequential salt precipitation technique. The gluten fractions in the different varieties varied in the proportion of HMW, LMW glutenins and gliadins. Their rheological behaviour was examined using constant strain (2%) small deformation oscillation tests over frequencies ranging from 0.005 to 10 Hz, before and after heating at 90 °C. The fractions containing a higher proportion of HMW glutenins were associated with a predominantly elastic character, whereas fractions containing mostly gliadins exhibited a viscous-like behaviour. The frequency dependent rheological behaviour of fractions containing HMW proteins was less susceptible to heat, and their elastic character was maintained after heating, whereas the rheology of intermediate fractions and fractions containing mostly gliadins was more susceptible to heating, indicating a rapid change from viscous to elastic behaviour after heating.     

Quality (End-Use) Improvement in Wheat

Abstract

Wheat provides nutrients and the raw materials for industrialized food production. Recent global economic trends and increases in urban population growth have led to an increased demand for wheat-based convenience foods (fast, ready-to-eat, frozen foods, etc.) and for new wheat-based products. These factors have resulted in a greater emphasis than ever on the end-use quality of wheat. This paper reviews grain compositional aspects influencing the processing and quality attributes of the main foods produced with wheat, as well as the breeding strategies and methodologies used to achieve germplasm with desirable end-use quality. Common wheat (Triticum aestivum) is used in bread (leavened, flat, and steamed), noodles, biscuits, and cakes. Durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var. durum) is used globally in alimentary pasta and regional foods (flat breads, couscous, and burghoul) in North Africa and West Asia. Grain characteristics (grain hardness, protein content/quality, enzymatic activity, etc.) play a moderate to important role in the processing and end-use quality of wheat-based products. Among these, gluten strength and extensibility, which are determined by glutenin (HMW and LMW) and gliadin composition, are two of the main factors that determine quality. The complex and generally additive nature of inheritance of most quality traits has led to the development of several indirect tests used in early and advanced generations to increase the frequency of high yielding lines with desirable quality attributes. Additionally, characterization of HMW and LMW glutenins and gliadins allows breeders to combine protein content and quality more effectively. The use of molecular-marker-assisted selection and genetic transformation is expected to accelerate the tailoring of new wheat varieties to meet specific end-use quality requirements. Accumulating desirable quality genes will help reduce genotype X environment effects on quality-presently among the major challenges confronting breeders.