Simplified N fertilization strategies for winter wheat. Part 1: plants: compensation capacity of modern wheat varieties |
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Authors: | Thomas Makary Rudolf Schulz Torsten Müller Carola Pekrun |
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Institution: | 1. Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyThomas.Makary@uni-hohenheim.de;3. Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany;4. Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-9436;5. Institute for Applied Agricultural Research, Nuertingen-Geislingen University, Nuertingen, Germany |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTWinter 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. |
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Keywords: | Fertilization nitrogen splitting Triticum aestivum |
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