Can nitrogen fertiliser maintain wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain protein concentration in an elevated CO2 environment?

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Walker ◽  
Roger Armstrong ◽  
Joe Panozzo ◽  
Debra Partington ◽  
Glenn Fitzgerald

The effect of different nitrogen (N) management strategies (i.e. N rate; 0, 25, 50, 100 kg ha–1, split N application, foliar N application, legume precropping) were assessed for how they may reverse the reduction of grain protein concentration (GPC) under elevated CO2 (eCO2; 550 µmol mol–1) of wheat (cv. Yitpi) using the Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment facility. GPC did not increase significantly under eCO2 for most of the N management strategies assessed when compared with ambient CO2 (aCO2; 390 µmol mol–1). Grain yield of cv. Yitpi under aCO2 increased by 43% (P < 0.001) with application of 100 kg N ha–1 when compared with 0 kg N ha–1 at sowing; this response was approximately double (82%) when 100 kg N ha–1 was applied under eCO2 conditions. Under aCO2 conditions, by adding 100 kg N ha–1 at sowing, the GPC increased by 37% compared with the GPC at N0; whereas under eCO2 conditions, by adding the same quantity of N fertiliser, the GPC increased by only 28%. The highest level of N applied (100 kg ha–1), chosen for economic and practical reasons in a low-rainfall, yield-limiting environment, was lower than that reported in other global studies (250–350 kg ha–1). In a low-rainfall, yield-limiting environment, it is not practical to increase GPC by applying N alone; new cultivars may be required if grain growers are to maintain grain protein (and functionality) in the future as CO2 levels continue to increase.

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
R H McKenzie ◽  
E. Bremer ◽  
C A Grant ◽  
A M Johnston ◽  
J. DeMulder ◽  
...  

Due to the price premium for high-protein wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), many producers are interested in the efficacy of in-crop application of low rates of N fertilizer for increasing grain protein concentration (GPC). We conducted field studies at 26 site-years in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from 1998 to 2000 to determine if in-crop application (tillering, boot stage or anthesis) of N fertilizer [broadcast ammonium nitrate (AN) or foliar urea-ammonium-nitrate solution (UAN); 15 kg N ha-1] could economically increase GPC of a Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat cultivar (AC Barrie). Basal N fertilizer rates were 60 and 120 kg N ha-1. The average increase in GPC due to in-crop N application was 3 g kg-1. The increase in GPC was similar at basal N rates of 60 and 120 kg N ha-1. Broadcast AN and foliar-applied UAN were generally equally effective at increasing GPC, but were not more effective than application at the time of seeding. Late application tended to increase GPC more effectively than early application. The increase in GPC due to application of in-crop N was not economic at most sites in this study, but might be greater if applied under more N deficient conditions. Key words: Split N application, foliar, timing


2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
R. Hackett

AbstractThere is relatively little recent information regarding the effect of timing of fertiliser N application to spring barley on grain yield and grain protein concentration (GPC) under Irish conditions. The objectives of this work were to examine the effects of a) timing of the first N application to spring barley (at sowing or at crop emergence), b) altering the proportion of the total N allocation that is applied in the first of two applications and c) delaying a portion of the total N dose until after the tillering phase on grain yield and GPC of spring barley. Twenty experiments were carried out over four seasons (2011–2014) in the south and south-east of Ireland. Results indicated that there was little consistent difference, in terms of grain yield or GPC between applying the first N at sowing compared to where the initial N application was made at crop emergence. Similarly, altering the proportion of N applied in the first application, irrespective of whether the first application was at sowing or at crop emergence, had little effect on either yield or GPC. Delaying the application of a portion (0.2) of the total N until after the tillering stage also had little consistent effect on either yield or GPC. It is concluded that where the majority of N is applied to spring barley before the end of the tillering stage, altering the timing of applications or the proportion of the total applied in each application will have limited effect on grain yield or GPC.


1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong

On a nitrogen (N) deficient soil on the Darling Downs, yield of irrigated wheat was increased by the application of N as anhydrous ammonia at rates up to 150 kg/ha before sowing. Nitrogen applied at 150 kg/ha before sowing did not increase grain protein concentrations, 300 or 400 kg/ha of N being needed. Nitrogen applications before sowing and during tillering were usually more effective in promoting yield than dressings applied after tillering or applied as several suboptimal dressings between tillering and flowering. Tillering was enhanced by N applied either before sowing or during tillering, whereas application after tillering increased grain size and protein concentration in the grain. Split applications involving equal quantities of N applied to soil before sowing as anhydrous ammonia and to the foliage at tillering as urea solution produced similar grain yields as when the same amount of N was applied before sowing as anhydrous ammonia. Similarly split applications, when equal quantities of N were applied before sowing and after sowing at tillering and boot, were as productive as where all the N was applied before sowing. All urea foliar sprays caused leaf burning, which became evident the day after application. Split N applications were as effective as one application before sowing in increasing the quantity of N contained in grain and generally more effective in increasing the quantity of N in straw. Splitting the N application invariably increased grain protein concentration, and this would seem its chief advantage for irrigated wheat over applying all the N before sowing.


Crop Science ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1671-1679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo C. Canci ◽  
Lexingtons M. Nduulu ◽  
Ruth Dill‐Macky ◽  
Gary J. Muehlbauer ◽  
Donald C. Rasmusson ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
B G McConkey ◽  
D. Curtin ◽  
C A Campbell ◽  
S A Brandt ◽  
F. Selles

We examined 1990-1996 crop and soil N data for no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems from four long-term tillage studies in semiarid regions of Saskatchewan for evidence that the N status was affected by tillage system. On a silt loam and clay soil in the Brown soil zone, spring what (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and protein concentration were lower for NT compared with tilled (CT or MT) systems for a fallow-wheat (F-WM) rotation. Grain protein concentration for continuous wheat (Cont W) was also lower for NT than for MT. For a sandy loam soil in the Brown soil zone, durum (Triticum durum L.) grain protein concentration was similar for MT and NT for both Cont W and F-W, but NT had higher grain yield than MT (P < 0.05 for F-W only). For a loam soil in the Dark Brown soil zone, wheat grain yield for NT was increased by about 7% for fallow-oilseed-wheat (F-O-W) and wheat-oilseed-wheat (W-O-W) rotations. The higher grain yields for NT reduced grain protein concentration by dilution effect as indicated by similar grain N yield. However, at this site, about 23 kg ha-1 more fertilizer N was required for NT than for CT. Elimination of tillage increased total organic N in the upper 7.5 cm of soil and N in surface residues. Our results suggest that a contributing factor to decreased availability of soil N in medium- and fine-textured soils under NT was a slower rate of net N mineralization from organic matter. Soil nitrates to 2.4 m depth did not indicate that nitrate leaching was affected by tillage system. Current fertilizer N recommendations developed for tilled systems may be inadequate for optimum production of wheat with acceptable grain protein under NT is semiarid regions of Saskatchewan. Key words: Tillage intensity, N availability, soil N fractions, N mineralization, crop residue decomposition, grain protein


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wang ◽  
M. R. Fernandez ◽  
F. R. Clarke ◽  
R. M. DePauw ◽  
J. M. Clarke

Although leaf spotting diseases have been reported to have a negative effect on grain yield and seed characteristics of wheat (Triticum spp.), the magnitude of such effects on wheat grown on dryland in southern Saskatchewan is not known. A fungicide experiment was conducted at Swift Current (Brown soil) and Indian Head (Black soil) from 1997 to 1999 to determine the effect of leaf spotting diseases on yield and seed traits of wheat. Two fungicides, Folicur 3.6F and Bravo 500, were applied at different growth stages on three common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and three durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var durum) genotypes. Fungicide treatments generally did not affect yield, kernel weight, test weight or grain protein concentration, and these effects were relatively consistent among genotypes. Folicur applied at head emergence in 1997 and at flag leaf emergence and/or head emergence in 1998 increased yield at Indian Head (P < 0.05). Fungicides applied at and before flag leaf emergence tended to increase kernel weight. Grain protein concentration increased only in treatments of Bravo applications at Indian Head in 1998. These results suggested that under the dryland environment and management in southern Saskatchewan leaf spotting diseases generally have a small effect on yield, kernel weight, test weight and protein concentration. Key words: Wheat, leaf spotting diseases, fungicide, yield


1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Mason ◽  
RW Madin

Field trials at Beverley (19911, Salmon Gums (1991; 2 sites) and Merredin (1992; 2 sites), each with 5 rates of nitrogen (N) and 3 levels of weed control, were used to investigate the effect of weeds and N on wheat grain yield and protein concentration during 1991 and 1992. Weeds in the study were grasses (G) and broadleaf (BL). Weeds reduced both vegetative dry matter yield and grain yield of wheat at all sites except for dry matter at Merredin (BL). Nitrogen fertiliser increased wheat dry matter yield at all sites. Nitrogen increased wheat grain yield at Beverley and Merredin (BL), but decreased yield at both Salmon Gums sites in 1991. Nitrogen fertiliser increased grain protein concentration at all 5 sites-at all rates for 3 sites [Salmon Gums (G) and (BL) and Merredin (G)] and at rates of 69 kg N/ha or more at the other 2 sites [Beverley and Merredin (BL)]. However, the effect of weeds on grain protein varied across sites. At Merredin (G) protein concentration was higher where there was no weed control, possibly due to competition for soil moisture by the greater weed burden. At Salmon Gums (G), grain protein concentration was greater when weeds were controlled than in the presence of weeds, probably due to competition for N between crop and weeds. In the other 3 trials, there was no effect of weeds on grain protein. The effect of weeds on grain protein appears complex and depends on competition between crop and weeds for N and for water at the end of the season, and the interaction between the two.


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