Effect of nitrogen source, placement and time of application on winter wheat production in Saskatchewan

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
W. Nuttall ◽  
T. Wright ◽  
H. Ukrainetz

Saskatchewan producers growing primarily spring-seeded cereals may be interested in diversifying their cropping alternatives. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) could provide one possible option, but its management could cause conflict with the busy fall and early spring activities for spring-seeded crops. A study was conducted at five sites (Swift Current, 4 yr; Melfort, 4 yr; and Scott, Lashburn, and Loon Lake, 1 yr each) in four soil zones (Brown, Dark Brown, and Black Chernozems and Gray Luvisol). The effect of time of application of N (seeding to early spring), source of N (ammonium nitrate vs. urea), and method of application (broadcast, midrow band, and seed-placed) on yield and grain protein concentration were investigated. The results varied with site and year (weather). Time of N application only influenced yields at Swift Current (Brown soil) where application on cool unfrozen soil in mid-October was as good as application in early spring and better than at other times, and application onto frozen, snow-covered soil in December was least effective. At Swift Current and Melfort, grain protein concentration did not respond to time of application; however, at Scott, Lashburn and Loon Lake, protein was highest for spring-applied N, followed by mid-October, and lowest when N was applied on frozen snow-covered soil. The effect of N source rarely affected grain yield or protein and was dependent on site and method of placement. The dangers of seed-placing N, especially urea, on overwinter survival and yields were evident in 2 yr at Swift Current. There was rarely any difference in yield or grain protein concentration when N was banded or broadcast at seeding time. Taking into account convenience of operation, the most opportune time for Saskatchewan producers involved in growing both spring and winter wheat to apply N would be mid-October in the Brown soil zone. In the other soil zones, early spring would be best. Broadcasting the N was the most appropriate method of application at all sites. Urea would be chosen over ammonium nitrate because there was little advantage of one source over the other and urea is generally cheaper. Key words: Urea, ammonium nitrate, protein, grain yields, plant population

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. CAMPBELL ◽  
J. G. McLEOD ◽  
F. SELLES ◽  
F. B. DYCK ◽  
C. VERA ◽  
...  

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in Saskatchewan has increased in recent years due to the introduction of Norstar, a winter hardy variety, and due to the reduction in winter injury when the crop is seeded directly into standing stubble (stubbling-in). Large variations in the amount and distribution of seasonal precipitation in the Brown soil zone may prove detrimental to the adoption of this system. If implemented, fertilizer recommendations will need to be developed to fit this cropping system. A 4-yr study was conducted at Swift Current, Saskatchewan on an orthic Brown Chernozemic silt loam soil to determine the effect of rate, season of application, and placement of urea-N on grain yields and protein concentration of stubbled-in winter wheat. Plant density was unaffected by N. In 1984–1985 and 1986–1987 adequate weather conditions from seeding to early spring resulted in acceptable plant stands, but in 1985–1986 suboptimal winter temperatures and in 1987–1988 severe drought during fall and early spring reduced over-winter survival of wheat. Only 1 year provided better-than-average growing season weather conditions and thus good yields. Grain protein was < 11.5% (the critical lower level for milling) in two of the 4 years. In 1 year, a dry fall and winter coupled with a prolonged hot, dry early spring resulted in poor grain yields and very high protein concentrations (20–22%). Fertilizer-nitrogen, broadcast at 50 kg ha−1 at seeding, resulted in yields and grain protein concentrations similar to those when N was broadcast in April. Band placement of N was superior to broadcast application only in terms of grain protein concentration and N fertilizer recovery. There was no difference between banding N at 5 and 10 cm depth. In all years studied, application of N at 100 kg ha−1 was excessive for this system. It was concluded that producers should be cautious in attempting to grow stubbled-in winter wheat in the Brown soil zone.Key words: Yield, grain protein, N recovery, plant population, kernel weight


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Lafond ◽  
Y. T. Gan ◽  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
D. Domitruk ◽  
F. C. Stevenson ◽  
...  

The recent advances in no-till seeding technology are providing new N management options for crop production on the prairies. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential interaction between P and N fertilizer on winter wheat production in a one-pass seeding and fertilizing system and to determine the feasibility of side-banding all N requirements using urea or anhydrous ammonia at planting as compared with the current practice of broadcasting ammonium nitrate early in the spring. Three forms of N fertilizer (urea, anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate), three rates of N (50, 75 and 100 kg ha–1) and three rates of P (0, 9 and 17 kg P ha–1) were investigated. Urea and anhydrous ammonia were applied during the seeding operation, whereas ammonium nitrate was broadcast the following spring. Applying P fertilizer to the side and below the seed at planting with rates > 9 kg Pha–1 increased grain yield in 3 out of 6 site-years when ammonium nitrate was broadcast early in the spring. The positive yield response to P corresponded to soil test levels of 24 kg P ha–1. With soil test levels greater than 34 kg P ha–1, grain yield response to P fertilizer was not observed. When urea was banded at planting, together with P fertilizer, the yield increases with the increased P rates was shown only in 1 out of 6 site-years. At 5 of th e 6 site-years, grain protein concentration was not affected by P fertilizer; while for 1 site-year, the high rate of P fertilization decreased grain protein concentration. Responses of total grain N and P yields to P fertilization were parallel to the corresponding responses of P fertilization to grain yield, and were rarely associated with N or P concentrations in the grain. Applying N fertilizer at rates of 50 to 100 kg N ha–1 increased winter wheat grain yields by 3 to 8% in 3 out of 6 site-years. The high N rates increased grain protein concentrations in all 6 site-years. Grain protein concentration was 6% greater with N fertilizer applied as ammonium nitrate in early spring than when banding urea or anhydrous ammonia at planting. More consistent improvements in grain yield and grain protein concentration were obtained when the N fertilizer was applied as ammonium nitrate in the spring. Further research is required to determine the benefits of applying some of the crop’s N fertilizer requirements at planting, to reduce the risks of N stresses when the spring application is delayed because of adverse weather or soil conditions. Key words: Ammonium nitrate, anhydrous ammonia, grain yield, nitrogen timing, phosphorus, protein, urea


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


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


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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Kipp ◽  
Bodo Mistele ◽  
Urs Schmidhalter

Yield and grain protein concentration (GPC) represent crucial factors in the global agricultural wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production and are predominantly determined via carbon and nitrogen metabolism, respectively. The maintenance of green leaf area and the onset of senescence (Osen) are expected to be involved in both C and N accumulation and their translocation into grains. The aim of this study was to identify stay-green and early senescence phenotypes in a field experiment of 50 certified winter wheat cultivars and to investigate the relationships among Osen, yield and GPC. Colour measurements on flag leaves were conducted to determine Osen for 20 cultivars and partial least square regression models were used to calculate Osen for the remaining 30 cultivars based on passive spectral reflectance measurements as a high-throughput phenotyping technique for all varieties. Using this method, stay-green and early senescence phenotypes could be clearly differentiated. A significant negative relationship between Osen and grain yield (r2 = 0.81) was observed. By contrast, GPC showed a significant positive relationship to Osen (r2 = 0.48). In conclusion, the high-throughput character of our proposed phenotyping method should help improve the detection of such traits in large field trials as well as help us reach a better understanding of the consequences of the timing of senescence on yield.


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