The effect of some soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen fertilisation on winter wheat yield

A b s t r a c t. An environmental study, which was conducted at 45 agricultural farms located in southeastern Poland (Lubelskie Voivodeship) over the period of 2015-2016, evaluated the effect of some soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen fertilisation on winter wheat yield. Soil physicochemical analysis was performed using conventional methods at the accredited laboratory of the Regional Chemical and Agricultural Station in Lublin. Factorial analysis was carried out after classifying the soil according to soil textural classes, pH classes, and phosphorus, potassium and magnesium abundance classes, as well as after determining three nitrogen rates applied for wheat and its previous crop: I – 0-30; II – 31-60; III – 61-90 kg N ha–1. The study found a positive, but not always significant, effect of soil textural class (in particular, the content of silt and clay particles) and soil pH class (from acidic to alkaline) on winter wheat grain yield. Soil phosphorus, potassium and magnesium abundance was not found to have any significant effect on grain yield. However, these nutrients were observed to positively affect wheat grain yield. Nitrogen fertilisation applied for the evaluated crop and the previous crop was found to significantly affect winter wheat grain yield. K e y w o r d s: fertilisation, fertility class, particle size distribution, soil reaction, winter wheat