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Ammonium as sole N source improves grain quality in wheat
Author(s) -
FuertesMendizábal Teresa,
GonzálezTorralba Jon,
Arregui Luis M,
GonzálezMurua Carmen,
GonzálezMoro M Begoña,
Estavillo José M
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.6022
Subject(s) - ammonium , ammonium nitrate , agronomy , yield (engineering) , composition (language) , nitrate , fertilizer , grain quality , profitability index , grain yield , nitrogen , chemistry , biology , materials science , business , metallurgy , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , finance
Background The skilful handling of N fertilizer, including N source type and its timing, is necessary to obtain maximum profitability in wheat crops in terms of production and quality. Studies on grain yield and quality with ammonium as sole N source have not yet been conducted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of N source management (nitrate vs. ammonium), and splitting it into two or three amendments during the wheat life cycle, on grain yield and quality under irrigated conditions . Results This experiment demonstrates that Cezanne wheat plants growing with ammonium as exclusive N source are able to achieve the same yield as plants growing with nitrate and that individual wheat plants grown in irrigated pots can efficiently use late N applied in GS37 . Ammonium nutrition increased both types of grain reserve proteins (gliadins and glutenins) and also increased the ratio gli/glu with respect to nitrate nutrition. The splitting of the N rate enhanced the ammonium effect on grain protein composition . Conclusions The application of ammonium N source, especially when split into three amendments, has an analogous effect on grain protein content and composition to applications at a higher N rate, leading to higher N use efficiency. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry