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Urease and Nitrification Inhibitors Impact on Winter Wheat Fertilizer Timing, Yield, and Protein Content
Author(s) -
Mohammed Yesuf Assen,
Chen Chengci,
Jensen Tom
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2015.0391
Subject(s) - urea , urease , agronomy , fertilizer , nitrification , randomized block design , yield (engineering) , growing season , precipitation , nitrogen , chemistry , environmental science , zoology , biology , geography , materials science , biochemistry , organic chemistry , meteorology , metallurgy
Nitrogen fertilizer is an important input for winter wheat ( Triticum aestivium L.) production. However, the losses of applied N fertilizer are economically substantial and environmentally unsafe. Therefore, improved N fertilizer management practices are needed to increase yield, enhance wheat quality, and minimize negative consequences to the environment. The objective of this experiment was to determine the impact on two N fertilizer sources, two application times, and three placement methods on grain yield, protein concentration, and N uptake of winter wheat. The experiment was conducted in Montana, in a randomized complete block design. The mean grain yield, protein concentration, and N uptake in 2010/2011 were lower than 2012/2013 due to differences in soil fertility and inter‐seasonal variations in precipitation. Treatment effects were significant in 2010/2011 (wet season) but not in 2012/2013 (dry season). In 2010/2011, urea with agrotain (urease inhibitor) and N serve (nitrification inhibitor) broadcasted in spring (UANSBS) produced the highest yield (2630 kg ha −1 ). This yield increase was 29% more than fall applied urea. In 2010/2011, spring broadcasting of urea, urea with agrotain, Super Urea (urea with urease and nitrification inhibitors), and UANSBS produced similar but higher yield, grain protein concentration and grain N uptake than other treatments. Therefore, considering the erratic nature of precipitation in this dry land area, spring broadcasting of urea with or without inhibitors appeared to be practical N fertilizer management practices for the region. But economic analysis is needed to justify this suggestion.