Grain quality and N uptake of spring cereals as affected by nitrogen fertilization in northern conditions

Valkama, Elena; Salo, Tapio; Esala, Martti; Turtola, Eila

Grain quality and N uptake of spring cereals as affected by nitrogen fertilization in northern conditions

2013

Valkama, Elena | Salo, Tapio | Esala, Martti | Turtola, Eila

We reviewed quantitatively 40 Finnish field experiments related to the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the main parameters of grain quality and N uptake of spring cereals. The experiments were conducted on a wide range of mineral soils under varying growth conditions from the 1950s to the 1990s. Overall there was no statistically significant effect on 1000 grain weight and a slightly negative effect on grain test weight. Nitrogen fertilizer increased N uptake much more steeply in slightly acidic soils (SA, pH 5.8–6.9), located mostly in South Finland, than in moderately acidic soils (MA, pH 5.0–5.7), located in Central Finland. With increasing N rates, protein content increased to a larger extent in spring barley and oats than in spring wheat. In the light of the current trend to reduce N fertilizerapplication, the obtained regressions between N rates and the parameters of grain quality may be used to maintain yield quality at a desirable level, while optimizing N management.

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