Durum wheat productivity and nitrogen fertilization in the hilly inland of Sicily [Triticum durum Desf.]
2000
Lombardo, G.M. | Tuttobene, R. (Catania Univ. (Italy). Istituto di Agronomia Generale e Coltivazioni Erbacee)
In order to evaluate the possibility of minimizing the N input, the effects of nitrogen fertilisation on the productivity of durum wheat were investigated over eight growing seasons under low and medium rainfall conditions in the hilly inland of Sicily. In two sites, Dittaino (medium hill) and Barrafranca (high hill), three rates of nitrogen (0-40-80 kg/ha) were applied on the cultivar Trinakria. Orthogonal polynomials were used to determine the response of yield to N rate. The partitioning of the interaction SS was utilised to understand the nature of the interaction 'experimental situation x rate' classifying the years into groups according to the yield nitrogen responses. The environmental characterisation was made by Thornthwaite drought index. The grain yield was not influenced by nitrogen fertilisation in four growing seasons, whereas only in one it decreased significantly as the N rate increased from 40 to 80 kg/ha. In an environmental situation, the production showed a rise increasing the N rate from 0 to 40 kg/ha and in another one from 40 to 80 kg/ha. The crop response to maximum N rate was registered in the most favourable season as concerns rainfall amount and distribution; in this condition, the kernel nitrogen content increased too
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