The Effects of Different Rates, Times, and Methods of Application of Various Fertilizer Combinations on the Yield and Quality of Hard Red Winter Wheat, 1949–50

A study was made to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer, alone and in combination with phosphate and potash fertilizers, on the yield and quality of wheat; to determine the effect of nitrogen carrier on wheat yield and quality; and to determine the effect of time and method of application of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and quality of wheat. Yields of wheat were found to be increased at all locations by the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Increasing the rate of nitrogen applied gave varied but similar results. Increases in yields were noted for inclusion of phosphatic fertilizer in the treatment while the inclusion of potash fertilizer had no effect, beneficial or detrimental, on yields of wheat. The later applications of nitrogen fertilizer gave more increase in yield of wheat than did nitrogen fertilizer broadcast before seeding. Only at Manhattan was NH₄NO₃ significantly superior to CaCN₂ in increasing the yields of wheat. At other locations, no differences in effect of type of carrier of nitrogen on yields of wheat were observed. Test weights of wheat were affected by several treatments at Manhattan and Belleville but not at the other two locations. At Belleville, the resulting effect was a reduction of test weight of the treated plot yield below that of the untreated plot yield, but the effect at Manhattan was in general a reversal of that found at Belleville. Protein content was increased by several treatments as a result of the use of nitrogen fertilizer alone or in combination with phosphate and/or potash fertilizers. This tendency was most pronounced for the heavier applications of nitrogen fertilizer. The inclusion of potash in the treatment caused an increase in percentage of protein at Belleville but at other locations had no effect on percentage of protein. Phosphorus when included in the treatment decreased the protein percentage. The type of nitrogen carrier had little effect on protein percentage contained in wheat.