Bread-Making Wheat and Soil Nitrate as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization in Irrigated Mediterranean Conditions

Lloveras, Jaime; López, Antonio; Ferran, Javier; Espachs, Sergi; Solsona, Joan

Bread-Making Wheat and Soil Nitrate as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization in Irrigated Mediterranean Conditions

2001

Lloveras, Jaime | López, Antonio | Ferran, Javier | Espachs, Sergi | Solsona, Joan

Mediterranean areas are suitable for the production of high quality bread-making wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) because of the high temperatures during grain filling. Wheat quality is also influenced by variety and can be enhanced through the use of N fertilizer. However, N fertilization can increase residual soil NO⁻ ₃ after harvest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental topdressed N fertilizer on quality and production of high quality bread-making wheat and on residual soil NO⁻ ₃ under irrigated Mediterranean conditions. Field experiments were conducted at two sites during two growing seasons on Calcixeroclic Xerochrept soils of the Ebro Valley (Spain). Five N treatments (100, 200, and 300 kg N ha⁻¹ applied at the end of tillering and 150 or 250 kg N ha⁻¹ at the end of tillering plus 50 kg ha⁻¹ foliar-applied N at the end of the boot stage) were imposed on two cultivars. Topdressed N increased yields, when increasing from 100 kg N ha⁻¹ to higher rates only, in soils with low residual NO⁻ ₃ However, N fertilization increased grain protein contents for all locations and years and bread quality parameters but with a greater effect in soils with low soil NO⁻ ₃ Residual soil NO⁻ ₃ after harvest increased little with increasing N rates. Grain protein, yield, and quality varied depending mainly on the year and amount of precipitation during grain filling. A topdress N rate of 200 kg N ha⁻¹ would be the most appropriate way to produce high quality bread-making wheat and minimize the risk of NO⁻ ₃ leaching.

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