Foliar nitrogen fertilization of
wheat in Southwestern Buenos Aires
M.R. Landriscini,
J.M. Martínez, J.A. Galantini
Abstract
In the semiarid and subhumid Pampean region, foliar nitrogen (N)
application to wheat at anthesis stage coincides with an erratic rainfall
period, which defines yield and quality. The objectivesof the study were to
evaluate the effect of foliar N application at anthesis on wheat grain yield
and quality in the Southwestern of Buenos Aires Province, an area characterized
by variations in climate and soil fertility, and to apply the principal
component analysis (ACP) in all variables. A total of 30 experiments were
conducted from 2004 to 2012 in the Southwestern. Nitrogen rates of 0, 25, 50
and 100 kg N ha-1were applied at sowing and 25 kg ha-1 at
anthesis. Water availability to the crop was variable in the study period, which
caused significant yield variations. The ANOVA for all the experiments, showed
no significant differences for N at sowing or at anthesis, but it indicated a
protein increase in 25 of the 30 experiments. In all trials yield from the
control treatment ranged from 1784 to 2600 kg ha-1and N foliar
application response from 145 to 1273 kg ha-1. The grain protein
content, which averaged 132 g kg-1, increased 11% with N fertilization
at anthesis. Low and poorly distributed rainfall limited yield and foliar N
response. Nitrogen rates at sowing that produced the maximum response to foliar
application ranged from 0 to 100 kg N ha-1. The most influential
variables in ACP were the rainfall of September, October and November, dry
matter at Z60,soil water content at sowing and N availability. The yield was
estimated with 72 % confidence and protein with 59%. In these environments,
foliar N application resulted in variable grain yield buy it proved to be a
useful practice for enhancing protein content.
Key words:
Nitrogen, Anthesis, Yield, Grain Quality
In Landriscini M.R., J.M. Martínez, J.A. Galantini. 2015. Fertilización foliar con nitrógeno en trigo en el sudoeste bonaerense. Ciencia del Suelo (In press)
