Effects of sources and split application of nitrogen fertilizer on wheat genotypes performance

Abstract

Wheat stands out as one of the main agricultural cereals in the world, used in human and animal feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using different sources and split application of nitrogen fertilizer on the yield performance of wheat genotypes in two farming seasons to develop alternatives for wheat farmers. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the Plant Breeding and Production Laboratory, in the farming seasons of 2012 and 2013. A split-plot experimental design was used with six topdressing nitrogen fertilization strategies, three nitrogen sources and five wheat genotypes as treatments. A number of variables such as grain yield, protein percentage in the grains, 1000-grain weight and test weight were assessed. The results showed that split application of nitrogen fertilization in tillering, booting and flowering stages increases the protein percentage (2.34%) and does not reduce grain yield due to full implementation of fertilizing at tillering stage. Nitrogen fertilizer in tillering, booting and flowering sources with ammonium nitrate and urea enhanced the grain yield (7.75%), protein percentage (11.54%) using source liquid.