High Yielding Wheat Versus Economically Competitive and Environmentally Friendly Wheat

Abstract

The globalization of the wheat markets has brought into perpective the obsolescence of policies by which high yield was the main objective of plant breeders and economic development planners. Self-sufficiency has been an undisputed truth for decades in most of the less developed countries; this goal has been frequently sought irregardless of cost and possible environmental deterioration by effects of high nitrogen (N) fertilization. Reducing N fertilization per se will also reduce production costs and will benefit the environment, but may be expressed as lower yields. Agronomic management has to focus on clean, profitable production practices which, although reducing N input by improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), will sustain high yields by means of other practices, such as efficient and timely weed control, improved irrigation and/or water use, better disease forecasting and control, and the use of environmentally friendly yield enhancers.