Nitrogen Fertilizer Types and Application Timing on Hard Red Spring Wheat Productivity and Grain Protein

Abstract

The balance of improving hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend Thell) yield while maintaining grain protein concentration continues to be a challenge in agriculture. The objective of the field research was to evaluate N fertilizer types, additives, rates, and application timing to find N management strategies that improved the efficiency of the applied N with regards to both grain protein and yield. Another aspect of this study was to determine if ground-based active sensor data can predict grain yield and/or protein content. Fertilizer treatments consisted of 2 application timings, 3 sources of N, 3 rates of N, and 2 additive types. Spring applications improved grain protein and yield compared to fall applications. Polymer coated urea shows promise in improving grain protein over urea alone. However, profitability is dependent on environmental factors that may influence N availability, as well as prices at the time that the grain is marketed.