Influence of Rate and Time of Application of Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Two Wheat Genotypes

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Hudeiba Research Station farm, River Nile state, for two seasons (2007 –2009) to assess grain yield and quality of two wheat genotypes as affected by different nitrogen fertilization recipes. Nitrogen fertilizer comprised four rates (0 kgN/ha, 43 kgN/ha, 86 kgN/ha and 129 kgN/ha) applied at different stages of growth (tillering, booting and heading) and the two wheat genotypes (N5732/HER//CASKOR and Bohain) Experiments were arranged in a split-plot trail where the nitrogen fertilizer treatments were in the main plots and wheat genotypes in the sub-plots. Combined analysis for the two growing seasons (2007/08 and 2008/09) revealed that N- fertilizer treatments significantly affected yield and yield components of wheat. However, slightly higher yield was obtained at 86kgN/ha at Tillering+43kg.N/ha at Booting (T7) and 86kgN/ha at Booting+ 43kg.N/ha at Heading (T10) relative to the other treatments. High protein and gluten contents were obtained when N-fertilizer applied at 86kg.N/ha rate at booting and 43kg.N/ha at heading stages. Generally genotype (N5732/HER//CASKOR) showed relatively better quality attributes when compared with Bohain, particularly protein and gluten contents