Effect of nitrogen fertilization on winter wheat quality

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer applications on some quality components of wheat. For winter wheat genotypes (Ana Morava, Vizija, L-3027 and Perla) were grown at Small Grains Research Centre Kragujevac in three years (2005–2007) at three levels of nitrogen fertilization (N1 = 60 kg N ha−1, N2 = 90 kg N ha−1 and N3 = 120 kg N ha−1). Zeleny sedimentation value and wet gluten content in divergent wheat genotypes were analyzed in depending on the nitrogen nutrition and years. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased sedimentation value and wet gluten content. The highest increasing of both traits established in N3 variant when applied 120 kg ha−1 of nitrogen. Genotypes reacted differently to N level increasing. Cultivar Perla had the highest value of sedimentation and wet gluten content and this cultivar the best reacted to increasing N levels. Statistically significant differences for sedimentation value and wet gluten content were found among cultivars, years, N-doses and for all their interactions. The results have shown that the best quality of wheat was with nitrogen applied of 120 kg N ha−1. Correlation between nitrogen applications and sedimentation value was significant (r = 0.208*), while between N-doses and wet gluten content was high significant (r = 0.290**). Sedimentation value and wet gluten content positively correlated (r = 0.783**).