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The long-term effects of applying high rates of N fertilizer to winter wheat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. R. Holbrook  and
W. J. Ridgman
J. R. Holbrook
Affiliation:
Holly Farm, Medbourne, Market Harborough, Leics
W. J. Ridgman
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3DX
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Summary

An experiment in which all combinations of four rates of N fertilizer soon after sowing, four in early spring and nine in late spring were applied to the same plots of winter wheat for 6 years is described and the effects discussed.

It was found that although the yield varied considerably from year to year the regime leading to greatest yield was fairly consistent. If the farmer had used the regime which gave the greatest average yield (0, 90, 180 kg N/ha in autumn, early spring and late spring, respectively) he would have averaged only 0·12 t/ha less than the maximum attainable each year.

Application of N increased protein concentration in the grain more or less linearly but the latest application increased it most. Since the regime which gave greatest yield on average produced grain which qualified for bread-making premium from the protein point of view in all years except 1981, adopting the regime which gave maximum yield would reduce the potential maximum gross margin by only £30/ha.

Analysis of the soil showed a reduction in pH down to 15 cm and of available P2O5 down to 10 cm.

Type
Review
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 112 , Issue 3 , June 1989 , pp. 403 - 411
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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