Nitrogen Level and Seeding Rate Effects on the Performance of Hulled Wheats (Triticum monococcum L., T. dicoccum Schubler and T. spelta L.) Evaluated in Contrasting Agronomic Environments

Abstract

Abstract Effects of the nitrogen level and of the seeding rate on the performance of Triticum monococcum L., T. dicoccum Schübler and T. spelta L. (hulled wheats, together referred as ‘farro’) in comparison with bread wheat (variety Eridano) were evaluated. Field trials were conducted in five contrasting environments located in the north and central areas of Italy. Eridano mean grain yield was 3.86 t ha −1 , resulting the highest in all the field trials. T. spelta, T. dicoccum and T. monococcum net grain yield was 2.71 t ha −1 , 2.371 ha −1 and 1.06 t ha −1 , respectively. Significant differences in all the evaluated parameters were observed among the species as well as among the environments. Biomass yield, grain protein and SDS sedimentation values of the hulled wheats were significantly influenced by nitrogen, which had no effect on grain yield. The results show the necessity to breed hulled wheat varieties adapted to the Italian environments and competitive with the bread wheat productivity in the marginal areas.