Late spring nitrogen applications on wheat on a poorly drained soil

Abstract

Abstract Many of the poorly drained clayey soils of the Mississippi River delta region in Arkansas are used for soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Oftentimes, excessive rainfall occurs between the last N application and physiological maturity, resulting in soil conditions conducive to denitrification. Studies were conducted in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate late N applications on five wheat cultivars on a Sharkey silty clay (very fine, montmorillonitic, nonacid, thermic, Vertic Haplaquepts) at Keiser, AR. A linear‐move irrigation system was used to maintain excessive soil moisture conditions throughout the spring growing season to best insure denitrification conditions. After the recommended spring N was applied, N as urea was applied at rates of 0, 34, and 68 kg ha‐1 at growth stage (GS) 9 in 1989 and GS 10 in 1990. Ammonium nitrate was also evaluated at the 34 kg N ha‐1 rate. Grain yield, yield components, whole‐plant N concentration, grain N content, and whole‐plant N uptake were evaluated. Grain yield increased each year with late N applications. The optimum N rate was 34 kg ha‐1 with no difference between the N sources, urea and ammonium nitrate. The yield component accounting for this grain yield increase were kernels per spike in 1989 and kernel weight and kernels per spike in 1990. Whole plant N concentration increased each year and grain N content increased in 1990 with the late N application. The N sources affected N nutrition similarly.