Effects of Moisture and Fertilizer on Yields of Spring Wheat and Barley¹

Abstract

Synopsis Growing season precipitation and available stored soil moisture at seeding affected spring wheat and barley yield responses to N fertilizer on nonfallowed soils. Magnitude of response to N fertilizer as well as the rate required for maximum yield increased as either precipitation or stored moisture increased. As the amount of stored moisture increased, less precipitation was required to produce responses to N. Growing season precipitation plus stored moisture accounted for 40.3% of the yield response.