Influence of no-tillage agriculture system and fertilization on wheat yield and grain protein and gluten contents

Abstract

The paper aimed to make a comparison between the influence of conservation no-tillage system and conventional tillage system on wheat productivity and grain quality, expressed by protein and gluten contents. The research work was carried out at Turda Agriculture Research and Development Station, in the Central part of Romania within a partnership project with Agricultural Universities from Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest, during the period 2008-2011. The bi-factorial experiments were organized according to a split-plot model. Two factors were taken into consideration: A Factor Agricultural Tillage System with 2 variants, a1 conventional tillage system and a2 no-tillage system, and B Factor Fertilization with 3 variants, b1 no fertilization, b2 N 80 P 40 kg per ha and b3 N 150 P 75 kg per ha. Fertilization was the major factor influencing both wheat yield and grain quality. The higher the fertilization level, the higher wheat yield and protein and gluten percentage of grains as well. No-tillage system had a negative impact on wheat yield, leading to 353 kg grain loss per surface unit in comparison with conventional tillage. The production loss determined by no-tillage accounted for 230 kg grains per ha on unfertilized plot, 450 kg grains on the plot fertilized with N 80 P 40 and 380 kg grain loss where N 150 P 75 was used per ha. The average protein content of wheat grains produced in no-tillage system was 14.56%, by 0.15% higher than in conventional tillage. The aplication of N 80 P 40 fertilizer per ha caused 0.1% additional protein content compared to conventional system. The fertilization based on N 150 P 75 fertilizer per ha assured 0.2% protein gain in grains produced in no-tillage system. Conservation no-tillage system assured 0.67% more gluten in the wheat grains than conventional agricultural system. Farmers are encouraged to apply no-tillage system under the condition of a corresponding fertilization and endowment with machinery in order to increase productivity and grain quality in wheat cropping.