ISSN:
1432-1319
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary Wheat was grown in field and glasshouse experiments to assess the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on yield when water stress occurred in the later half of the growth. N application was deferred until the main culm apex of the plant was at the double-ridge stage of development. In the glasshouse water stress was imposed by altering the watering regime; in the field it was anticipated as naturally occurring and compared to an irrigated control. The response to deferred N was much stronger at adequate water supply giving rise to a significant positive N X W interaction effect. This positive N X W interaction was shown by number of ears, leaf area index, green area duration, water use and root growth, as well as grain yield. In both the glasshouse and field, N increased post-anthesis green area duration (PGD) which was highly correlated with grain yield, but since the components of grain yield determining the response to N were largely established by anthesis (number of ears), PGD does not appear to increase grain yield, which was rather caused by increased survival of tillers. In concert with its effect on PGD, deferred N resulted in greater root survival and/or growth at deeper layers late in the season. Water stress as measured in these experiments was insufficient to cause decreases in yield from use of N at low water supply. However, in the field nitrogen application did lower plant water potential late in the growing season.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00272549
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