Fertilisation Source and Dose Optimisation Boost Yield of Durum Wheat in Mediterranean Climatic Conditions

Mazlum Ayhan, Ferhat Kizilgeçi, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal

ABSTRACT. Climate change, global warming, environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields, stagnant wheat yields and reduced farm economic returns require optimisation of sources and doses of plant nutrients. A field study was conducted to evaluate wheat response to different forms of fertilisers and nitrogen (N) doses under Mediterranean conditions. The field trial was comprised of fertiliser sources, including chemical fertilisers, compost and leonardite, while different nitrogen levels (0, 80, 160, 240 kg ha-1) were also tested. The experimental variables included yield attributes (height of the, length of the spike, spikelets number per spike, thousand-grain weight and grain yield). In addition, nutritional quality attributes like protein and starch contents were studied along with NDVI values of wheat under different fertilisation regimes. The trial was executed using a randomised complete block (factorial) design using four replications. The results revealed that fertiliser forms and N doses remained ineffective for boosting yield attributes of wheat. For nutritional characteristics of wheat grains, a higher N dose remained instrumental in boosting protein, starch and wet gluten contents. Thus, 240 kg ha-1 of N dose might be recommended for general adoption under Mediterranean conditions; however, study findings are limited in scope and further in-depth studies are needed by testing organic manures from plant and animal origins.

Keywords: compost; leonardite; NDVI; nitrogen doses; protein content.

Cite

ALSE and ACS Style
Ayhan, M.; Kizilgeçi, F.; Iqbal, M.A. Fertilisation source and dose optimisation boost yield of durum wheat in Mediterranean climatic conditions. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 2021, 54(2), 225-240.
https://doi.org/10.46909/journalalse-2021-020 

AMA Style
Ayhan M, Kizilgeçi F, Iqbal MA. Fertilisation source and dose optimisation boost yield of durum wheat in Mediterranean climatic conditions. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment. 2021; 54(2), 225-240.
https://doi.org/10.46909/journalalse-2021-020 

Chicago/Turabian Style
Ayhan, Mazlum, Ferhat Kizilgeçi, and Muhammad Aamir Iqbal. 2021. “Fertilisation source and dose optimisation boost yield of durum wheat in Mediterranean climatic conditions” Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 54, no. 2: 225-240.
https://doi.org/10.46909/journalalse-2021-020 

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Fertilisation Source and Dose Optimisation Boost Yield of Durum Wheat in Mediterranean Climatic Conditions

Mazlum Ayhan1, Ferhat Kizilgeçi2,*, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal3

1Mardin Artuklu University, Institute of Graduate Education, Department of Field Crops, Mardin, Turkey
2Mardin Artuklu University, Kiziltepe Vocational School, Department of Plant and Animal Production, Mardin, Turkey
3University of Poonch Rawalakot, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, AJK, Pakistan

*E-mail: ferhatkizilgeci@artuklu.edu.tr 

Received: Nov. 20, 2021. Revised: Dec. 06, 2021. Accepted: Dec. 12, 2021. Published online: Dec. 23, 2021

 

 

ABSTRACT. Climate change, global warming, environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields, stagnant wheat yields and reduced farm economic returns require optimisation of sources and doses of plant nutrients. A field study was conducted to evaluate wheat response to different forms of fertilisers and nitrogen (N) doses under Mediterranean conditions. The field trial was comprised of fertiliser sources, including chemical fertilisers, compost and leonardite, while different nitrogen levels (0, 80, 160, 240 kg ha-1) were also tested. The experimental variables included yield attributes (height of the, length of the spike, spikelets number per spike, thousand-grain weight and grain yield). In addition, nutritional quality attributes like protein and starch contents were studied along with NDVI values of wheat under different fertilisation regimes. The trial was executed using a randomised complete block (factorial) design using four replications. The results revealed that fertiliser forms and N doses remained ineffective for boosting yield attributes of wheat. For nutritional characteristics of wheat grains, a higher N dose remained instrumental in boosting protein, starch and wet gluten contents. Thus, 240 kg ha-1 of N dose might be recommended for general adoption under Mediterranean conditions; however, study findings are limited in scope and further in-depth studies are needed by testing organic manures from plant and animal origins.

Keywords: compost; leonardite; NDVI; nitrogen doses; protein content.

 

INTRODUCTION

The changing climate scenario has threatened the food security of the masses by reducing productivity, deteriorating nutritional quality, slashing economic returns and imparting unsustainability to staple crop production globally (Chowdhury et al., 2021; Iqbal et al., 2021a). Most of the staple crops like wheat entail a C-3 metabolic pathway, which gets abruptly disturbed with dynamic growth conditions. Wheat occupies a pivotal position among staple crops and ranks second after rice in terms of production (26%) and area under cultivation (31%) (Alghawry et al., 2021; Iqbal et al., 2021b; Ahmad et al., 2021). Likewise, durum wheat is being grown on 50% of the cultivated area and is 70% of the cereal planted in Turkey (Yazar and Karadogan, 2018). Durum wheat is tetraploid and quite different from hexaploid bread wheat in terms of quality characteristics and utilisation.

Besides changing climate, suboptimal fertilisation has contributed significantly to stagnation and even reduction of durum wheat yield (Siddiqui et al 2019; Alam et al., 2021). Inorganic fertilisers used as a sole source of plant nutrients have not only contributed to environmental pollution, but also resulted in yield stagnation during the last decade (Uyanöz et al., 2004). Additionally, the rapid multiplication of the human population and construction of human settlements have decreased the availability of agricultural lands, which have multiplied the need to boost productivity per unit of land area. In a similar fashion to chemical fertilisers, organic manures lack reorganisation, due to a decline in yield, in comparison to chemical fertilisers (Iqbal et al., 2021b). Global warming and climate change have further necessitated sorting out the most superior sources of organic manures and optimising their doses to produce comparable yields (Siddiqui et al., 2019). Previously, it was inferred that co-application of organic manures with reduced doses of chemical fertilisers affected growth attributes, and ultimately higher wheat yield was obtained. However, the findings of this field study are limited in scope, owing to the testing of a limited number of organic manures and wheat cultivars (Zahoor et al., 2021). Similarly, organic manures from plant origin are applied in conjunction with humic acid using the rate of 0.625 tons and 10 kg, respectively, per hectare significantly promoted yield attributes of wheat (Alghawry et al., 2021). Similarly, organic manures applied in conjunction with chemical fertilisers were evaluated for eleven winter wheat cultivars and integrated regimes (organic manures applied with reduced doses of chemical fertilisers) could potentially produce comparable grain yield of wheat; however, it was suggested to test manure combinations under varying pedo-climatic conditions before recommending for general adoption (Iqbal et al., 2021). Moreover, numerous other factors favour finding alternate sources of plant nutrition, such as chemical fertilisers, induced deterioration of the soil structure and eutrophication (Sullivan et al., 1998). Organomineral fertilisers are fertilisers obtained because of the combination or reaction of single, double or triple plant nutrients with one or more organic products. Organic fertilisers consist of residues or wastes of plant, animal and human origin. Organic fertilisers are mostly used to improve the soil properties both physical, chemical and biological. Namlı et al. (2019) found that it is important to evaluate the organic materials in wheat cultivation as organomineral fertiliser, organic soil conditioner and K-humate-humic acid by content analysis. They are stabilised, mineralised products of various organic substances that can be biochemically decomposed by organisms. It becomes evident that considerable research and knowledge gaps exist regarding organic manure source and dose optimisation under Mediterranean conditions, while chemical fertilisers induced pollution and wheat yield stagnation require conducting in-depth studies.

The research hypothesis of this trial was that organomineral fertilisers might perform better than chemical fertilisers in terms of wheat yield and nutritional quality, owing to the slow and steady provision of multiple nutrients in sufficient quantities. Thus, this field study aimed to evaluate three different fertiliser forms, including organomineral fertiliser (compost and leonardite) and chemical fertiliser, as well as four different nitrogen levels (0, 80, 160, 240 kg N ha-1) for their effects on grain yield, yield components and quality characteristics.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research trial was conducted in a rain-fed environment from the 2019-2020 growing season in Mardin, Turkey (37° 10’ 2108” N, 40° 34’ 0255” E and 475 m elevation). For the soil analysis, samples were taken from 0-30 cm depth from four corners and the middle of the experimental block to determine the physicochemical features of the experimental soil. The soil texture was clayey-loamy and organic matter content was low (1.86%). In addition, the amount of available phosphorus was 1.36 kg ha-1 and EC remained 0.049% along with a pH of 7.57. The ‘Burgos’ variety of wheat, which is widely cultivated in the region, was used as planting material in the study. Chemical and organomineral fertilisers (compost and leonardite) were used as fertilisers. The properties of leonardite and compost-based organomineral fertilisers are given in Table 1. Chemical fertilisers were applied as diammonium phosphate (DAP) using the rate of 18% N and 46% P2O5

The study used a four-replication randomised complete block (factorial) design. Fertiliser forms were included in the main plots, and nitrogenous fertiliser levels (0, 80, 160 and 240 N kg ha-1) were included in the subplots. In the experiment, experimental units were 1.2 m, and parcel areas were 4.8 m2. All of the phosphorus fertiliser was applied at 80 kg ha-1 together with planting. In the control applications where nitrogen was not applied, phosphorous was applied as triple superphosphate. Half of the total nitrogen amount determined for each plot was given as base fertiliser with planting, and the remaining half was given as top fertiliser in the tillering period.

The daily temperature and precipitation values of the study location are given in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Experimental variables

As already stated, different yield attributes were recorded by following standard methodologies. In addition, grain quality characteristics including protein, starch and wet gluten contents were estimated. Furthermore, the normalised vegetation index (NDVI) was determined with the help of a Trimble brand GreenSeeker instrument. NDVI measurements were taken between 12:00 and 14:00 during clear weather.

Statistical analysis

Values obtained from the study were analysed by using the JMP 10 Statistical package program according to a four replication randomised complete block (factorial) design. The differences between the mean values of fertiliser forms and nitrogen doses were subjected to the Tukey test at the 5% level.

 

Table 1
Content values of organomineral (leonardite and compost) fertilisers used in the research

Fertiliser content

Leonardite

Compost

Base fertiliser

Top fertiliser

Base fertiliser

Top fertiliser

Total organic matter

15%

10%

20%

20%

Total nitrogen (N)

8%

25.50%

8%

24%

Ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4)

8%

10%

8%

Urea nitrogen (N)

16%

23%

Organic nitrogen (N)

1%

Total P2O5

20%

21%

Water-soluble P2O5

18%

16%

Total SO3

10%

15%

Water soluble sulphur trioxide (SO3)

20%

Water-soluble magnesium oxide (MgO)

2%

Total (humic & fulvic)

10%

5%

7%

10%

Water soluble iron (Fe)

0.5%

Zinc total (Zn)

0.20%

Maximum humidity

20%

2%

20%

pH range

6-8

4-6

6-8

 

Figure 1 – Daily and total temperature values for the period in which the research was coznducted

 

Figure 2 – Daily and total precipitation values for the period in which the research was conducted

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Agronomic characteristics

Plant height

Fertiliser form, nitrogen dose and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction were found to be statistically insignificant (Table 2). The highest plant height was obtained from the 160 kg N ha-1 leonardite application (91.23 cm). The lowest plant height value was determined from the application of compost 240 kg N ha-1 (87.68 cm) (Table 3). Similar to our research, Kizilgeci et al. (2021) found that the effects of nitrogen doses on plant height were statistically insignificant; while in contradiction, Özseven (1995) reported that increasing N doses had a considerable impact on the height of the plants and that higher N doses boosted photosynthesis rate from higher chlorophyll contents. This led to the greater partition of assimilates from leaves towards sinks such as stems and taller plants were ultimately observed.

Spike length

Like plant height, fertiliser form, nitrogen dose and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction remained statistically insignificant for spike length of wheat (Table 2). Spike length varied between 6.50 and 6.93 cm (Table 3). However, the highest spike length value (6.93 cm) was obtained from the application of the chemical fertilisers at a rate of 160 kg N ha-1, while the control treatment had the lowest spike length (6.50 cm) (Table 3).

In agreement with our findings, Kizilgeci et al. (2021) stated that the effects of nitrogen doses on spike length were statistically insignificant, while contrarily, Özseven (1995) reported a significant effect of fertiliser forms and increasing N doses on length of spikes.

 

Table 2
Analysis of variance (mean squares) for some yield attributes with different fertiliser forms and nitrogen dose applications to durum wheat

Source

Df

Plant height

Spike length

Number of spikelets

Replication

3

16.1924

0.3164

0.8025

FF

2

  2.2565

0.0131

0.0565

N

3

  4.2935

0.0647

0.2714

FF x N

6

  3.8981

0.0687

0.1328

Error

33

  5.58

2.43

4.18

CV (%)

  2.65

4.05

2.12

FF: Fertiliser form, N: Nitrogen dose, CV: coefficient of variation

 

Table 3
Average values of some yield attributes with different fertiliser forms and nitrogen doses applied to durum wheat

N Doses

(kg ha-1)

Plant height (cm)

Spike length (cm)

Number of spikelets

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

0

88.78

89.88

7.88

8.84

6.50

6.73

6.60

6.61

16.70

16.80

16.48

16.48

80

90.08

89.10

89.80

89.33

6.60

6.78

6.58

6.65

16.68

16.95

16.88

16.88

160

90.00

89.08

91.23

90.10

6.93

6.75

6.65

6.78

16.88

17.18

16.93

16.93

240

89.00

87.68

89.80

88.83

6.73

6.60

6.80

6.72

16.70

16.50

16.90

16.90

Mean

89.21

8.93

89.68

6.70

6.71

6.66

16.74

16.86

16.80

Ch: Chemical, Co: Compost, Le: Leonardite

 

Spikelets number in spike

Following the trend of plant height and spike length, the spikelets number in spike remained on par with each other for all treatments (Table 2). The number of spikelets varied between 16.48-16.95. The highest number of spikelets was obtained from the leonardite 0 kg N ha-1 application (16.48). The least number of spikelets was determined from the 80 kg N ha-1 compost application (16.95) (Table 3). Similar to our study, Kizilgeci (2019) inferred that N doses and fertilisers form were of secondary importance, while phosphorous (P) content imparted comparative superiority to wheat cultivars in terms of spikelets per spike. Contrarily, Başar et al. (1998) reported that N doses remained effective in increasing the number of spikelets, due to the greater portioning of assimilates towards reproductive parts of wheat, and better yield attributes were ultimately recorded. Previously, it has also been reported that the number of spikelets in wheat was greatly affected by environmental factors and the genetic potential of the cultivars (Erekul et al., 2005). In addition, it was inferred that the number of spikelets per spike decreased significantly due to nutrient deficiency and drought spells (Öztürk and Korkut, 2018).

Grain number per spike

Practically, the number of grains in the spike was not influenced by the interaction between the nitrogen dose and the fertilizer format × the nitrogen dose. (Table 4). The grains number in spike for each application ranged 45.15-49.78. The highest grain number per spike (49.78) was recorded for the leonardite (160 kg N ha-1) application, while the lowest number of grains per spike (45.15) was obtained at the dose of 240 kg N ha-1 chemical fertiliser (Table 5).

Similar to our research, Gökmen et al. (2008) stated that the effects of nitrogen doses on the grain number per spike were statistically insignificant, while many researchers reported that the effects of nitrogen doses on the grain number per spike were statistically significant (Kara, 2013). The number of grains per spike was inferred to be a feature that was more influenced by genetics, compared to agronomic practices.

Weight of the grain in spike

The weight of the grain is one of the most important yield attributes and can used as a reliable indicator to estimate the grain yield of wheat. Like other yield attributes, grain weight also remained unaffected by fertiliser form, N dose and fertiliser form × N dose (Table 4). Grain weight per spike varied between 1.96-2.23 g. The highest weight of the grain in spike was registered at the dose of 160 kg N ha-1 leonardite application (2.23 g). The lowest weight of the grain in ear was determined in the dose of 240 kg N ha-1 chemical fertilizer (1.96 g) (Table 5).

 

Table 4
Analysis of variance (mean squares) for grain number and weight with different fertiliser forms and nitrogen dose applications to durum wheat

Source

Df

Number of grain

in spike

Weight of the grain (g)

Replication

3

29.4425

0.0773

FF

2

10.9144

0.0311

N

3

8.2764

0.0307

FF x N

6

6.9641

0.0166

Error

33

224.3

1.1

CV (%)

5.49

8.8

FF: Fertiliser form, N: Nitrogen dose, CV: coefficient of variation

 

Table 5
Average values of number of grain in spike, grain weight in different fertiliser forms and nitrogen doses application to durum wheat

N Doses

(kg ha-1)

Number of grain in spike

Weight of the grain (g)

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

0

45.38

48.25

46.33

46.65

1.98

2.16

2.12

2.09

80

47.38

49.05

46.38

47.60

2.12

2.12

2.06

2.10

160

48.13

47.70

49.78

48.53

2.08

2.09

2.23

2.13

240

45.15

47.33

48.43

46.97

1.96

2.00

2.07

2.01

Mean

46.51

48.08

47.73

 

2.03

2.09

2.12

 

Ch: Chemical, Co: Compost, Le: Leonardite

 

Similar to our research findings, Mert et al. (2003) stated that the effects of N doses on grain weight were statistically insignificant and inferred that N was primarily required for vegetative growth and had an insignificant effect on the reproductive growth of wheat plants. Contrary to our findings, Dokuyucu et al. (1999) reported that N doses significantly improved grain weight and higher N doses resulted in Hussain et al. (2012) determining that increasing nitrogen doses are directly proportional to the weight of the grain per spike.

Thousand-grain weight (TGW)

According to the result of the variance analysis of the TGW, the fertiliser form and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction was found to be statistically insignificant. Differences between doses were significant at the 0.1% level (Table 6). TGW varied between 35.11-42.68 g. The highest TGW was registered at the dose of 160 kg N ha-1 (42.68 g) chemical fertiliser. The lowest TGW was determined at the dose of 80 kg N ha-1 (35.11 g) chemical fertiliser (Table 7).

Similar to our study, many researchers stated that the effects of nitrogen doses on TGW were statistically significant (Gerba et al., 2013) and Kizilgeci et al. (2021) showed that the effects of nitrogen doses on TGW were insignificant. Yıldırım et al. (2005) stated that the post-heading environmental conditions in wheat are more highly significant in TGW of better-performing varieties.

Grain yield

The wheat grain yield was not statistically affected by forms of fertilisers (Table 6). Grain yield varied between 3370.5 and 4961.9 kg ha-1. The highest yield was registered in the 240 kg N ha-1 compost application (4961.9 kg ha-1). The lowest yield was 3370.5 kg ha-1 in the 0 kg N ha-1 compost application (Table 7). In our study, the grain yield increased as the nitrogen dose application increased. In the average of all fertiliser forms, the highest yield was registered at the dose of the 160 kg nitrogen. The highest yield value was determined in the 240 kg nitrogen composted manure. These findings are in contradiction with previous research results, whereby N doses significantly improved grain yield of wheat and higher N doses resulted in more vigorous growth of crop plants, where wheat yield was ultimately increased by 23% (Başar and ark., 1998; Altuntaş and Akgün, 2016; Coşkun and Öktem, 2003; Atar and Akman, 2014; Avcı Birsin, 2001). However, Aydoğan Çifci and Doğan (2013) reported that the effects of N doses on grain yield were statistically insignificant. Kizilgeci et al. (2015) stated that despite optimal N doses, an insufficient amount of precipitation restricted plant growth and wheat yield, and thus N application rates must be studied in cohesion with soil moisture contents.

Hectolitre weight

Differences between N doses were significant at the 0.1% level for the hectolitre weight of wheat (Table 6). As per the findings of our study, the hectolitre weight varied between 79.10 and 81.83 kg. The highest hectolitre weight was obtained in the application of 240 kg N ha-1 (81.83 kg) chemical fertiliser. The lowest hectolitre weight was determined for the 0 kg N ha-1 (79.10 kg) leonardite application (Table 7). Similar to our study, many researchers stated that the effect of nitrogen doses on hectolitre weight was statistically insignificant (Özseven, 1995; Avcı Birsin, 2007) and Kizilgeci et al. (2021) stated that the effect of nitrogen doses on hectolitre weight is important. It has been stated that the fullness, density, size, shape and homogeneity of the grain affect the hectolitre weight (Özkaya et al., 2018) and that the endosperm layer is higher in the varieties with high hectolitre weights (Şahin et al., 2017).

Protein content

According to the variance analysis results for protein content, the fertiliser form and fertiliser form × N dose was found to be statistically insignificant. Differences between N doses were found to be significant at the 1% level (Table 8).

Similar to our study, many researchers stated that the protein content was significantly affected by nitrogen doses (Kizilgeci et al., 2015). The most common criterion in determining wheat quality is the amount of protein. It has been stated that the amount of grain protein is affected by environmental conditions, cultivation technique and genetic characteristics of the variety (Erekul et al., 2016).

The protein ratio varied between 14.28 and 18.03%. The highest protein ratio was registered at the dose of 240 kg N ha-1 chemical fertiliser (18.03%). The lowest protein content was found in the 0 kg N ha-1 compost application (14.28%) (Table 9). The increase in nitrogen dose caused an increase in protein content.

Starch content

Differences between N doses were found to be significant at the 1% level as far as starch content of wheat was concerned (Table 8). Under varying treatments, the starch ratio varied between 64.65 and 67.05%. The highest starch ratio was obtained in the 0 kg N ha-1 compost application (67.05%). The lowest starch ratio was determined in the application of 240 kg N ha-1 chemical fertiliser (64.65%) (Table 9). Similar to our research, Kizilgeci et al. (2021) stated that N doses were statistically significant for starch content. It has been stated that the role of food products prepared from flour is less effective than proteins in the form of gluten, and the properties of starch are less affected by varieties and different growing conditions.

 

Table 6
Analysis of variance (Mean squares) for yield, hectolitre weight, thousand-grain yield at different fertiliser forms and nitrogen dose applications to durum wheat

Source

Df

Grain yield

Hectolitre weight

Thousand-grain weight

Replication

3

4302.29

0.7506

7.996

FF

2

4451.36

0.769

3.4925

N

3

34823.66***

9.5744***

59.9881***

FF x N

6

4653.17

0.7134

5.9481

Error

33

93044.65

31.85

219.2

CV (%)

12.18

1.14

6.68

***: 0.1 % level of significance, FF: Fertiliser form, N: Nitrogen dose, CV: coefficient of variation

 

Table 7
Average values of grain yield, hectolitre weight, thousand-grain yield in different fertiliser forms and nitrogen doses applied to durum wheat

N

Doses

(kg ha-1)

Yield (kg ha-1)

Hectolitre weight (kg hl-1 )

Thousand grain weight (g)

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

0

3858.0

3370.5

3856.8

3695.1c

81.80

81.50

81.83

81.71a

35.56

36.89

37.87

36.80c

80

4008.8

3641.2

4794.9

4148.3b

80.70

80.63

80.25

80.53b

35.11

37.41

37.97

36.80c

160

4775.4

4856.4

4867.4

4833.1a

79.43

79.93

80.23

79.86b

42.68

40.86

40.84

41.50a

240

4685.6

4961.9

4632.0

4759.8a

79.10

79.75

80.48

79.78b

38.72

40.04

38.72

39.20b

Mean

4331.9

4207.5

4759.8

80.26

80.45

80.69

38.00

38.80

38.84

Values followed by lowercase are significantly different, Ch: Chemical, Co: Compost, Le: Leonardite

 

Table 8
Analysis of variance (mean squares) for protein content, starch content and wet gluten with different fertiliser forms and nitrogen dose applications to durum wheat

Source

Df

Protein content

Starch content

Wet Gluten

Replication

3

1.5274

0.629444

8.5672

FF

2

0.1415

0.290833

0.7108

N

3

21.1024***

8.453889****

115.4406***

FF x N

6

0.797

0.326389

4.3247

Error

33

24.55

11.25

134.04

CV (%)

5.24

0.88

5.28

***: 0.1 % level of significance FF: Fertiliser form, N: Nitrogen dose, CV: coefficient of variation

 

Table 9
Average values of protein content, starch content and wet gluten in different fertiliser forms and nitrogen doses application to durum wheat

N

Doses

(kg ha-1)

Protein content (%)

Starch content (%)

Wet Gluten (%)

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

0

14.38

14.28

15.00

14.55c

67.03

67.05

66.75

66.94a

33.38

33.10

34.80

33.76c

80

16.35

16.38

16.68

16.50b

65.83

65.90

65.68

65.80b

37.90

37.95

38.75

38.20b

160

17.43

17.63

16.98

17.30a

64.95

65.13

65.50

65.19c

40.50

40.98

39.48

40.32a

240

18.03

17.23

16.90

17.40a

64.65

65.23

65.53

65.13c

41.83

40.03

39.23

40.36

Mean

16.54

16.39

16.38

65.61

65.83

65.86

38.40

38.01

38.06

Values followed by lowercase are significantly different, Ch: Chemical, Co: Compost, Le: Leonardite

 

Wet gluten

For wet gluten contents, the differences between nitrogen doses were found to be significant at the 0.1% level (Table 8). The wet gluten ratio varied between 33.10 and 41.83%. The highest wet gluten ratio was registered at the dose of 240 kg N ha-1 chemical fertiliser (41.83). The lowest wet gluten rate was found in the 0 kg N ha-1 compost application (33.10) (Table 9). Similar to our study (Öztürk and Gökkuş, 2008; Kara et al., 2009), the effects of nitrogen doses on gluten ratio were statistically significant. Gluten consists of glutenin and gliadin proteins. Gluten is an elastic prolamin group protein that shows the dough’s suitability for bread making.

Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI)

Heading stage

At the heading stage, a statistically significant interaction of fertiliser form and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction were found, while the differences between nitrogen doses were found to be significant at the level of 0.1% (Table 10). Heading stage NDVI values varied between 0.72 and 0.83. The highest heading period NDVI rate was obtained in the 240 kg N ha-1 application of compost (0.83) and chemical fertilisers. The lowest heading period NDVI rate was determined in the 0 kg N ha-1 compost application (0.72) (Table 11). In a similar study, Kizilgeci et al. (2021) stated that the NDVI values increased during the head period as the nitrogen dose increased. They also reported that NDVI values between 0.59 and 0.66 were obtained during the heading stage in their research, in which they tried to establish the effects of various nitrogen dosages on the NDVI values of durum wheat varieties.

Anthesis stage

According to the variance analysis result of the NDVI values measured during the anthesis stage, the fertiliser form and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction were not statistically significant. Only the differences between nitrogen doses were significant at the 5% level (Table 10). The NDVI value in anthesis for the applications varied between 0.70 and 0.80. The highest anthesis NDVI value was obtained in the 240 kg N ha-1 compost application (0.70). The lowest anthesis NDVI rate was detected in the 80 kg N ha-1 leonardite application (0.80) (Table 11).

Similarly, Kızılgeçi et al. (2021) reported that there was a difference between the NDVI values measured during the flowering period. NDVI values increased with the increase in nitrogen dose. Since NDVI values are an indicator of the health of the plant, it is thought that the differences in NDVI values are because the plant is greener at a high nitrogen dose.

Milk stage

The analysis table obtained from the application of different nitrogen forms and fertiliser doses relative to the NDVI values measured in the milk stage is given in Table 10. Statistically, the fertiliser forms, and nitrogen dose were insignificant, but the differences between nitrogen doses were significant at the 1% level. NDVI values varied between 0.63 and 0.71 in the milk stage. The highest NDVI value was obtained from the 80 kg N ha-1 and 160 kg N ha-1 compost, as well as 160 kg N ha-1 leonardite applications (0.71) (Table 11).

Savas et al. (2012) in their study on the evaluation of bread wheat lines in terms of grain yield and NDVI; stated that they determined a significant relationship between the vegetation index of the milky stage of bread wheat and grain yield in dry conditions and supplementary irrigation, but they did not detect any relationship in irrigated conditions.

Dough stage

According to the variance analysis results for the NDVI values measured in the dough stage, while the fertiliser form and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction were found to be insignificant, the differences between nitrogen doses were significant at the 5% level (Table 10). Kizilgeci (2021) stated that there is a positive and significant relationship between NDVI values obtained in the dough stage in durum wheat. NDVI values ranged between 0.39 and 0.56. The highest NDVI value was obtained in the 80 kg N ha-1 compost application (0.56). The lowest NDVI value was detected in the 160 kg N ha-1 compost application (0.39) (Table 11).

Relationship between wheat development stages and NDVI values

The NDVI values measured in different stages generally had similar values in fertiliser forms and fertiliser doses during the heading and anthesis stages. While the maximum decrease in NDVI value between the heading and dough stage was determined at the 160 kg nitrogen dose of composted manure, the lowest decrease was determined at the 80 kg nitrogen dose of composted manure (Fig. 3).

 

Table 10
Analysis of variance (mean squares) for NDVI with different fertiliser forms and nitrogen dose applications to durum wheat

Source

Df

Heading

Anthesis

Milk

Dough

Replication

3

0.0014

0.0004

0.0046

0.0104

FF

2

0.0006

0.0001

0.0022

0.0089

N

3

0.0125***

0.0044***

0.0072**

0.0154*

FF × N

6

0.0013326

0.00025

0.0013854

0.0071201

Error

33

0.048

0.023

0.05

0.147

CV (%)

 

4.80

3.43

5.77

1.44

***, **, *: 5%, 1%, 0.1 % level of significance respectively, FF: Fertiliser form, N: Nitrogen dose, CV: coefficient of variation

 

Table 11
Average values of NDVI with different fertiliser forms and nitrogen doses applied to durum wheat

Doses (N kg ha-1)

Heading

Anthesis

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

0

0.75

0.72

0.79

0.75b

0.75

0.74

0.76

0.75b

80

0.80

0.80

0.80

0.80a

0.77

0.78

0.70

0.77a

160

0.82

0.82

0.81

0.82a

0.79

0.79

0.79

0.79a

240

0.83

0.83

0.82

0.82a

0.79

0.80

0.79

0.79a

Mean

0.80

0.79

0.80

0.78

0.78

0.78

Doses (N kg ha-1)

Milk

Dough

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

Ch

Co

Le

Mean

0

0.63

0.64

0.66

0.64b

0.41

0.43

0.50

0.44b

80

0.67

0.71

0.69

0.69a

0.47

0.56

0.50

0.51a

160

0.66

0.66

0.71

0.68a

0.41

0.39

0.48

0.43b

240

0.70

0.71

0.69

0.70a

0.46

0.52

0.45

0.48ab

Mean

0.66

0.68

0.69

 

0.44

0.47

0.48

 

Values followed by lowercase are significantly different, Ch: Chemical, Co: Compost, Le: Leonardite

 

Figure 3 – Radar chart of NDVI values measured in different periods

 

CONCLUSIONS

Our research findings were not in line with the postulated hypothesis, as the effects of fertiliser forms, and nitrogen doses remained statistically at par with each other for height of the plant, length of the spike, spikelets number, number of grains in spike, grain weights. It was also determined that the fertiliser form and the fertiliser form × nitrogen dose interaction was insignificant for grain yield, hectolitre weight and thousand-grain weight. The protein content and wet gluten values increased in parallel with the increase in nitrogen dose. Starch content and hectolitre weight values decreased with increasing dose of N. Thus, the effects of fertiliser forms on the examined properties should be similar under rain-fed conditions, and this study should be done under long-term and irrigated conditions to validate the results under varying pedo-climatic conditions.

 

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