Wheat grain yield response to N application evaluated through canopy reflectance

Limon-Ortega, A. (2009) Wheat grain yield response to N application evaluated through canopy reflectance. Cereal Research Communications, 37 (4). pp. 595-601. ISSN 0133-3720

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Abstract

Application of the appropriate N fertilizer rate for wheat production is needed to improve and sustain productivity. Different methods have been developed over time to estimate these needs. The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship basal N rate at planting — NDVI (normalized difference vegetative index) by means of a spline regression to estimate further N needs of spring wheat. Experiments were established in two planting systems; permanent beds and conventional in solid stands. Three flat N rates (25, 50, and 75 kg N ha ⁻¹ , and 30, 60 and 90 kg Nha ⁻¹ for permanent beds and conventional planting, respectively) plus an unfertilized check plot were applied according to three N timing treatments (whole rate at planting or end of tillering, and split at planting and at the end of tillering). Before the application of N treatments at the end of tillering, plots were divided into two halves to apply variable N rates according to the first segment of the spline model. Results indicated that parameter estimates from the spline regression vary within each planting system. However, variable N rates estimated for each year and location were lower than flat N rates. In spite of those differential fertilizer rates, grain yield resulting for the application of variable N rates were similar to flat N rates. Pooled data analysis suggests that NDVI readings greater than 0.56 and 0.65 for permanent beds and conventional planting, respectively, the application of N fertilizer at the end of tillering can be excluded as grain yield will not be modified.

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