Nitrogen fertiliser on plant nitrogen uptake and partitioning in different wheat species

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) partitioning in different wheat species under three N levels was studied by conducting two field experiments in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons at University of Nottingham farm, Sutton Bonington, UK. Ten geno types belonging to four wheat species including three ancient hull wheat species of cultivated Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.), cultivated Emmer (T. dicoccum) and Spelt (T. spelta L.), and modern bread wheat (T. aestivum) were compared under three N levels (0, 100 and 200 kgN ha-1 in 2013 and 0, 100 and 150 kgN ha-1 in 2014). The interaction effect of genotype by fertiliser level was significant for straw, chaff and grain N% in both experiments (P < 0.001). N% of all plant organs were increased significantly when increased N supply (P < 0.001). The total plant N uptake (excluding root N) was greater in emmer under high N fertiliser level while spelt had the highest total plant N uptake at low and zero N fertiliser applications in both experiments. The total plant N uptake was significantly different between N levels (P < 0.001 in 2013 and P < 0.001 in 2014) and genotype (P < 0.001 in 2013 and P < 0.05 in 2014). The highest amount of N in straw and chaff was recorded in spelt genotypes.The amount of N in grains was high in emmer in 2013 though bread wheat recorded the highest chaff and grain N content in 2014 under the high level of N fertiliser. According to the results, it can be concluded that ancient wheat species of emmer and spelt could uptake more N than modern bread wheat and accelerated by N supply. Furthermore, the greater total plant N uptake of ancient wheat species may be associated with the height of the plant, since all ancient wheat species are significantly taller than modern bread wheat. Therefore, more N was partitioned to structural materials development of the stem hence stored more N in the straw at maturity.