Nitrogen management impact on winter triticale grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency

The soaring prices of nitrogen fertilizer production, low use efficiency of nitrogen compounds, and environmental threats resulting from soil nitrogen leaching and gaseous nitrogen losses are the main reasons for conducting research on increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of foliar application of the new generation of N fertilizers in the second and third dose on the yield of winter triticale and grain protein content, and to evaluate the indicators of nutrient efficiency: agronomic efficiency and apparent nitrogen recovery, relative to fertilizer type and method of application. The experiment was set up as a single factor one with a complete randomized block design. The experimental factor was the varying dose of mineral nitrogen fertilization against the constant level of phosphorus and potassium application. According to the experimental design, two liquid fertilizers (A1N and A2N) applied to foliage were the source of nitrogen in the second and third doses of fertilization, except for the control treatment (AN). The use of the hybrid technique of nitrogen application in the triticale fertilization technology at the same time reduced N fertilizer doses by 20 and 25% and significantly enhanced the yield of grain. Moreover, the treatment with the tested fertilizers increased significantly the nitrogen use efficiency from 45% to 75%. Considering the average protein contents from four experiments, the reduction in nitrogen doses, irrespective of the liquid fertilizer used, resulted in a decline in the grain protein content compared to the control. The results demonstrate the possibility of meeting the legal requirements for reducing the nitrogen dose while ensuring the yield at the same or even an increased level.