The effect of application of potassium, magnesium and sulphur on wheat and barley grain yield and protein content

L. Hlisnikovský¹*, P. Čermák¹, E. Kunzová¹ and P. Barłóg²

¹Department of nutrition management, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, CZ16101 Prague 6, Ruzyně, Czech Republic
²Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Biogeochemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71F, PL60-625 Poznan, Poland
*Correspondence: l.hlisnik@vurv.cz

Abstract:

The objective of our experiment was to study the effect of mineral fertilizers, rich mainly in the K, Mg and S content, and compare their effect on grain yield and protein content of winter wheat and winter barley with fertilizer treatments without these elements. The analyzed fertilizer treatments were 1) Control, 2) mineral nitrogen treatment (N), 3) mineral nitrogen with phosphorus (NP), 4) NP with potassium, magnesium, and sulphur (NP+KMgS), and 5) NP with magnesium, sulphur and minor part of manganese (4%) and zinc (1%) (NP+MgSMnZn). The experiment was established in Lukavec experimental station (the Czech Republic) in 2013 and lasted until 2017. The crop rotation consisted of four arable crops: winter wheat, winter barley, rapeseed, and potatoes, but only winter wheat and winter barley are analyzed in this paper (grain yields and crude protein content).
In comparison with the Control, the application of mineral fertilizers significantly increased grain yield and protein content of both kinds of cereal. Comparing mineral fertilizers, no significant differences were recorded between N, NP, NP+KMgS and NP+MgSMnZn treatments, showing that nitrogen was the most limiting factor affecting yield and protein content, and initial concentrations of K and Mg were suitable and capable to cover cereal’s demands. However, application of fertilizers has increased the K and Mg soil content and thus prevents the soil from the element’s deficiency, which does not has to be recognized in the early stages by visual observation of arable plants. The effect of the year was also significant as two out of four seasons were characterized by high temperatures and drought.

Key words:

crude protein content, grain yield, Hordeum vulgare L., magnesium, mineral fertilizers, potassium, sulphur, Triticum aestivum L.

The impact of phosphorus seed coating on winter wheat at different fertilisation practices

A. Mašauskiene¹, V. Mašauskas² and J. Peltonen²

¹Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Instituto aleja 1, LT 58344, Akademija, Kedainiai distr.,Lithuania; e-mail: audrone.masauskiene@lzi.lt
¹Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Instituto alėja 1, LT 58344, Akademija, Kedainiai distr.,Lithuania; e-mail: vytas.masauskas@lzi.lt
²Kemira GrowHow Oyj., Finland; e-mail: Jari.Peltonen@kemira-growhow.com

Abstract:

Experiments with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were conducted during 2001/2002, 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 in Central Lithuania, Dotnuva site. The effect of P seed coating at control (without mineral fertilization), (N17P35K87) N130 and (N14P70K70) N130fertilisation practices on a light loam soil testing low/moderate in available phosphorus was examined. P seed coating resulted in alteration to plant stand structure traits. Despite the fact that seedling emergence of P coated seed decreased, the number of total and productive stems and the number of grain per ear was identical to that of control. Significant changes in Zeleny sedimentation, wet and dry gluten, gluten index and falling number values resulting from P seed coating were obtained in the year with unfavourable wintering conditions. Although P seed coating exerted a positive effect on winter wheat early growth and influenced grain quality, it did not prove to be a method resulting in higher economic yield. The new hypothesis how to reduce phosphorus rate in conventional mineral fertilisation practice involving P seed coating needs further testing.

Key words: