Effects of varying nitrogen supply at different stages of the reproductive phase on spikelet and grain production and on grain nitrogen in wheat

Abstract

Plants of wheat cv. Arawa confined to the main shoot were grown in solution culture in a glasshouse. Nitrogen supply was either high (150 p.p.111.) or low (15 p.p.m.) at three stages of development: between the double-ridge stage and floret initiation, between then and ear emergence, or after ear emergence, giving eight treatment combinations. Spikelet numbers were increased only by raising nitrogen supply at the doubleridge stage. Number of grains per spikelet also responded to treatment during the same period, but was greatest when high nitrogen was given until ear emergence. This response depended on the position of the spikelet within the ear, and the basal and terminal spikelets contributed least when nitrogen supply was low. Individual grain weight responded less to treatment than grain numbers. Nitrogen application had a large effect on leaf area duration, but the grain/leaf ratio (G) was depressed. Since their appeared to be no nitrogen effects on photosynthesis per unit flag leaf area, it is suggested that grain yield was controlled mainly by the capacity of the ear to accept carbohydrate, depending on the number of sites available for grain filling. Percentage grain nitrogen increased with lateness of nitrogen application. However, raising nitrogen supply before ear emergence and then decreasing it again also affected grain nitrogen in the ear, which suggests redistribution during grain filling