Genotypic differences in growth, yield and nutrient accumulation of spring wheat cultivars in response to long-term soil fertility regimes

Abstract

ABSTRACTDetermining genotypic responses to soil fertility may assist selection of cultivars that can be adapted to varied soil fertility regimes, and such selection under field conditions is still limited. A two-year field experiment was conducted in long-term field trials to investigate wheat genotype effects on early growth, yield and nutrient accumulation as affected by varied long-term soil fertility managements and nitrogen (N) fertilization. Results show that the early growth, grain yield and nutrient accumulation of spring wheat plants were strongly affected by soil fertility managements and genotypes. Early shoot and root biomass of singly grown plants and leaf canopy growth under standard growth density was associated with subsequent grain yield of plants under standard growth density across the gradient in soil fertility levels. Taifun and Thasos had stable higher yield and N and phosphorus (P) uptake across varied soil fertility regimes compared with other genotypes. Økilde, however, increased yield by 8–34% and N and P accumulation by 1–22% only when grown in the high organic manure treatment compared with other genotypes, indicating that it is more adapted to high organic fertility regimes. Therefore, the different responses and adaptations of genotypes to soil fertility regimes should be included during selection of cultivars.