Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilizer application is conditioned closely by the amount of rainfall and its distribution. The current study aims at studying the effect of nitrogen (N) application rate on grain yield (GY), grain protein content (GPC), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of durum wheat under Algerian semiarid conditions. Field trials were conducted during two contrasting and successive growing seasons (a dry year = 2016–2017 and a wet year = 2017–2018) on a local variety named Bousselam. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with four replicates. Seven gradual treatments of fertilizer rate were studied: T1 = 0 unity of nitrogen (UN), T2 = 100 UN, T3 = 110 UN, T4 = 120 UN, T5 = 130 UN, T6 = 140 UN, and T7 = 150 UN. Results showed a significant difference between the dry and wet years. Only the GPC was higher in the dry year compared to the wet year having a difference of 2.94%. However, all other studied parameters were higher in the wet year, which resulted in a yield difference of 4.38 t ha−1. In addition, a significant effect of N rate on GY, thousand grain weight (TGW), and GPC was observed. A considerable difference between 120 UN and 150 UN was not noted in both years of study. Furthermore, the agronomic efficiency (AE) increased significantly with rainfall amount achieving a difference of 16.2 kg·kgN−1 between years. Finally, the results showed that using a high N amount led to a decrease in AE. Based on GY, apparent recovery efficiency (ARE), agronomic efficiency (AE), and marginal rate return (MRR) recorded in both years, the nitrogen application rate of 120 UN is recommended to be applied to wheat crops in Algerian semiarid conditions.