Interactive effect of N fertilization and tillage management on Zn biofortification in durum wheat (Triticum durum)

Abstract

Gao, X. and Grant, C. A. 2011. Interactive effect of N fertilization and tillage management on Zn biofortification in durum wheat ( Triticum durum ). Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 951–960. A 3-yr field study was conducted at two locations in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, to determine the interactive effect of application of four sources of N fertilizer and two tillage management systems on grain Zn concentration of durum wheat. There was a significant year-to-year variation in grain yield and grain Zn concentration, indicating a strong environmental influence. Soil type also had a dominating effect, with grain Zn concentration generally being higher at the clay loam location than the fine sandy loam location, reflecting the native soil Zn status. Tillage management showed little influence on grain Zn, suggesting that reduced tillage practices can be adopted by local farmers without decreasing mineral concentrations in grain. Compared with the control treatment, which did not receive extra N fertilizer, N fertilization at 60 kg ha−1decreased grain Zn concentration in 4 of 6 site-years. Grain Zn accumulation was, however, generally not affected by extra N fertilization, in spite of a positive fertilization effect on grain yield. The four N sources did not differ in their effect on grain yield and grain Zn, indicating that at the rate of N applied there were no differential fertilizer source effects on Zn availability. The results of the present study suggest that for wheat production on Canadian prairies, a regular N fertilization rate using the currently registered cultivars is not likely to produce wheat grain that meets the recommended dietary allowance for Zn. Application of Zn fertilizer, in combination with optimum N fertilization or other agronomic practices that can increase grain Zn, is required to produce improved grain quality for human health.