Is It Possible to Maintain the Quantity and Quality of Winter Wheat Grain by Replacing Part of the Mineral Nitrogen Dose by Growth Activators and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)?

Abstract

The introduction of the “Farm to Fork” strategy in the EU will require a significant reduction in mineral nitrogen fertilization, and therefore the introduction of innovative production technologies to prevent a decline in agricultural production. Studies carried out in several locations in Poland in 2016/17–2018/2019 tested the possibility of replacing 30% of the dose of mineral nitrogen with growth activators alone, in combination with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in the cultivation of winter wheat. It was confirmed that these two combinations allowed the obtention of a higher yield of grain by 13%, compared to the full nitrogen dose. Simultaneously, the grain quality did not change significantly. In some locations, a decrease in the content of nitrates in the soil was observed, which may mean a greater uptake of this nutrient by plants and an increase in the content of some available macro- and micro-elements, mainly phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and iron, and soil organic carbon. Introducing the studied treatment and limiting the fertilization with mineral nitrogen of wheat in Poland by only 30 kg ha−1 N would save its consumption by 72 thousand t per year.