RESPONSE OF WINTER WHEAT TO FALL-APPLIED LARGE UREA GRANULES WITH DICYANDIAMIDE

Abstract

Three field experiments were undertaken over a 2-yr period to compare the response of winter wheat to fall-applied large urea granules containing a nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide, DCD) with that of commercial urea granules (prills) applied as a top dressing in the spring. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of large urea granules coupled with DCD in conserving N when applied at planting or one month after planting. Granules of 1, 2 and 3 g urea as well as 2 g urea + DCD were compared with commercial urea prills at an application rate of 80 kg N ha−1. Large urea granules, as compared with fall-incorporated commercial urea prills, were effective in conserving N over the winter period especially when applied 1 mo after planting and resulted in yields and apparent N recovery similar to those with top dressed commercial prills applied in the spring. Incorporation of DCD into 2-g granules (50 or 100 g kg−1 urea) further increased the conservation of N fertilizer as reflected by higher yields and greater apparent fertilizer N recovery. Uptake of 15N from 2-g urea granules decreased with distance from the granule. However, plants furthest from spaced large granules were able apparently to obtain sufficient N to reach the yield potential dictated by the weather and soil conditions. Yield and N recovery data indicated that N conservation increased with increasing granule size. Crop response and fertilizer N availability decreased as depth of placement exceeded 10 cm. Placement between the 5 and 10 cm depths appeared to maximize fertilizer N availability. It was concluded that a combination of large urea granules and a nitrification inhibitor (such as DCD) can effectively conserve fall-applied N and result in yield responses and N uptake by winter wheat similar to that with commercial urea prills applied as a top dressing in the spring. Key words: Time of application, yield, 15N recovery, apparent fertilizer N recovery