Speaker
Description
Nitrogen and potassium are fundamental nutrients that are pivotal for the growth of wheat, and their equilibrium markedly influences agricultural output. Understanding the nuanced effects of nitrogen and potassium fertilization on different components of winter wheat yield is important for sustainable agricultural practices and enhanced food production.
Two experiments were established in different soil-climate zones of Europe, one in Eastern Austria at the Experimental Farm Groß-Enzersdorf of BOKU, Vienna (Vienna) and the other at the Didactic Experimental Farm of the Agricultural University of Tirana (Albania) during 2022-2023. The two-factorial experiments were in randomized complete block designs with four replications. Four K mineral fertilization rates (0, 50, 100, 150%) and two N mineral fertilization rates (50 and 100%) were randomly assigned. At Groß-Enzersdorf, an Austrian winter wheat cultivar 'Arnold' was selected, while at the Didactic Experimental Farm, Albanian 'UBT-2' was planted. Agronomic data included quantitative assessments of crop yield alongside evaluations of dry matter content in both grain and straw.
The statistical analysis at Groß-Enzersdorf demonstrated that nitrogen and potassium fertilization did not significantly influence the dry matter yield of grain or straw, nor the overall yield of winter wheat. Notably, the interaction between nitrogen and potassium also did not yield significant differences in these variables. Conversely, at the Didactic Farm, nitrogen presented a moderate but significant impact on yield (p = 0.010), while potassium's influence was pronounced and highly significant (p < 0.000). Furthermore, their interaction effect was statistically significant (p = 0.033), suggesting a synergistic influence on yield. For crop residue, the interaction between nitrogen and potassium was significant (p = 0.048), whereas for aboveground biomass, significant effects were observed for potassium (p = 0.001) and the interaction between the two nutrients (p = 0.011). The graphical analysis, which included a comparison of means, showed that at Groß-Enzersdorf, the K50N100 treatment achieved the highest dry matter accumulation in grains, and the K100N100 treatment produced the highest straw yield. In terms of biomass, the K150N100 treatment led to the greatest yield at the Didactic Experimental Farm. These results highlight the complexity of nutrient interactions and their variable impact on different yield components of winter wheat. The findings from the two sites provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between nitrogen and potassium fertilization and their differential impact on winter wheat production. Soil analysis can determine if the lack of significant results for N and K treatments at the Experimental Farm Groß-Enzersdorf is because the existing fertilizer recommendations are optimal or if it is due to limitations related to soil nutrient supply, type, pH, or moisture availability. The mean and standard deviation for grain yield reveal that Austria has higher average grain yields and less variability in those yields compared to Albania.
Results show that combined nutrient strategies may be needed for optimal outcomes, highlighting the importance of customized agronomic practices and ongoing monitoring for sustainable productivity enhancement in agriculture.
Figure 1. The chart shows how different fertilizers affect winter wheat yields in Austria and Albania, with the error bars indicating yield variation for each treatment.
References
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Coskun, D., Britto, D. T., & Kronzucker, H. J. (2017). The nitrogen–potassium intersection: membranes, metabolism, and mechanism. Plant, cell & environment, 40(10), 2029-2041.
Lalic, B., Eitzinger, J., Mihailovic, D. T., Thaler, S., & Jancic, M. (2013). Climate change impacts on winter wheat yield change–which climatic parameters are crucial in Pannonian lowland. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 151(6), 757-774.
Stromberger, J. A., Tsai, C. Y., & Huber, D. M. (1994). Interactions of potassium with nitrogen and their influence on growth and yield potential in maize. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 17(1), 19-37.
Xu, Q. F., Tsai, C. L., & Tsai, C. Y. (1992). Interaction of potassium with the form and amount of nitrogen nutrition on growth and nitrogen uptake of maize. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 15(1), 23-33.
| Keywords | winter wheat yield; nitrogen fertilization; potassium fertilization; dry matter accumulation; agronomic optimization |
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