Durum Wheat Grain Yield and Quality under Low and High Nitrogen Conditions: Insights into Natural Variation in Low- and High-Yielding Genotypes

Abstract

The availability and management of N are major determinants of crop productivity, but N excessive use has an associated agro-ecosystems environmental impact. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of N fertilization on yield and grain quality of 6 durum wheat genotypes, selected from 20 genotypes as high- and low-yielding genotypes. Two N levels were applied from anthesis to maturity: high (½ Hoagland nutrient solution) and low (modified ½ Hoagland with one-third of N). Together with the agronomic characterization, grain quality analyses were assessed to characterize carbohydrates concentration, mineral composition, glutenin and gliadin concentrations, polyphenol profile, and anti-radical activity. Nitrogen supply improved wheat grain yield with no effect on thousand-grain weight. Grain soluble sugars and gluten fractions were increased, but starch concentration was reduced, under high N. Mineral composition and polyphenol concentrations were also improved by N application. High-yielding genotypes had higher grain carbohydrates concentrations, while higher concentrations in grain minerals, gluten fractions, and polyphenols were recorded in the low-yielding ones. Decreasing the amount of N to one-third ensured a better N use efficiency but reduced durum wheat agronomic and quality traits.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Chlorophyll Content for Precision Nitrogen Management in Durum Wheat Cultivars under Semi-Arid Conditions

“…With respect to quality characteristics, there was no major interaction between the cultivar and the N application rate except for wet gluten and Zeleny sedimentation in the first year (Table 9). Nitrogen application improved wheat grain yield with higher carbohydrate contents in high yielding wheat cultivars while quality characteristics such as grain minerals, gluten fractions, and polyphenols were recorded in low yielding cultivars [45] showing genotype dependent quality characteristics. * 5% level of significance.…”

Use of Digestate as an Alternative to Mineral Fertilizer: Effects on Soil Mineral Nitrogen and Winter Wheat Nitrogen Accumulation in Clay Loam

“…An environmentally safe fertilizer rate is 120 kg N ha −1 [41]. Other researchers have shown that reducing the N fertilizer rate by one third provided an efficient use of N, however, it reduced grain quality [50]. Liquid organic fertilizers increase N use efficiency while providing other nutrients to the plants [14].…”

Variation of Grain Yield, Grain Protein Content and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Components under Different Nitrogen Rates in Mediterranean Durum Wheat Genotypes

“…Conversely, durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) has been shown to exhibit contrasting behavior under changing N fertilization, especially comparing improved genotypes and landraces [17]. An improved grain yield (GY) is often associated with both NUE components in wheat cultivars [10]; however, an excess of N fertilization could decrease the number of kernels per spike, reducing GY in specific genotypes [9,18].…”