Leaf color diagnosis and nitrogen management for winter wheat “Kitanokaori” in Hokkaido

Abstract

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci.Plant Nutr., 77, 293–298, 2006) “Kitanokaori” is a new variety of wheat for bread use bred at the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region. The grain protein content of wheat for bread use should be higher than 120 g kg−1. Much nitrogen application is necessary to obtain high grain protein content. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the optimum amount of nitrogen to obtain the required protein content and to prevent nitrogen from remaining in the soil. The nutrition diagnosis using leaf color was investigated to predict the need and the amount of top‐dressing. Field experiments were conducted for four years with nitrogen treatments in Andosol, which has moderate nitrogen fertility, and in Histosol, which is a fertile soil. The leaf color was measured using a chlorophyll meter SPAD502 (CM value) at the middle part of the leaf, avoiding the center rib. The colors of the 10·15 uppermost second leaves were measured in one plot and averaged. A close relation was found between leaf color at the full heading stage and grain protein content at harvest. Leaf color at the full heading stage is therefore a good index to control the protein content. Considering the effect of top‐dressing at the full heading stage in each CM value, the diagnosis criterion was decided. When the CM value is over 52 at the full heading stage, more nitrogen application is not needed. When the CM value is 50·52, 30 kg N ha−1 of top‐dressing at the full heading stage is needed, and when the CM value is 45·50, 60 kg N ha−1 of top‐dressing is needed to obtain a grain protein content of more than 120 g kg−1.

Leaf Blade Dry Weight and Leaf Area Index × SPAD Value at Anthesis Can Be Used to Estimate Nitrogen Application Rate at Anthesis Required to Obtain Target Protein Content of Grain in Bread Wheat

“…1). Many scientists have reported a signifi cant interaction between protein content of grain at maturity and the leaf blade SPAD value before heading or at anthesis in wheat (Matsunaka et al, 1997;Sato, 2000;Fukushima et al, 2004;López-Bellido et al, 2004;Spaner et al, 2005;Takebe et al, 2006;Poblaciones et al, 2009). In the present study, we confi rmed this result, but found that the protein content of grain had a higher positive correlation with leaf blade DW and the LAI ×SPAD value than with the SPAD value ( Table 6).…”

“…In rice, there was a positive correlation between leaf color value and N contents of leaf and stem (Tanno et al, 1982;Kumagai et al, 1991). In wheat, there was a similar positive correlation between leaf color value and N contents of whole-plant and leaf (Matsunaka et al, 1997;Sato, 2000;Takebe et al, 2006). The leaf blade SPAD value is closely related to the chlorophyll content of leaf (Yadava, 1986;Campbell et al, 1990;Schaper and Chacko, 1991).…”

“…The leaf blade SPAD value is closely related to the chlorophyll content of leaf (Yadava, 1986;Campbell et al, 1990;Schaper and Chacko, 1991). Takebe et al (2006) found that SPAD value at full heading can be used to estimate N application rate at full heading required to obtain target protein content of grain of the bread wheat cultivar Kitanokaori in Hokkaido. However, Spaner et al (2005) indicated that it may be difficult to prescribe the optimal N application rate based on solely SPAD measurements, since the critical SPAD value may vary among years, locations, cultivars, and soil characteristics.…”

Prediction of nitrogen uptake by winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) by measurement of superior stem number and leaf color value, for decision-making regarding additional nitrogen fertilization

“…"Chihokukomugi"). Takebe et al (2006) also reported that leaf color measurement using a chlorophyll meter (SPAD502) at the full heading stage is a good index for deciding the amount of additional N fertilization required for the winter wheat cultivar "Kitanokaori". Both of these technologies shared the same purpose of adjusting the grain protein to within the level required for flour quality.…”

Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Need based Nitrogen Management Strategies and Different Tillage Options

“…In fact farmers often apply an extra dose of N to avoid the risk of deficiency as it is linked with irrigation events. In many regions farmers are applying N fertilizer at levels that exceed the dose suggested by the government extension services (Takebe et al, 2006;Singh et al, 2011). The hand held Greenseeker (Trimble Navigation Limited, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is an active optical crop canopy sensor with a red (650±10nm) and a NIR (770±15nm) is commercially available and used widely.…”