From Fertilizar Asociación Civil they warn about a delay in the application of nitrogen fertilizers for refertilization in wheat, a situation that would affect both the performance as well as crop qualitysince nitrogen is essential for optimal cereal development. Lack of adequate nitrogen refertilization could lead to problems similar to those experienced in 2015, when much of the wheat produced in the Argentine agricultural region did not meet the quality standards required by the market, recording an average protein content of around 9.5% (13.5%H basis).
According to the data on nitrogen fertilizer shipments reported up to the end of July, these should have been higher as they usually are at this time. “We are concerned about the Delayed application of nitrogen in wheat at tillering stage and this can greatly frustrate the expected yield and quality expectations,” said the president of Fertilizar AC, Roberto Rotondaro.
In this scenario, the manager assured that The plasticity of the crop allows it to enter tillering to refertilize and be able to adjust the nitrogen supply and thus cover the crop requirements to ensure yield and quality.
“Today, due to the low availability of nitrogen that is observed, we are missing an opportunity to build the adequate yield and quality in the cereal,” added Esteban Ciarlo, technical manager of the entity, “especially if the soil moisture level is consolidated, which is being contributed by rainfall of these days in different productive regions and where the application of the nutrient must be anticipated so that the rains can incorporate it.”
Proper wheat nutrition should consider 28 kilograms of nitrogen to produce 1,000 kilos of grain with a basic percentage of proteins (11%). Although recommendations may vary depending on factors such as soil type, climatic conditions and agronomic management practices, on average between 60 and 70% of the nitrogen dose can be applied at the time of tillering to achieve the expected yields and with greater efficiencies.
Nitrogen deficiency does not mix well with wheat
Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide, due to its geographical expansion, production volume and impact on the economy. The relevance of the crop lies in the nutritional value of its grains, with flour being the main product generated. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely cultivated wheat species in Argentina and globally.
“The quality of bread wheat grain is influenced by various agronomic factors, among which the availability of nitrogen stands out,” said Drs. Gabriela Abeledo and Daniel Miralles, from the Cereals Department at FAUBA and Conicet.
FAUBA researchers also explained that “nitrogen not only influences wheat yield but also its quality. Management of this nutrient ensures efficient bread wheat production.”, and illustrated that nitrogen conditions grain quality, which is evaluated mainly in terms of protein concentration, protein type and flour characteristics.
The protein concentration in the grain, expressed as a percentage, reflects the amount of protein present in relation to the total weight of the grain. Nitrogen is an essential component of proteins: a higher nitrogen content in the grain is analogous to a higher protein content, and deficiencies in the availability of nitrogen to the crop are reflected in a low protein content of the grain, which results in a lower baking suitability and lower eating quality.
The type of protein present in the grain is another aspect that changes when faced with a nitrogen deficiency. Among the wheat proteins, those that make up gluten stand out. Lower availability of nitrogen reduces the amount of gluten and modifies its structureresulting in a flour with less capacity to retain gases during the fermentation that takes place during the baking process, and causing breads with less volume and a less spongy texture.
“The first step to alleviate nitrogen deficiency is perform a soil nitrogen analysis”, the researchers commented. The application of fertilizers is the most widely used methodology to adjust the crop’s nutritional requirements based on the diagnosis.
To resolve the loss in crop productivity, it is important to determine what the expected yield will be and adjust the nitrogen dose to balance productivity and quality.
Nitrogen management also involves considering the environmental impact. The use of nitrogen fertilizers is often associated with gas emissions and possible groundwater contamination, but if the crop’s nitrogen requirement is properly calculated, the fertilizer will be used efficiently.
Growing wheat with nitrogen deficiency is not a promising alternative, since resources such as seeds, fuel, transport and labour would be invested in a production system that will not fulfil its purpose: to produce grains in quantity and quality. In addition, Insufficiency will result in less carbon capture by plants and a reduction in the contribution of organic matter from the crop.
“The integration of agricultural practices is the way to ensure efficient wheat production from the field, through the industry and finally to the table of each one of us,” concluded Abeledo and Miralles.
