The effect of nitrogen fertilization on flag leaf and ear photosynthesis and grain yield of spring wheat

J. Olszewski, M. Makowska, A. Pszczółkowska, A. Okorski and T. Bieniaszewski
Additional contact information
J. Olszewski: Department of Diagnostics and Plant Pathophysiology, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
M. Makowska: Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
A. Pszczółkowska: Department of Diagnostics and Plant Pathophysiology, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
A. Okorski: Department of Diagnostics and Plant Pathophysiology, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
T. Bieniaszewski: Department of Mechatronics and Information Technology Education, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland

Plant, Soil and Environment, 2014, vol. 60, issue 12, 531-536

Abstract: In a three-year field experiment the assessment of leaves and ears photosynthesis rate in spring wheat was made using a LI-COR 6400 portable photosynthesis system. The photosynthetic rate of spring wheat was affected by cultivars, nitrogen fertilization and weather conditions. We generally found a negative correlation between the yield of spring wheat and the rate of photosynthesis in flag leaves in phases 39-55 BBCH (the strength of this effect depended on the level of nitrogen fertilization). Strong negative correlation occurred for cv. Bryza in phases: 39-51 BBCH in treatment fertilized with lower dose of nitrogen and in phase 39-41 BBCH for dose 120 kg/ha. There was a significant negative correlation for cv. Tybald only in phase 39-41 BBCH for higher dose of nitrogen and 52-55 BBCH for lower dose. Our studies show that the photosynthetic activity of flag leaves decreased from the booting (39-41 BBCH) to heading stage (52-55 BBCH), and their function was taken over by ears. Contrary to flag leaf, in wheat ears the intensity of photosynthesis correlated positively with grain yield for most of the studied period (52-65 BBCH, with highly significant correlation at 56-57 BBCH and - only for high nitrogen treatments - at 59-61 BBCH; a negative correlation was generally observed at a later phase, i.e. at 65-69 BBCH). Contrary to flag leaf photosynthesis, the intensity of this process in wheat ears (at the heading and flowering stages) seems highly relevant for grain yield. High positive correlation was noted in 56-57 BBCH and 61-65 BBCH. However, the study was done in field conditions and for definitive conclusions observations over a longer period would be desirable.

Keywords: gas exchange; Li-COR; spring cereals; Triticum aestivum (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/880/2013-PSE.html (text/html)
http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/880/2013-PSE.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:60:y:2014:i:12:id:880-2013-pse

DOI: 10.17221/880/2013-PSE

Access Statistics for this article

Plant, Soil and Environment is currently edited by Kateřina Součková

More articles in Plant, Soil and Environment from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().