An Agronomic Efficiency Analysis of Winter Wheat at Different Sowing Strategies and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates: A Case Study in Northeastern Poland

This study was undertaken to examine the influence of the sowing date, sowing density, and split spring application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on plant density, tillering, yield components, and grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in northeastern Poland between 2018 and 2021. The experiment had a split-plot design with three sowing dates (early (3–6 September), delayed by 14 days, and delayed by 28 days), three sowing densities (200, 300, and 400 live grains m−2), and three split spring N rates (40 + 100, 70 + 70, and 100 + 40 kg ha−1 applied in BBCH stages 22–25 and 30–31, respectively). The number of spikes m−2 increased by 11% on average when winter wheat was sown with a delay of 14 days (17–20 September) and 28 days (1–4 October). The number of spikes m−2 was highest when winter wheat was sown at 300 and 400 live grains m−2. The application of 100 + 40 kg N ha−1 (BBCH 22–25 and 30–31, respectively) increased the number of spikes m−2. An increase in sowing density from 200 to 300 to 400 live grains m−2 decreased the number of grains spike−1 by 5% and 7%, respectively. Thousand grain weight (TGW) increased by 1% and 2% when sowing was delayed by 14 (17–20 September) and 28 days (1–4 October), respectively. In northeastern Poland, grain yields peaked when winter wheat was sown between 17 September and 4 October (10.52–10.58 Mg ha−1). In late-sown winter wheat, grain yields increased due to a higher number of spikes m−2 and higher grain weight. The highest sowing density (400 live grains m−2) induced a greater increase in grain yields than the lowest sowing density (200 live grains m−2) (10.25 vs.10.02 Mg ha−1). In winter wheat sown at a density of 400 live grains m−2, the increase in grain yields resulted in a higher number of spikes m−2. Grain yields peaked in response to 100 kg N ha−1 applied in BBCH stages 22–25 and 40 kg N ha−1 applied in BBCH stages 30–31 (this split N rate increased the number of spikes m−2). In turn, the highest straw yield (6.23 Mg ha−1) was obtained when the second split of N fertilizer was applied in BBCH stages 30–31 (40 + 100 kg N ha−1). Straw yields decreased significantly (by 6%) when winter wheat was sown late (early October). Delayed sowing (mid-September and early October) increased the harvest index (HI) of winter wheat by 5–7%. Split spring N application influenced grain and straw yields, but it had no effect on the HI of winter wheat

Quality of Winter Wheat Flour from Different Sowing and Nitrogen Management Strategies: A Case Study in Northeastern Poland

The study analyzed the effect of nitrogen (N) management and different sowing parameters of winter wheat on the flour quality, rheological properties of flour, and bread quality. Flour was obtained from winter wheat grain produced during a field experiment conducted in 2018–2021. The experiment involved three factors: (i) the sowing date (early (3–6 September), delayed by 14 days, and delayed by 28 days), (ii) sowing density (200, 300, and 400 live grains m−2), and (iii) split application of N fertilizer in spring (40 + 100, 70 + 70, and 100 + 40 kg ha−1 in the full tillering stage and the first node stage, respectively). A 28-day delay in sowing increased the total protein content of the flour, water absorption capacity of the flour, dough development time and stability, and degree of softening. When sowing was delayed by 14 or 28 days, the crumb density decreased without affecting the loaf volume. A sowing density of 400 grains m−2 had a positive impact on the flour color, dough stability, and loaf volume. The flour color and dough stability were enhanced when N was applied at 100 + 40 kg ha−1, respectively. In turn, the total protein content of flour peaked when it was applied at 40 + 100 kg N ha−1. The quality of flour improved when winter wheat was sown at a density of 400 live grains m−2 with a delay of 14 or 28 days and supplied with 100 kg N ha−1 in the full tillering stage and 40 kg N ha−1 in the first node stage

Energy Optimization in Different Production Technologies of Winter Triticale Grain

This article presents the results of a field experiment investigating the energy efficiency of grain produced by a semi-dwarf genotype of winter triticale at different levels of agricultural inputs. The energy efficiency of winter triticale grain production was evaluated in two low-input and two high-input cultivation practices that differed in the rate of nitrogen fertilizer (split application) and disease control. The energy inputs associated with the production of winter triticale grain at low levels of agricultural inputs were determined to be 14.5 to 14.7 GJ ha−1. Higher levels of agricultural inputs increased the demand for energy in grain production by 25% on average. The energy output of grain peaked (163.3 GJ ha−1) in response to a fertilizer rate of 120 kg ha−1 applied in a split ratio of 50:50 (BBCH 27/32) and two fungicide treatments (BBCH 31 and 39). The energy output of grain from the remaining cultivation regimes was 3–13% lower. The energy efficiency ratio was highest in the low-input cultivation regime with a nitrogen rate of 90 kg ha−1 split into two applications (60 and 30 kg ha−1 for BBCH 27 and 32, respectively), seed dressing with fungicide (thiram and tebuconazole) and one fungicide treatment (azoxystrobin) (BBCH 39)