Yield and protein response of hard red winter wheat to rate of nitrogen fertilization and previous legume crop

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of a previous legume or non-legume crop on the yield and crude protein response of hard red winter wheat to the rate of N fertilization. The average N requirement for the maximum economic production of wheat was reduced from 69 kg N ha−1 following corn to 0 kg ha−1 following alfalfa. Crude protein concentration was as much as 2% higher following alfalfa than corn; however, an average of 144 kg N ha−1 following corn and 59 kg N ha−1 following alfalfa was necessary to achieve the optimum level of 13.5% crude protein in the wheat.Key words: Corn, alfalfa, ICM </jats:p