Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions

Nitrogen fertilizer application is conditioned closely by the amount of rainfall and its distribution. The current study aims at studying the effect of nitrogen (N) application rate on grain yield (GY), grain protein content (GPC), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of durum wheat under Algerian semi...

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Main Authors: Nadia Boulelouah, Mohamed R. Berbache, Hanane Bedjaoui, Nora Selama, Nazih Y. Rebouh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1937
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author Nadia Boulelouah
Mohamed R. Berbache
Hanane Bedjaoui
Nora Selama
Nazih Y. Rebouh
author_facet Nadia Boulelouah
Mohamed R. Berbache
Hanane Bedjaoui
Nora Selama
Nazih Y. Rebouh
author_sort Nadia Boulelouah
collection DOAJ
description Nitrogen fertilizer application is conditioned closely by the amount of rainfall and its distribution. The current study aims at studying the effect of nitrogen (N) application rate on grain yield (GY), grain protein content (GPC), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of durum wheat under Algerian semiarid conditions. Field trials were conducted during two contrasting and successive growing seasons (a dry year = 2016–2017 and a wet year = 2017–2018) on a local variety named Bousselam. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with four replicates. Seven gradual treatments of fertilizer rate were studied: T1 = 0 unity of nitrogen (UN), T2 = 100 UN, T3 = 110 UN, T4 = 120 UN, T5 = 130 UN, T6 = 140 UN, and T7 = 150 UN. Results showed a significant difference between the dry and wet years. Only the GPC was higher in the dry year compared to the wet year having a difference of 2.94%. However, all other studied parameters were higher in the wet year, which resulted in a yield difference of 4.38 t ha<sup>−1</sup>. In addition, a significant effect of N rate on GY, thousand grain weight (TGW), and GPC was observed. A considerable difference between 120 UN and 150 UN was not noted in both years of study. Furthermore, the agronomic efficiency (AE) increased significantly with rainfall amount achieving a difference of 16.2 kg·kgN<sup>−1</sup> between years. Finally, the results showed that using a high N amount led to a decrease in AE. Based on GY, apparent recovery efficiency (ARE), agronomic efficiency (AE), and marginal rate return (MRR) recorded in both years, the nitrogen application rate of 120 UN is recommended to be applied to wheat crops in Algerian semiarid conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-17712f6af5a940e9b3119642c1aa524a2023-11-24T07:25:30ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-11-011211193710.3390/agriculture12111937Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid ConditionsNadia Boulelouah0Mohamed R. Berbache1Hanane Bedjaoui2Nora Selama3Nazih Y. Rebouh4Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1, Batna 05000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Ecosystem Diversity and Agricultural Production System Dynamics in Arid Zones (DESDPAZA), University of Biskra, Biskra 07000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Promotion of Innovation of Agriculture in Arid Regions, Department of Agronomy(LPIAAR), University of Biskra, Biskra 07000, AlgeriaDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1, Batna 05000, AlgeriaDepartment of Environmental Management, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, RussiaNitrogen fertilizer application is conditioned closely by the amount of rainfall and its distribution. The current study aims at studying the effect of nitrogen (N) application rate on grain yield (GY), grain protein content (GPC), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of durum wheat under Algerian semiarid conditions. Field trials were conducted during two contrasting and successive growing seasons (a dry year = 2016–2017 and a wet year = 2017–2018) on a local variety named Bousselam. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with four replicates. Seven gradual treatments of fertilizer rate were studied: T1 = 0 unity of nitrogen (UN), T2 = 100 UN, T3 = 110 UN, T4 = 120 UN, T5 = 130 UN, T6 = 140 UN, and T7 = 150 UN. Results showed a significant difference between the dry and wet years. Only the GPC was higher in the dry year compared to the wet year having a difference of 2.94%. However, all other studied parameters were higher in the wet year, which resulted in a yield difference of 4.38 t ha<sup>−1</sup>. In addition, a significant effect of N rate on GY, thousand grain weight (TGW), and GPC was observed. A considerable difference between 120 UN and 150 UN was not noted in both years of study. Furthermore, the agronomic efficiency (AE) increased significantly with rainfall amount achieving a difference of 16.2 kg·kgN<sup>−1</sup> between years. Finally, the results showed that using a high N amount led to a decrease in AE. Based on GY, apparent recovery efficiency (ARE), agronomic efficiency (AE), and marginal rate return (MRR) recorded in both years, the nitrogen application rate of 120 UN is recommended to be applied to wheat crops in Algerian semiarid conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1937agronomic efficiencyapparent recovery efficiencyapparent nitrogen lossgrain protein contentrainfall
spellingShingle Nadia Boulelouah
Mohamed R. Berbache
Hanane Bedjaoui
Nora Selama
Nazih Y. Rebouh
Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions
Agriculture
agronomic efficiency
apparent recovery efficiency
apparent nitrogen loss
grain protein content
rainfall
title Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions
title_full Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions
title_fullStr Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions
title_short Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Yield, Grain Quality and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Durum Wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em> Desf) under Algerian Semiarid Conditions
title_sort influence of nitrogen fertilizer rate on yield grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency of durum wheat em triticum durum em desf under algerian semiarid conditions
topic agronomic efficiency
apparent recovery efficiency
apparent nitrogen loss
grain protein content
rainfall
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1937
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