Nitrogen management, grain yield, and agronomic traits associated with linear relationships in wheat

Abstract

 Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, being the second most produced globally. It has the largest cultivation areas in the subtropical region of Brazil during the winter period. However, Brazilian wheat production is insufficient to meet domestic demand, requiring imports to adequately supply the demand. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen splitting on wheat cultivars grown in a low-altitude subtropical environment. This study was conducted in a randomized block design distributed in strips, characterizing a three-factor experiment 4x6x2, (four cultivation environments, six wheat cultivars, and two nitrogen management regimes). It was possible to verify that the splitting or single application of nitrogen management as topdressing should be evaluated individually for each wheat cultivar, depending on the productive response of each cultivar. For wheat crops in different environments, and subjected to splitting or not of nitrogen fertilization as topdressing, the variable maximum number of tillers reduces the hectoliter weight of wheat when it is sown in July. The direct effects on the maximum number of tillers variable can be used to improve grain productivity for nitrogen management without split applications. For plant height, there are positive direct effects on grain productivity when sowing in June, with the effect enhanced by greater water availability.