title: Is it necessary to split nitrogen fertilization for winter wheat? On-farm research on Luvisols in South-West Germany.
abstract: Mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization in cereals is commonly split into three or four applications. In order to simplify N fertilization, a single N application either broadcast or placed on the soil surface was compared to conventionally split fertilization for winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.). The 4-year experiment (2007-2010) was performed using a participatory approach on farmers' fields on deep loamy soils (Luvisols) in South-West Germany. Grain yield and crude protein contents differed only slightly or not at all between treatments including different N fertilizer types (calcium ammonium nitrate, urea ammonium nitrate solution, urea) and application techniques (broadcast, placed). Furthermore, no differences were found for the yield components ears/m2and thousand grain weight. Inorganic N in the soil profile after harvest was generally below 40 kg N/ha and did not differ between treatments. In the area where N was placed, mineral N was depleted during the vegetation period. At the experimental sites a single N application in the period between tillering and stem elongation was sufficient to achieve high yield and quality of winter wheat without increased risk of nitrate leaching. This finding was independent of the method of application or the type of fertilizer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makary
authors.affiliation: Nuertingen-Geislingen University , Agronomy, D-72622 Nürtingen , Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Bioinformatics (340c), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Agronomy (340a), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donath
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Döhler
authors.affiliation: Landratsamt Tübingen , 72072 Tübingen , Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weiß
authors.affiliation: Regierungspräsidium Tübingen , 72072 Tübingen , Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ehrhart
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Agronomy (340a), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Claupein
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Bioinformatics (340c), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Piepho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Agronomy (340a), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pekrun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science: Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), University of Hohenheim , D-70593 Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller