Abstract:
Nitrogen (N) partitioning in different wheat species
under three N levels was studied by conducting two field experiments
in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons at University of Nottingham
farm, Sutton Bonington, UK. Ten geno types belonging to four
wheat species including three ancient hull wheat species of cultivated
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.), cultivated Emmer (T. dicoccum)
and Spelt (T. spelta L.), and modern bread wheat (T. aestivum) were
compared under three N levels (0, 100 and 200 kgN ha-1 in 2013 and
0, 100 and 150 kgN ha-1 in 2014). The interaction effect of genotype
by fertiliser level was significant for straw, chaff and grain N% in
both experiments (P < 0.001). N% of all plant organs were increased
significantly when increased N supply (P < 0.001). The total plant
N uptake (excluding root N) was greater in emmer under high N
fertiliser level while spelt had the highest total plant N uptake at low
and zero N fertiliser applications in both experiments. The total plant
N uptake was significantly different between N levels (P < 0.001 in
2013 and P < 0.001 in 2014) and genotype (P < 0.001 in 2013 and
P < 0.05 in 2014). The highest amount of N in straw and chaff was
recorded in spelt genotypes.The amount of N in grains was high in
emmer in 2013 though bread wheat recorded the highest chaff and
grain N content in 2014 under the high level of N fertiliser. According
to the results, it can be concluded that ancient wheat species of
emmer and spelt could uptake more N than modern bread wheat
and accelerated by N supply. Furthermore, the greater total plant N
uptake of ancient wheat species may be associated with the height of
the plant, since all ancient wheat species are significantly taller than
modern bread wheat. Therefore, more N was partitioned to structural
materials development of the stem hence stored more N in the straw
at maturity.
