Nitrogen absorption and utilization differences among wheat varieties for different end uses

Grain yield and quality could be efficiently regulated by varieties, producing station and cultural techniques. Based on the characteristics of nitrogen absorption and accumulation in different types of wheat, research focus is now putting on achieving higher yield, increasing nitrogen application efficiency, improving grain quality, producing less pollution and reducing production cost. The differences of nitrogen absorption and utilization among three wheat varieties for different end uses were studied in field experiments in Yangzhou from 2000 to 2002. The main treatments included three typical varieties: Wanmai38 (strong-gluten), Yangmai10 (medium-gluten) and Ningmai 9 (weak-gluten). The sub-treatments included two levels of fertilizer N application amount: N 180 and 240 (kg/hm~2). During the growth period the total amount of P and K application was 108 (kg/hm~2) (P_2O_5) and 108 (kg/hm~2) (K_2O), respectively, half of which was used as basal fertilizer and the rest as topdressing fertilizer when the remaining leaf number was 3.5. The results showed that (nitrogen) content in plant and grains of strong-gluten wheat Wanmai 38 at maturity was the highest among three varieties. Plant nitrogen accumulation amount of Wanmai 38 was the highest,but grain nitrogen accumulation amount of Yangmai 10 was the highest. The ratio of nitrogen accumulation amount at different stages to total was different among (different) varieties. For weak-gluten wheat Ningmai 9, it was higher than the others from seeding stage to elongation stage, but for strong-gluten wheat Wanmai 38, it was the highest from anthesis to maturity. To produce 100 kg of grains,different amount of N would be absorbed in wheat varieties for different end uses.