Effect of a Post-Anthesis Foliar Application of Nitrogen on Grain Protein and Milling and Baking Quality of Spring Wheat

摘要

Hard red spring wheat in North America must be high in protein in order to avoid costly discounts when marketed. Many newer cultivars have higher yield potential but produce relatively lower grain protein levels. A post-anthesis foliar application of urea-ammonium nitrate mixed with equal part water at 33 kg·ha-1 nitrogen (N) can increase grain protein levels by up to one percent. This increase can be profitable when market premiums/discounts for protein are moderate to high. Nitrogen applied post-anthesis consistently increased grain protein content more than the application of the same rate of N to the soil prior to planting. Milling and baking analysis reveals augmenting the protein in this way does not diminish its functionality.