Productive characteristics of wheat according to nitrogen sources and levels

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilization is an important management practice in grasses and quite complex, due to several factors which influence it, such as climatic conditions, cropping systems and available levels and sources. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of topdressing nitrogen (N) sources and levels on the productive characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown after soybean, under no-till system. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol, in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 3x4 factorial scheme, with four replications. As topdressing N sources, urea, urea + urease inhibitor (NBPT) and polymer-coated urea were evaluated, in 2008, and urea, urea + urease inhibitor (NBPT) and ammonium sulfate, in 2009, in four doses (0.0 kg ha^-1, 40.0 kg ha^-1, 80.0 kg ha^-1 and 120.0 kg ha^-1 of N) applied 20 days after emergence. Plant height, lodging percentage, mass of 1,000 grains, grain yield and hectoliter mass were determined, and results showed that increased topdressing N levels promoted plants lodging, decreasing the mass of 1,000 grains, yield and hectoliter mass. The N sources did not affect the yield of the BRS Pardela cultivar grown after soybean.