Effects of crop rotation and N fertilizer on grain yield, qualitative characteristics and nitrogen uptake of durum wheat

Effects of Cropping Systems Fertility on Durum Wheat Nitrogen Uptake, Yield and Qualitative Characteristics Ignazio Poma, Luciano Gristina, Saverio Saladino, Giacomo Venezia, Carmelo Dazzi Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Territoriale – Viale delle Scienze – 90128 Palermo –Italy pomaign@unipa.it Abstract The aim of the trial was to evaluate cropping system effects and nitrogen fertilization on uptake and nitrogen efficiency of durum wheat in terms of qualitative and quantitative yield in a Mediterranean semi arid environment. A four year trial (2000 – 2004) was carried out in the “Sparacia” experimental farm (Sicily – Italy) on Eutric Vertisols. The effects of two cropping systems (durum wheat monocropping and durum wheat - field pea) on durum wheat were investigated in interaction with three nitrogen fertilizations: 0, 60 and 120 kg ha-1. The results showed that qualitative and productive durum wheat response was strongly influenced by year and nutrient availability. Crop rotation and nitrogen fertilization showed an high significativity for all examined characters. Field pea cropping system determined an increase of durum wheat yield (about 20%), as well as the highest nitrogen rate in durum wheat monocropping. Yield and grain quality raged among years due to climatic trend from 5.2 and 1.6 t ha-1 during the four year trial, and generally low yield correspond to high protein and gluten content.