Response of some bread wheat cultivars to nitrogen fertilizer levels in newly reclaimed sandy soils under different environments

Abstract

The present study was carried out (sandy soil under sprinkler irrigation) in two locations, Mallawy and Assiut (Middle and Upper Egypt) Agricultural Research Stations, Egypt, in two successive winter growing seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 to evaluate four bread wheat cultivars under four nitrogen levels for grain yield and its components and to identify response and suitable across 16 environments (combination of four soil N levels × two years x two locations) at newly reclaimed sandy soils. A split-plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with four replicates was used in each season. The combined analysis of variance showed significant differences among environments, cultivars and nitrogen levels for all studied characters. Misr 1 had the earliest heading and maturity, and the shortest plants. Shandaweel 1 was superior overall genotypes for plant height, No. of kernels spike -1 , 1000-kernel weight, grain yield, and biological yield followed by Misr 2. Furthermore, the nitrogen level 125kg N fed -1 (N4) was the best fertilizer level followed by nitrogen level 100kg N fed -1 (N3) in sandy soil for recorded the highest values for yield and its components under two locations. The interaction (C x N) was significant for most studied traits under four environments. Cultivar Misr 2 followed by Shandaweel 1 were recorded the highest values for No. of spikes m -2 , No. of kernel spike 1 , 1000-kernel weight, grain yield and biological yield with level 125 kg N fed -1 (N4) under Mallawy and Assiut locations. According to GGE-biplot, Shandaweel 1 (G1) was the most stable cultivar The data confirm the results we got from this study, which support the superiority of Shandaweel 1 over the most dominating wheat cultivars. Shandaweel 1 surpassed the overall mean of the dominating cultivars by an average of 16.70%. Among all the essential nutrients applied to the plants nitrogen is the major one which has a key role in the process of photosynthesis and increased level of photosynthesis by the high dose of nitrogen gave more No. of spikes m -2 , No. of kernels spike -1 , heaviest 1000-kernel weight and reflected on an increase in grain yield because a large amount of dry matter, more assimilates were produced and transported to fill the seeds as a result of more applied nitrogen. These results are similar to those reported Kutman