Yield of spring wheat under the application of nitrogen fertilizers containing a nitrification inhibitor

Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, 49, Timiryazevskay Street Moscow, 127434, Russian Federation

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Abstract

The present study assessed the efficacy of nitrogen fertilizers and the nitrification inhibitor 3.4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) in the cultivation of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on sod-podzolic light loam soil in the Central Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. A small-plot field experiment was conducted using urea and ammonium nitrate at a rate of 90 kg N ha^-1, with and without DMPP, on a phosphorus-potassium background. Plant height, yield components, grain protein and gluten accumulation, nutrient removal, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were evaluated. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased plant height (by an average of 10 cm), ear length (by 1 cm), 1000-grain weight (by 2.9 g), and the number of grains per ear (by 4). The use of the nitrification inhibitor further enhanced these effects, particularly in combination with urea. Application of DMPP increased grain yield by 19-21% relative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers, primarily due to an increase in the number of grains per ear by an average of 5. Grain protein content increased from 13.6 to 14.1%, whereas gluten content increased from 19.2 to 30.6-33.4%. Moreover, DMPP enhanced plant nitrogen uptake by 21% and increased NUE from 55 to 86%.