Effect of nitrogen fertilization intensity on grain and flour quality of winter wheat cultivars

The material for investigation were grain samples of winter wheat obtained from a 3-years field experiment conducted in the Experimental Station Grabow of IUNG Pulawy (Poland) in 2003-2006. The effect of 4 nitrogen fertilization levels (90, 120, 150, 180 kg N/ha) and 10 cultivars of winter wheat on quality features of grain was estimated. Nitrogen fertilization had an unimportant effect on physical properties of grain and falling number. Increasing the nitrogen dose from 90 to 150 kg/ha caused a significant increase in protein content. Gluten content and value of Zeleny test increased after 180 kg/ha of nitrogen application. Improvement of farinograph properties (dough resistance, dough weakening and valorimeter value) was noticed when the nitrogen dose was 150 kg/ha. Further increase in the dose to 180 kg/ha had no influence on farinograph traits. Significant interactions between nitrogen fertilization and cultivars were noticed for Zeleny test, dough resistance an valorimeter value. The reaction for fertilization of the best quality cultivars was much stronger than that of the worse quality cultivars. For the cultivars from the fodder group (Symfonia and Kaja), there were no differences in the above mentioned traits irrespective of the nitrogen doses