Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

W. AUFHAMMER and E. KÜBLER:

Performance of a cultivar of spelt (T. aestivum ssp. spelta) as compared to a cultivar of common wheat (T. eestivum ssp, aestivum)

 

I. Dry matter production and distribution, nitrogen uptake and mineralized nitrogen residues

Summary

Factorial field trials were conducted over two years at two locations, comparing the spelt cultivar Schwabenkorn to the common wheat cultivar Monopol. The question was, does spelt differ from common wheat concerning N-uptake and N-demand to exploit the productive grain yield potential? Dry matter production (dt/ha) and distribution (grain/straw), nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) and the mineralized nitrogen residues in the soil (kg N/ha) were measured during the vegetation period. Important results are: The cultivars did not differ in dry matter production. But at the costs of straw yields Monopol produced higher grain yields than Schwabenkorn. Until ear emergence no differences in N-uptake were measured. Presumably combined with the distribution pattern in favour of grain yields after ear emergence the stands of Monopol exceeded those of Schwabenkorn in nitrogen uptake. To produce grain yields comparable to those of Monopol, Schwabenkorn demanded higher nitrogen supply and the prevention of lodging by additional treatments. Without important differences between the cultivars soil-contents of mineralized N remained small all over the vegetation period. Key words: spelt and common wheat, dry matter production and distribution, N-uptake and N-residues.