Agronomic efficiency of fertilization in triticale cultivation

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 3, 253 - 261, 01.07.2025

Rumyana Georgieva Hristofor Kirchev Svetla Kostadinova

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1688572

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate how fertilization levels impact the partial factor productivity of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in triticale. The experiment was set up in four repetitions on the experimental field of the Agricultural University of Plovdiv for three years after the predecessor sunflower. The field trial included three triticale varieties: Kolorit (standard), Trismart, and Musala grown at two fertilization levels N60P50K20 and N120P100K40. Fertilization levels significantly affected the partial productivity values of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, either separately or in total, regarding the productivity of grain and grain protein in the three triticale varieties. The average partial productivity of nutrients over the study period decreased as the level of fertilization increased. For each unit of nutrients applied, less grain or grain protein was produced at higher fertilizer rate compared to a lower one. Specifically, the results from the double fertilization rate of N120P100K40 showed that the efficiency of each kilogram of nutrient imported was lower. The average partial productivity of applied PFP-NPK nutrients was higher at the low N60P50K20 fertilization level. The climatic conditions during the triticale vegetation had a significant effect on the partial productivity of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for grain yield. Тhe lowest values of the partial productivity were found in the variety Trismart grown at N120P100K40 level in the unfavourable climatic 2017. The productivity of all three elements was highest in the variety Musala, fertilized with N60P50K20 in 2019. Unfavourable conditions in 2017 reduced the partial productivity of nitrogen for grain by 40.0 kg kg-1 at the level of N60P50K20 and by 15.6 kg kg-1 at N120P100K40. Drought resulted in lower grain production per unit of phosphorus and potassium applied.

Keywords

Agronomic efficiency , fertilization , partial productivity , triticale

References

• Aynehband, A., Asadi, S., Rahnama, A., 2012. Study of weed-crop competition by agronomic and physiological nitrogen use efficiency. European Journal of Experimental Biology 2(4): 960-964.
• Alaru, M., Laur, Ü., Jaama, E., 2003. Influence of nitrogen and weather conditions on the grain quality of winter triticale. Agronomy Research 1(1): 3-10.
• Cimrin, K.M., Bozkurt, M.A., Șekeroğlu, N., 2004. Effect of nitrogen fertilization on protein yield and nutrient uptake in some triticale genotypes. Journal of Agronomy 3: 268-272.
• Dibb, D.W., 2000. The mysteries (myths) of nutrient use efficiency. Better Crops 84(3): 3-5.
• Dobermann, A., 2007. Nutrient use efficiency–measurement and management. In: Fertilizer Best Management Practices: General Principles, Strategy for Their Adoption and Voluntary Initiatives Versus Regulations. Krauss, A., Isherwood, K., Heffer, P. (Eds.). International Fertilizer Industry Association, Paris, France. pp. 1–28.
• Erisman, J.W., Leach, A., Bleeker, A., Atwell, B., Cattaneo, L., Galloway, J., 2018. An integrated approach to a nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) indicator for the food production–consumption chain. Sustainability 10(4): 925.
• FAOSTAT, 2023. Crops and livestock products. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at [Access date: 05.02.2025]: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL
• Feledyn-Szewczyk, B., Nakielska, M., Jończyk, K., Berbeć, A.K., Kopiński, J., 2020. Assessment of the Suitability of 10 winter triticale cultivars (x Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) for organic agriculture: Polish case study. Agronomy 10(8): 1144.
• Fixen, P., Brentrup, F., Bruulsema, T., Garcia, F., Norton, R., Zingore, S., 2015. Nutrient/fertilizer use efficiency: Measurement, current situation and trends. In: Managing water and fertilizer for sustainable agricultural intensification. International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), and International Potash Institute (IPI), Paris, Chapter 2, pp. 8-38.
• Gaj, R., Gorski, D., Wielgusz, K., Kukawka, R., Spychalski, M., Borowski, J., 2023. Nitrogen management impact on winter triticale grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Journal of Elementology 28(3): 561–593.
• Gülmezoğlu, N., Kutlu, I., 2017. Nitrogen use efficiency of eleven triticale x Triticosecale Wittmack genotypes. Biological Diversity and Conservation 10(2): 26-31.
• Hospodarenko, H. M., Liubych, V. V., 2021. Influence of long-term fertilization on yield and quality of spring triticale grain. Research for Rural Development 36: 29-35.
• Iizumi, T., Ramankutty, N., 2015. How do weather and climate influence cropping area and intensity?. Global Food Security 4: 46-50.
• Jańczak-Pieniążek, M., 2023. The influence of cropping systems on photosynthesis, yield, and grain quality of selected winter triticale cultivars. Sustainability 15(14): 11075.
• Janušauskaitė, D., 2013. Spring triticale yield formation and nitrogen use efficiency as affected by nitrogen rate and its splitting. Zemdirbyste 100: 383–392.
• Jaśkiewicz, B., Szczepanek, M., 2018. Amino acids content in triticale grain depending on meteorological, agrotechnical and genetic factors. Research for Rural Development 2(5): 28-34.
• Knapowski, T., Ralcewicz, M., Barczak, B., Kozera, W., 2009. Effect of nitrogen and zinc fertilizing on bread-making quality of spring triticale cultivated in Noteć Valley. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 18(2): 227–233.
• Lalević, D., Biberdžić, M., Ilić, Z., Milenković, L., Tmušić, N., Stojiljković, J., 2019. Effect of cultivar and increased nitrogen quantities on some productive traits of triticale. Agriculture & Forestry 65(4): 127-136.
• Lestingi, A., Bovera, F., De Giorgio, D., Ventrella, D., Tateo, A., 2010. Effects of tillage and nitrogen fertilisation on triticale grain yield, chemical composition and nutritive value. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 90(14): 2440-2446.
• Mariotti, F., Tomé, D., Mirand, P. P., 2008. Converting nitrogen into protein—beyond 6.25 and Jones' factors. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 48(2): 177-184.
• Muhova, A., Sirakov, K., Stefanova-Dobreva, S., 2024. Evaluation of triticale grain yield after pre-sowing electromagnetic seed treatment. 9th International Conference on Energy Efficiency and Agricultural Engineering. 27-29 June 2024, Ruse, Bulgaria.
• Murrell, T.S., 2011. Nutrient Use Efficiency: A Midwest Perspective. Available at [Access date: 05.02.2025]: https://mawrc.org/downloads/Nutrient_Use_Efficiency-Midwest_Perspective-Murrell.pdf
• Mut, Z., Sezer, I., Gülümser, A., 2005. Effect of different sowing rates and nitrogen levels on grain yield, yield components and some quality traits of triticale. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 4(5): 533-539.
• Norton, R., Bruulsema, T., Roberts, T., Snyder, C., 2015. Crop nutrient performance indicators. Agricultural Science 27(2): 33-38.
• Peev, B., Kouzmova, K., 2002. Climate changes in the agricultural regions of Bulgaria. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology 3(1): 120-125.
• Popova, R., Zhalnov, I., Valcheva, E., Zorovski, P., Dimitrova, M., 2012. Estimates of environmental conditions of soils in Plovdiv region in applying the new herbicides for weed control in major field crops. Journal of Central European Agriculture 13(3): 595-600.
• Salim, N., Raza, A., 2019. Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) for sustainable wheat production: a review. Journal of Plant Nutrition 43(2): 297-315.
• Sirakov, K., Álvarez, J., Muhova, A., 2021. Evaluation of the effect of electromagnetic treatment on the sowing qualities of triticale seeds. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science 27(4): 699-711.
• Sobkowicz, P., Śniady, R., 2004. Nitrogen uptake and its efficiency in triticale (Triticosecale Witt.)–field beans (Vicia faba var. minor L.) intercrop. Plant, Soil and Environment 50(11): 500-506.
• Taiz, L., 2013. Agriculture, plant physiology, and human population growth: past, present, and future. Theoretical and Experimental Plant Physiology 25: 167-181.
• Tomov, A.K., Gibson, V.C., Britovsek, G.J., Long, R.J., van Meurs, M., Jones, D.J., Tellmann, K.P., Chirinos, J.J., 2009. Distinguishing chain growth mechanisms in metal-catalyzed olefin oligomerization and polymerization systems: C2H4/C2D4 Co-oligomerization/polymerization experiments using chromium, iron, and cobalt catalysts. Organometallics 28(24): 7033-7040.
• Vats, A.K., Dhanda, S.S., Munjal, R., Bishnoi, O.P., Behl, R.K., 2016. Nutrient use and uptake efficiency in wheat and triticale genotypes under low and optimum input conditions. Ekin Journal of Crop Breeding and Genetics 2(2): 95-100.
• Wang, X., Xing, Y., 2016. Effects of mulching and nitrogen on soil nitrate-N distribution, leaching and nitrogen use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.). PLoS One 11(8): e0161612.
• Wojtkowiak, K., Stępień, A., Warechowska, M., Markowska, A., 2015. Effect of nitrogen fertilization method on the yield and quality of Milewo variety spring triticale grain. Polish Journal of Natural Science 30(2): 173-184.