Examining the Nitrogen Economy of Organically Selected Wheat Genotypes

Laura Wiebe¹, Martin Entz¹, Anne Kirk¹ and Stephen Fox²

Abstract
Previous studies have shown that direct selection for the intended growing environment is useful in wheat breeding. Organic production systems have different nitrogen (N) sources than conventional agriculture.

In this study the nitrogen economy of 15 organically selected advanced breeding lines was compared with 5 conventional varieties. We hypothesized that wheat selected under slow-release organic N sources (green manures) will have superior soil N capture abilities than wheats selected under conditions of highly soluble N. Field experiments were conducted in 3 locations in 2009. Nitrogen economy was assessed by measuring plant N uptake, and the seed to total plant N ratio.

Preliminary results indicate that some organically bred lines have higher N uptake. A detailed analysis of year one results will be presented.


Source
Proceedings of the Joint Conference of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Canadian Society of Agronomy, Beyond Organics session. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 20-24 June 2010.


Author Locations and Affiliations
(1) Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba
(2) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg


Posted July 2010