Nitrogen Fertility Influence on Water Stress and Yield of Winter Wheat

Available soil water and N fertility are the primary factors limiting dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in the Central Great Plains. The objective of this field study was to determine how the level of N fertilization influences water use, water stress, and yield of dryland winter wheat grown in the area. The study was conducted during the 1988 and 1990 growing seasons on a Platner loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Aridic Paleustoll) near Akron, CO. Nitrogen fertilizer was broadcast as NH 4 NO 3 at 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112 kg N ha −1 . Canopy temperatures were measured with an infrared thermometer and used to compute the crop water stress index (CWSI) (...)