Seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer rate effect on dryland no-till hard red spring wheat yield and quality

Increasing the efficiency of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production is vitally important to Montana growers' bottom line. In semiarid regions of the Northern Great Plains, agronomic practices must aim at maximum capture and utilization efficiency of plant growth resources. Appropriate plant population and N management are important for optimizing wheat yield and quality by enhancing N uptake and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Field experiments were conducted in 2014 at two locations in northcentral Montana. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of four N levels (0, 28, 84, and 140 kg N ha(-1)) in dryland no-till hard red spring wheat seeded at two seeding rate levels (67 and 135 kg ha(-1) pure live seed [PLS]). Nitrogen rate significantly improved wheat grain yield, grain protein content, protein yield, and N uptake at both locations, and NUE at one of two locations. The 135 kg ha(-1) did not have an advantage over the 67 kg ha(-1) PLS seeding rate, resulting in comparable wheat grain parameters, N uptake, and NUE. Wheat yield and quality was highest at 140 kg N ha(-1); higher N rate (especially split-applied) may have improved wheat production (especially grain protein content) further.