IntroductionHigher market prices relative to the predominant soft white class has

increased grower interest in the production of hard red spring wheat.

Less hard red wheat is currently grown under irrigation in part due to

concerns about productivity and the management required for producing

wheat with acceptable protein. Discounts for low protein need to be

avoided or minimized to maximize the returns for the hard red class.

Increasing late season available N is frequently used to improve grain

protein of irrigated hard red spring. But the N is frequently applied

without knowing the likelihood of significant protein enhancement. Flag

leaf total N concentration (FLN) was reported to provide a reasonable

indication of the extent to which late season N can increase grain protein

(1,2 ). Little if any protein increase with late season N was reported in

these studies if FLN concentrations at heading measured 4.2-4.3%.

Whereas most reports of flag leaf N involve sampling at heading (FHD) or

flowering (FFL), earlier sampling at full flag leaf emergence (FEM) would

provide additional time for (1) the wheat’s N status to be determined, (2)

the decision made to provide supplemental N for protein enhancement,

(3) the application to be scheduled and applied, and (4) in some cases

the time necessary to fully incorporate the applied N either by irrigation

or natural rainfall.

In a practical sense, although sampling at heading is typically the target

sampling stage, it may not be feasible to sample large numbers of fields

precisely at the same growth stage. Knowing the FLN change between

Feekes stages 9 (ligule just visible), 10.5 (mid heading), and 11.5 (mid

flowering) may be useful in interpreting FLN of samples collected either

before or after heading. Information is needed on the flag leaf N

response of hard spring wheat to growth stage, and other practices

potentially affecting production and grain protein.

Therefore the objectives of this study were to (1) examine the effects of

planting dates and varieties on flag leaf N contents from full emergence

to flowering in a replicated study, and (2) to monitor FLN changes in

grower wheat fields in relation to reported critical FLN values.

MethodsResponse to Variety and Planting Dates

A three year field study was conducted on a Greenleaf silt loam (fine-

silty, mixed, superactive, mesic, xeric calciargids) at the University of

Idaho Parma Research and Extension Center to measure the flag leaf N

response of three hard spring varieties (Vandal and WPB 936 hard reds,

and ID377S hard white) grown under wide ranging planting dates (late

fall, early spring, and late spring), with four late season N rates (0, 28, 56,

and 84 kg ha-1) applied at heading. Factorial treatments were arranged

in a randomized complete block with four replications.

Planting dates ranged from 11-23 Nov for the late fall planting, 7-15

March for the early spring planting, and 10-14 April for the late spring

planting. Urea N was topdressed each year to the entire experiment

when the early spring planting was emerging (dates ranged from 23-30

March). Timing corresponded to the tillering stage for the late fall

planting and preceded the late spring planting by 15 to 19 days. This N

was dependent on rainfall for incorporation and significant rain in any

year exceeding 5mm did not occur prior to the first irrigation on 23 April

(1999), 24 April (2000), or 19 April (2001). The trial was irrigated each

year with sprinklers.

Flag leaves were collected only from treatments that did not receive late

season N. The samples in the 2000 and 2001 seasons for each variety

and planting date were collected at full flag leaf emergence (Feekes 9),

mid-heading (Feekes10.5), and mid-flowering (Feekes11.5). Tissues were

dried and ground and total N was determined by combustion analysis at

the University of Idaho Analytical Services Laboratory. Treatment

effects were evaluated with ANOVA and Regression options in SAS 8.0.

FROM FLAG LEAF EMERGENCE TO FLOWERING: INTERPRETING N CONTENTS FOR IRRIGATED WHEAT PROTEIN . B. Simko, B. Brown, S. Reddy, and J. Neufeld, Oregon State University and University of Idaho

Methods-continuedFlag Leaf Monitoring of Producer Fields

Flag leaves were collected at FEM, FHD, and FFL from 14 producer fields

of irrigated hard red spring wheat in southwest Idaho and eastern

Oregon over three seasons. Flag leaves were frozen or refrigerated until

they could be oven dried, ground and submitted for total N (Kjeldahl)

analysis at local commercial laboratories. Information from producers

was obtained regarding the N fertilization practices used during the

season.

Head samples were collected from each field at late dough, the heads

dried sufficient to thresh the grain, and the protein determined (12%

moisture) by Kjeldahl. Grain protein of the harvested wheat was also

obtained when available from the producer based on samples they

submitted from storage to local elevators or distant FGIS facilities.

However, harvest samples were not collected using the same sampling

pattern as the flag leaves or late dough samples and in some cases were

averages of several fields. Therefore, FLN was related to late dough

protein because the sampling was more consistent. Late dough and

harvest protein were linearly related (r2=0.78).

ResultsPlanting Date and Variety Effects on Flag Leaf N

Planting dates significantly affected FLN, especially in 2000 (Fig. 1 ). FLN

was highest for the late fall planting at each growth stage in the 2000

season and FLN for the late spring planting was lowest in two of three

samplings. In contrast, FLN in 2001 did not differ as widely among

planting dates as in 2000. FLN for the late fall planting in 2001 was lowest

at FEM whereas the late spring planting was highest at FFL.

Varieties differed significantly in FLN in 2000 with Vandal and WPB 936

averaging higher than ID377S at all growth stages . In contrast, WPB 936

FLN was higher than both Vandal and ID377S FLN in 2001.

FLN averaged across all variety and planting date treatments in 2000

decreased 0.56%N from the first to last sampling. In contrast, FLN in

2001 decreased only 0.07%N from the first to last sampling.

Flag Leaf N Monitoring in Producer Fields

Producer fields sampled over the 1999-01 period are listed in Table 1 with

their designations, late dough protein and N fertilization. Yields ranged

from 6.05 to 8.54 Mg ha-1 (90-127 bu A-1) and protein from 12.6 to 17.4%.

Only 5 of the 14 producer fields had late dough protein exceeding

14%despite late season N intervention (applied between boot and

flowering stages) in all but two fields. Late season N (20-135 kg ha-1) was

applied by various means; solutions through the lines, topdressed dry,

foliar, and water run in furrows. Repeated applications were made in

some fields.

FLN values from the 2000 season are suspect as they fluctuated widely

among growth stages. We find it unlikely that these fluctuations occur

naturally within such short time periods. We suspect analytical

difficulties in the commercial lab used and the FLN results from 2000 are

not included in the following discussion.

FLN at FEM ranged from 3.12 to 4.98%N in 1999 and 2001 grower fields.

FLN in producer fields either increased, was unchanged, or decreased

after FEM and the change was not related to the total late season N

applied. Late N was, in some cases, applied in repeated applications

throughout the period of sampling. The change in FLN from FEM to FHD

ranged from a decrease of 0.52% N to an increase of 0.84% N over a

period of time ranging from 3 to 10 days. The FLN change was unrelated

to the number of days between samplings. FLN, with minimal mid or late

season N applied (22-34 kg ha-1), decreased in producer fields at a daily

rate ranging from 0.036 to 0.086% N.

Results -- continuedFLN generally decreased in producer fields after heading with the

exception of two fields where FLN slightly increased as a result of late

season N > 112 kg N ha-1. The largest drop in FLN occurred in 1999

(decreases of 1.55 and 1.68% N) with minimal late season N applied.

Of all samplings, FLN at FFL would be expected to be the most closely

related to late dough protein, but there was no significant relation

between them when the data from all years were included (data not

shown ).

Previously reported critical levels of 4.2-4.3% FLN at heading could not

be supported from these limited data from commercial fields. Several

fields had FLN at heading or later that exceeded the critical levels and

yet late dough protein was 13% or less. FLN was a poor indicator of

grain protein in producer fields when used on a commercial scale.

References1. Tindall, Terry A., Jeffrey C. Stark, and Randall H. Brooks. 1995. Irrigated spring wheat response to topdressed nitrogen as predicted by flag leaf nitrogen concentration. J. Prod. Agric. 8:46-52.

2. Westcott, Mal, Joyce Eckhoff, Rick Engel, Jeff Jacobsen, Grant Jackson, and Bob Stougaard. 1997. Rapid diagnosis of grain protein response to late-season nitrogen in irrigated spring wheat. Proceedings, Western Nutrient Management Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. March 6-7. pp 77-81.

Figure 1. Flag leaf N contents at full flag leaf emergence (Fem), heading (Fhd), and flowering (FFl) growth stages as affected by planting dates. Parma, 2000-2001.

Fla

g L

eaf

N (

%)

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5Parma, 2000 Late Fall

Early SpringLate Spring

Fla

g L

eaf

N (

%)

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Parma, 2001

ab a

ac

bc

c

b

aab a a

b baab

a

flem hdng flrg

Sampling Growth Stage

Fla

g L

ea

f N

(%

)

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5Parma, 2000

Fla

g L

ea

f N

(%

)

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Parma, 2001

flem hdng flrg

Sampling Growth Stage

ab

a

a

a

b

a

ab

ab b

a

bb

a

b

b

VandalWPB 936ID377S

Figure 2. Flag leaf N contents at full flag leaf emergence (Fem), heading (Fhd), and flowering (FFl) growth stages as affected by varieties. Parma, 2000-2001.

Figure 3. Flag leaf N in 14 grower fields as affected by wheat growth stage. The number following the field designation in the key is the late season N applied.

Fla

g L

eaf

N (

%)

2

3

4

5

6Malheur Co, 1999

Cow Valley 81

Fruitland 34Nyssa 22

Fla

g L

eaf

N (

%)

2

3

4

5

Malheur Co, 2000

Clark 45Locust 22

Fla

g L

eaf

N (

%)

2

3

4

5

Malheur Co, 2001

Crn B4 45Crn B1 45Crn Lc 45Crn S2 45

Growth stage

Fla

g L

eaf

N (

%)

2

3

4

5

Washington and Ada Co, 2001

Heading FloweringFlag Leaf just emerged

Vandal 0 King 0

Noble 0YamSh 134YamBCt 134

Table 1. Treasure Valley HRS Late Dough Protein and WheatNitrogen Fertilization. 1999-2001

Nitrogen AppliedField County Dough

ProteinPreplant Mid

seasonLate Total

% ---------------kg ha-1--------------

1999Frtlnd Malheur 14.06 103 22 34 159Nyssa Malheur 13.88 134 0 22 157CowV Malheur 17.35 168 0 81 249

2000CrnClk Malheur 14.35 157 0 45 202CrnLcst Malheur 13.09 157 0 22 179

2001CrnB4 Malheur 12.60 168 0 45 213CrnB1 Malheur 13.19 179 0 45 224Crnlc Malheur 12.91 168 0 45 213CrnS2 Malheur 12.90 168 0 45 213Noble Ada 13.14Yamsh Ada 13.76 84 56 134 275Yambct Ada 15.88 112 0 134 252RbtsVa Washington 13.89 0 123 0 123RbtsKg Washington 14.89 0 123 0 123

SummaryPlanting dates and varieties significantly affected FLN at specific growth stages. FLN monitoring across seasons in producer fields receiving late season N indicated that FLN was not consistently related to late dough protein. We found annual variability in the FLN-protein relation as well as the FLN change between growth stages. The influence of seasons, cultural practices, and other factors will make interpretation of FLN and it’s consistent use every year for predicting the need for protein enhancing late season N intervention difficult.