Growth analysis of winter wheat cultivars as affected by nitrogen fertilization / Wachstumsanalyse von Winterweizensorten in Abhängigkeit von Stickstoffdüngung

Growth analysis helps explain the differences in yield and growth potential between cultivars in response to management practices and environmental conditions. The aim of the research was: (i) to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the growth and growth parameters of different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and (ii) to study the relationship between yield and growth parameters at the individual plant and plant stand level. In the two-factorial, split-plot experiment, the main plot was the nitrogen (N) treatment and the sub-plot was the cultivar. In response to N fertilization, the values of growth rate parameters increased up to the N₁₆₀ treatment. The mean values of crop growth rate (g m^-2 day^-1) in the treatments were as follows: N₀: 10.4, N₈₀: 15.4, N₁₆₀: 17.2 and N₂₄₀: 16.3. The leaf area index, leaf area duration and especially the duration of the flag-leaf gave a good reflection of the effect of N fertilization. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated the significant effect of growth rates, size and duration of leaf area, biomass distribution and yield components on the yield. The results showed that understanding the growth of plants is important for optimizing management decisions.