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DRYLAND CROPPING SYSTEMS

Wheat Grain Quality Response to Tillage and Rotation with Field Pea

^a North Dakota State Univ., Dickinson Res. Ext. Ctr., 1041 State Ave., Dickinson, ND 58601-3267
^b Dep. Plant Sci., North Dakota State Univ., P.O. Box 5051, Fargo, ND 58105-5051

^* Corresponding author (Patrick.Carr{at}ndsu.edu).

Preceding spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with field pea (Pisum sativum L.) can enhance wheat grain yield in a wheat-pea (WP) rotation compared with continuous wheat (WW). The pea-rotation benefits to wheat grain quality are uncertain. A 6-yr study was conducted to determine (i) if grain protein content, kernel weight, and test weight were enhanced for wheat in a WP rotation compared with WW, and (ii) if an interaction between cropping and tillage systems existed. The WP and WW systems were maintained in subplots within clean-till (CT), reduced-till (RT), and no-till (NT) whole plots arranged in a randomized complete block as a split plot in southwestern North Dakota, USA. Grain protein content of wheat averaged 160 g kg^–1 and was unaffected by cropping system (P > 0.05). However, grain protein content was 10 to 30 g kg^–1 lower under NT compared with CT, depending on the year. Kernels were heavier in two of 6 yr in the WP rotation compared with WW. No difference in kernel weight was detected between cropping systems in the other 4 yr. A consistent trend in kernel weight was not detected across tillage systems, and interactions between cropping and tillage systems were not observed for either grain protein content or kernel weight. A three-way interaction between cropping systems, tillage systems, and years was detected for grain test weight. These results failed to demonstrate a consistent pea-rotation benefit to wheat grain quality.

Abbreviations: WP, wheat-pea • WW, wheat-wheat • CT, clean-tillage • RT, reduced-tillage • NT, no-tillage

¹ Mention of a proprietary product name is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or warranty to the exclusion of other products.

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Received for publication April 17, 2008.