Durum wheat variety response to nitrogen management and sowing time – Tamarang 2015

Abstract

Key findings • Durum varieties (Caparoi[PBR], DBA Aurora[PBR], DBA Lillaroi[PBR] and Jandaroi[PBR]) displayed differential grain quality and yield responses to time of sowing (TOS) and nitrogen (N) management. Increased screenings (>5%) were the most common cause of quality downgrades. • DBA Aurora[PBR], due to increased risk of screenings (>5%) in part because of reduced grain size, would appear to offer less flexibility in terms of agronomic management, specifically delayed sowing and N management. • The newly released Northern Durum breeding program variety DBA Lillaroi[PBR] appears to offer excellent grain size and grain stability, achieving low screenings from a delayed sowing and high N rates. • Results also highlight the need to sow varieties within recommended sowing windows. An earlier than recommended sowing date of May 19 for the Liverpool Plains resulted in yield losses of ~25% averaged across N treatments for earlier maturing varieties such as Jandaroi[PBR] and DBA Lillaroi[PBR], with possible grain quality implications (e.g. increased screenings).