The influence of Agro.Bio humic preparations and nitrogen nutrition conditions on the protein metabolism of winter wheat in the steppe zone of Ukraine
The decline in the quality of winter wheat grain in recent years requires improved agricultural technology and deeper modern research on metabolism and, above all, protein metabolism.
The direction of the processes occurring in the plant organism, their ultimate implementation in the grain yield and its quality depends on both internal factors, reflected in the variety, and external ones, of which the most regulated and fast-acting is mineral nutrition.
Nitrogen is the leading mineral nutrient that directly improves the quality of products, and its effectiveness depends on its combination with other elements in the nutrient medium.
Modern research data demonstrates increased nitrogen uptake by plants under the influence of phosphorus and physiologically active substances. However, the response of winter wheat varieties to nutritional conditions in specific growing regions has not yet been fully elucidated.
Taking all this into account, Agro.Bio specialists set out to study nitrogen metabolism in winter wheat varieties of varying grain quality, its dependence on nutritional status, and its relationship with productivity in the steppe zone of Ukraine.
MATERIAL, CONDITIONS AND METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH
Our research involved two high-yielding varieties: Bezostaya 1, a "strong" wheat variety, and Veselopodolyanskaya 499, a variety with low technical flour quality. The work was conducted from 2018 to 2022, using field and partial pot trials.
Nitrogen fertilizers were applied in the form of ammonium nitrate: in the fall for pre-sowing cultivation, in the spring as a top dressing on frozen-thawed soil, and in May-June as a root dressing during the flowering phase (30 kg active ingredient/ha). Superphosphate was used as a phosphorus fertilizer, and Agro.Bio Potassium Humate was used as a physiologically active substance. They were applied to the rows during sowing at a dose of 10 kg P2O3/ha and 2 l/ha, respectively.
METABOLISM OF NITROGEN COMPOUNDS IN LEAVES
Our research has shown that the pattern of changes in the content of all forms of nitrogen in winter wheat leaves, depending on plant age, varietal characteristics, and nutritional conditions, is consistent across all experimental years. During ontogenesis, protein nitrogen content increases until the grain formation phase, after which it declines sharply.
The combination of summer nitrogen fertilization with row application of superphosphate or the Agro.Bio Potassium Humate preparation increases the proportion of protein nitrogen by reducing non-protein nitrogen.
To test this conclusion, microvegetation experiments were conducted with chloramphenicol (CP), a protein synthesis inhibitor. Transplanting CP-treated seedlings to Agro.Bio's Potassium Humate solution yielded excellent results: the seedlings grew well and had high protein and chlorophyll content.
Experiment 1 scheme
| Number of options | The seeds were germinated for 3 days on: | The seedlings were transplanted for 24 hours to: | Transplanting seedlings at 6 days: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | water | water | water |
| 2 | water | HF | HF |
| 3 | water | HF | water |
| 4 | water | HF | Potassium Humate Agro.Bio |
These data suggest that Agro.Bio Potassium Humate enhances protein synthesis. It's worth noting that under these conditions, the Amino Energy Agro.Bio complex , which specifically stimulates nitrogen transport and restores protein synthesis under severe stress, is also recommended .
ACCUMULATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF NITROGEN COMPOUNDS IN DEVELOPING GRAIN
A decrease in total nitrogen content by the stage of full maturity occurs due to the accumulation of carbohydrates and nitrogen dilution. Protein nitrogen content (in absolute and relative terms) increases by the stage of full maturity in both varieties.
Table 1. Content of different forms of nitrogen in the grain of winter wheat variety Bezostaya 1
| Background | Nitrogen (N), kg/ha | Crude protein, % | Protein, % | Protein, mg/100 grains | Non-protein nitrogen, % | Non-protein nitrogen, mg/100 grains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain formation | ||||||
| Without fertilizers | — | 14.64 | 7.80 | 29.64 | 1.20 | 25.99 |
| Without fertilizers | 90 | 15.96 | 8.04 | 27.22 | 1.39 | 25.66 |
| R₁₀ | — | 15.96 | 9.40 | 32.71 | 1.15 | 22.79 |
| R₁₀ | 90 | 16.76 | 9.80 | 35.87 | 1.20 | 25.41 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — | 15.90 | 9.35 | 30.85 | 1.15 | 21.61 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 90 | 16.87 | 10.03 | 39.12 | 1.20 | 26.68 |
| Full ripeness | ||||||
| Without fertilizers | — | 12.50 | 11.91 | 504.48 | 0.10 | 25.14 |
| Without fertilizers | 90 | 13:30 | 12.54 | 512.88 | 0.14 | 30.39 |
| R₁₀ | — | 12.50 | 11.91 | 516.42 | 0.10 | 25.53 |
| R₁₀ | 90 | 13.86 | 13.28 | 543.15 | 0.10 | 23.71 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — | 12.82 | 12.25 | 519.40 | 0.10 | 24.17 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 90 | 13.90 | 13.34 | 557.74 | 0.10 | 23.43 |
Table 2. Content of different forms of nitrogen in the grain of winter wheat of the Veselopodolyanskaya variety 499
| Background | Nitrogen (N), kg/ha | Crude protein, % | Protein, % | Protein, mg/100 grains | Non-protein nitrogen, % | Non-protein nitrogen, mg/100 grains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain formation | ||||||
| Without fertilizers | — | 13.85 | 7.01 | 9.60 | 1.20 | 9.37 |
| Without fertilizers | 90 | 15.10 | 7.01 | 9.60 | 1.42 | 11.08 |
| R₁₀ | — | 13.68 | 7.98 | 10.93 | 1.00 | 7.81 |
| R₁₀ | 90 | 15.10 | 8.72 | 17.96 | 1.12 | 13.14 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — | 14.53 | 8.04 | 17.12 | 1.14 | 13.84 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 90 | 15.28 | 8.44 | 16.88 | 1.20 | 13.68 |
| Full ripeness | ||||||
| Without fertilizers | — | 11:30 | 10.60 | 347.15 | 0.12 | 22.92 |
| Without fertilizers | 90 | 12.01 | 11.11 | 356.40 | 0.15 | 28.88 |
| R₁₀ | — | 11:40 | 10.89 | 346.63 | 0.09 | 16.33 |
| R₁₀ | 90 | 12.48 | 11.91 | 382.07 | 0.10 | 18.28 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — | 11.51 | 10.94 | 361.89 | 0.10 | 18.85 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 90 | 12.60 | 12.03 | 390.97 | 0.10 | 10.85 |
At all stages of development, the grain of the Bezostaya 1 variety differs from the Veselopodolyanskaya 499 variety by having a higher total and protein nitrogen content and amino acid content. This indicates a higher intensity of protein synthesis in this variety.
NITROGEN EXCHANGE AND GRAIN YIELD
Applying superphosphate or Agro.Bio's Potassium Humate to rows is highly effective. The greatest yield increase is achieved by combining nitrogen fertilizers at a dose of 30 kg/ha with superphosphate or humate (Tables 3 and 4).
Table 3. The effect of different nutrition levels on the grain yield of the Bezostaya 1 variety (c/ha)
| Background | Pre-sowing (N), kg/ha | Spring (N), kg/ha | Summer (N), kg/ha | Average yield, c/ha | Increase, c/ha | Increase, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without fertilizers | — | — | — | 29.8 | — | — |
| Without fertilizers | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30.8 | 1.0 | 3.3 |
| R₁₀ | — | — | — | 33.2 | 3.4 | 10.2 |
| R₁₀ | 30 | 30 | 30 | 35.2 | 5.4 | 18.1 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — | — | — | 31.4 | 1.6 | 5.3 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 30 | 30 | 30 | 33.5 | 3.7 | 12.4 |
Table 4. The effect of different nutrition levels on the grain yield of the Veselopodolyanskaya 499 variety (c/ha)
| Background | Pre-sowing (N), kg/ha | Spring (N), kg/ha | Summer (N), kg/ha | Average yield, c/ha | Increase, c/ha | Increase, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without fertilizers | — | — | — | 29.7 | — | — |
| Without fertilizers | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30.4 | 0.7 | 2.3 |
| R₁₀ | — | — | — | 33.1 | 3.4 | 11.4 |
| R₁₀ | 30 | 30 | 30 | 34.4 | 4.7 | 15.8 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — | — | — | 31.5 | 1.8 | 6.0 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 30 | 30 | 30 | 33.2 | 3.5 | 11.7 |
NITROGEN METABOLISM AND QUALITY OF WINTER WHEAT GRAIN
Protein content, a key indicator of wheat grain quality, is completely dependent on the nitrogen metabolism. The Bezostaya 1 variety had an average crude protein content of 1.2% higher in mature grain than the Veselopodolyanskaya 499 variety.
Table 5. Effect of nutritional level on crude protein content (average, %)
| Background | Fertilizing schedule (Fall/Spring/Summer) | Bezostaya 1 | Veselopodolyanskaya 499 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without fertilizers | — / — / — | 12:30 | 11:15 |
| Without fertilizers | 30/30/30 | 13.06 | 12.12 |
| R₁₀ | — / — / — | 12.32 | 11.11 |
| R₁₀ | 30/30/30 | 13.21 | 12.19 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | — / — / — | 12.68 | 11.44 |
| Potassium Humate Agro.Bio | 30/30/30 | 13.44 | 12.26 |
The greatest increase in crude protein content in grain is achieved by adding nitrogen during the flowering phase. Nutritional conditions also influence the technological parameters (Table 7).
Table 7. Effect of fertilizers on technological indicators of flour quality
| Background | Spring (N) | Summer (N) | Bezostaya 1 | Veselopodolyanskaya 499 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw gluten, % | Quality group | Sediment volume, ml | Flour category | Raw gluten, % | Quality group | Sediment volume, ml | Flour category | |||
| Without fertilizers. | — | — | 28.1 | II | 26.1 | average | 24.0 | II | 12.8 | weak |
| Without fertilizers. | 30 | 30 | 30.5 | I | 32.8 | strong | 24.8 | II | 14.4 | weak |
| R₁₀ | — | — | 28.0 | II | 26.1 | average | 23.5 | II | 13.8 | weak |
| R₁₀ | 30 | 30 | 31.0 | I | 33.7 | strong | 24.5 | II | 14.9 | weak |
| Humate Agro.Bio | — | — | 29.4 | II | 26.1 | average | 24.2 | II | 13.8 | weak |
| Humate Agro.Bio | 30 | 30 | 31.0 | I | 32.7 | strong | 24.7 | II | 14.8 | weak |
CONCLUSIONS
- The grain of the Bezostaya 1 variety is characterized by a more complete conversion of simple nitrogen compounds into proteins and a higher intensity of protein synthesis.
- The combination of nitrogen fertilizers with Agro.Bio's physiologically active substances increases the percentage of protein nitrogen in leaves and grains, improving conditions for protein synthesis.
- The best way to obtain a high grain yield is to combine pre-sowing fertilization with Agro.Bio Potassium Humate (2 l/ha) with nitrogen fertilization.
- Late nitrogen fertilization significantly increases the volume of sedimentation sediment, gluten content, and improves the flour strength category of strong wheat varieties.
Agro.Bio Expert Note: Modern products from the Agro.Bio line, such as Agro.Bio Potassium Humate and Agro.Bio Amino Energy, are a direct evolution of the described protein metabolism management technologies. Thanks to the high bioavailability of active ingredients and a balanced composition, they allow Ukrainian farmers to maximize the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers, mitigate stress factors, and guarantee high-quality grain with excellent baking qualities.