Abstract
The effect of nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) on yield, protein concentration and rheological properties of Mexi-Pak.65 wheat was studied in a field experiment, Ammonium nitrate was applied at varying rates (20 to 120 kg N ha-1) either in single close or 2.3 split applications at different growth stages. Application of 120 kg N ha-1 in three splits (20 kg N hart at seeding, 50 kg N ha-1 at tillering and 60 kg N ha-1 at boot stage) resulted in the highest increase in grain yield (113.0% higher than control). The concen-tration of protein in grains increased from 7.4 to 9,8% with inorea. sed level of ammonium nitrate. Added levels of fertilizer exhi-bited no influence on the test weight, generally decreased the mixing time, and increased the water absorption 131-paeity of the flour as well as ths loof volume. The total area of alveograph curve (5) and the curve length (L) showed an increasing trend with increased rate of fertilizer nitrogen.
INTBODUCTIGN
Cereals are generally regarded low in protein. As most of the world popu-lation is almost totally dependent on cereals as the source of dietary protein, it will be highly desirable if improvement programmes with respect to crop yield could also consider improvements in the concentration and quality of protein. It has been reported that in addition to genetic, the environmental factors also have profound influonce on wheat quality; often a greater effect than even the inherent factors (Bequette et a/a, 1963). One of the environmental factors is the nitrogen available to the plant, and its application to the medium is known to increase the concentration of protein, gluten and non protein. nitrogen in wheat (El-Gindy tt al., 1957; Wu and McDonald, 1976). The other important proper-Present Address Nuclear Institute for Food aLd. Agriculture, Tarnab, Peshawar
