The effects on winter wheat of ammonium sulphate, with and without a nitrification inhibitor, and of calcium nitrate

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Winter wheat grown on a sandy-loam and on a clay-loam soil was given ammonium sulphate alone or treated with the nitrification inhibitor, 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)- pyridine, drilled with seed, in autumn. In spring, dressings of treated or untreated ammonium sulphate or of calcium nitrate, were broadcast. 75 or 150 lb N/acre were given on the sandy loam and 50 or 100 lb on the clay loam. Plants were sampled during growth and grain yield was measured.Without fertilizer-N, the wheat yielded 17 cwt/acre on the sandy-loam and 46 cwt on the clay, and with the double dressings given in spring yields were 52 and 56 cwt/ acre. On the light soil, treated ammonium sulphate given in autumn increased yield by 3–5 cwt/acre with the single dressing and by 5–4 cwt/acre with the double one.On the heavy soil the inhibitor had no effect on yield. Dressings of 50 lb N/acre in autumn or spring increased yields equally, but with 100 lb N/acre the spring dressing increased yield slightly more than autumn dressings. Calcium nitrate at 75 lb N/acre was significantly better than ammonium sulphate on the light soil.The inhibitor did not affect the speed with which N was taken up, or the total uptake, from fertilizer given in spring.