The effect of two fertilizer types on growth, yield, gluten content of two Cameroon wheat landraces

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important cereals in the world, providing 20% of calories in the daily diets of the world.  Wheat is highly consumed in Cameroon directly or processed into bread and biscuits. However, the need to increase quality wheat  production in Cameroon is emphasized especially in the wake of the geopolitical crisis between Ukraine and Russia. This study was  designed to ascertain the impact of two nitrogen sources (urea and Ammonium sulphate) at different doses (0g, 2g, 4g and 6g) per plant  on growth, yield and gluten content of two Cameroon landraces of wheat (Boyo and Adamawa). In April 2022, a split plot experiment with  landrace as main plots and fertilizer doses as subplots was established in the research field of the Regional College of Agriculture  Bambili, North West Region of Cameroon. Plant height did not vary across fertilizer doses but Boyo was significantly taller than Adamawa (P < 0.05). The number of leaves and the number of tillers progressively increased with fertilizer doses. The number of spikes increased  with increased fertilizer doses and the values for Boyo were higher than those for Adamawa for corresponding doses. Interaction effects  of variety x dose was significant (F = 7.162, df = 3, 40, P = 0.001) on the number of grains with Boyo and Adamawa landraces producing 331 and 320 grains per plant, respectively from 6g of urea. Boyo and Adamawa produced 337 and 449, from 6g and 4g of ammonium  sulphate respectively. Grain weight and gluten content increased with increase doses of fertilizers with the highest grain weight and  gluten content from Adamawa landrace at 6g of ammonium sulphate per plant. The Adamawa landrace at 6g per plant of ammonium  sulphate is recommended for increased yield and gluten. Other ramifications are discussed.