PracticestoIncreaseWheatGrainProtein.pdfVIP

Practices to Increase Wheat Grain Protein Clain Jones, Extension Soil Fertility Specialist/Assistant Professor Kathrin Olson-Rutz, Research Associate, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences EB0206 May 2012 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Douglas L. Steele, Vice President of External Relations and Director of Extension, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717. 1 To produce high grain protein there must first be enough nutrient resources to meet wheat’s requirements for vegetative growth and grain yield. Then, if available nitrogen (N) and N uptake satisfy growth and yield requirements, extra N taken up is used for increasing grain protein. Grain from wheat stressed by drought or high temperatures during grain fill frequently has higher protein, though certain crop and fertilizer management practices can increase protein without sacrificing yield, regardless of weather conditions. Low grain protein is a financial loss to producers, especially in years with high protein discounts and premiums. On average, dryland spring wheat grown in Montana requires 3.3 lb available N/bu to reach 14 percent protein, where available N = soil N + fertilizer N (FF17, see ‘Fertilizer Facts’ on page 8). Based on a recent survey, Montana producers use an average of 2.6 lb N/bu on spring wheat. In 201