Manure and fertilizers boost wheat quality, but harm gluten poor varieties
Long-term use of manure and fertilizers affects the quality and yield of winter wheat. A 20-year study looked at different nutrient treatments on wheat crops. Manure had a big impact on grain yield, while fertilizers affected both yield and quality. Combining manure with fertilizers improved quality for gluten-rich wheat, but reduced it for gluten-poor wheat. Soil fertility didn't directly affect grain quality, but did impact yield. Nutrient management, not just soil health, played a key role in determining wheat quality in this study.