Effect of nitrogen/potassium combination on irrigated wheat cultivation

With the expansion of wheat cultivation into areas with low natural fertility such as the Brazilian Cerrado, studies aimed at determining the appropriate amounts of nutrients supplied in fertilization are crucial. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the effects of applying doses of nitrogen combined with doses of potassium in the fertilization of irrigated wheat cultivar BRS 254 grown in a Cerrado environment. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the Federal University of Rondonópolis, Brazil, in randomized blocks with a 5x5 split factorial design with four replications. The treatments were five doses of nitrogen (0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 kg ha-1) and five doses of potassium (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1). For grain yield, the application of 168 kg N ha-1 and 200 kg K ha-1 provided maximum grain yield (2,828 kg ha-1). Nitrogen fertilization does not benefit the technological quality aspects of wheat and the use of 200 kg K ha-1 provides the best results. Nitrogen is the nutrient that most limits the development of the BRS 254 wheat cultivar.