To determine the suitable combination of tillage and nitrogen(N)rate for synergistic improvement of wheat yield,quality and N use efficiency in Huang-Huai-Hai area,field experiments was conducted from 2018 to 2020 with three tillage practices(rotary tillage,R;deep ploughing,P;subsoiling,B)and four N rates(135 kg/hm2,N135,180 kg/hm2,N180,225 kg/hm2,N225,270 kg/hm2,N270)in Zibo,Shandong.The results showed that the grain yield,grain protein content and N use efficiency could be significantly regulated by tillage practice,N rate and the interaction of tillage practice and N rate.Compared with the traditional R or P,B increased the N accumulation amount at anthesis and maturity stages by 1.2%-18.9%and 5.2%-16.3%,respectively.The pre-anthesis N translocation amount and post-anthesis N accumulation amount were increased by 0.8%-70.4%and 5.7%-21.9%,respectively.Additionally,the plant N production capacity and N use efficiency increased by 3.2%-21.1%and 3.7%-40.7%,respectively.Therefore,compared with R or P,the grain yield,grain protein content and grain protein yield under B were significantly increased by 3.7%-40.7%,3.6%-8.9%and 3.0%-49.9%.Increasing the N rate in a certain range could increase the grain protein content,but reduced the N use efficiency at the same time.In general,the highest grain yield,grain protein content and grain protein yield could be obtained simultaneously by B combined with 270 kg/hm2 N rate,and the N use efficiency was higher than other tillage practices with the same N rate.Therefore,in this experimental area,the preferred B combined with 270 kg/hm2 could achieve a synergistic increase in wheat yield and quality,while maintaining relatively higher N use efficiency.
tillage practicesnitrogen ratesgrain yieldgrain protein contentnitrogen use efficiency