Greg Kushnak, Grant Jackson, Ron Thaut, and John Miller, Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, Conrad, MT 59425. Low rates result in green kernels and poor color in the harvested grain.
High rates can reduce test weight and kernel size below industry requirements.
Nitrogen fertilizer is essential for durum to achieve adequate hard vitreous amber color, and may interact with seed rate to affect kernel characteristics. The objectives were to determine the optimum range of seed rates in durum, to determine N requirements for desired protein and vitreous levels, and to compare the responses between durum and spring wheat. Agronomic and kernel characteristic data are presented in Table 17s . Seeding rate did not significantly affect yield, test weight, and kernel size, under the conditions of this test. Similarly, Utopia durum would require 165 lbs.