June i6,1923 
Factors Affecting Nitrogen Content of Wheat 
945 
of kernels, percentage of nitrogen in kernels, average weight of kernel, 
total and average weight of nitrogen in kernel. The data in Table V 
show the grams of nitrogen in the chaff, above the top nodes, below the 
top node, below the second node from top, and in some cases (when 
present) below third node, as well as total weight of nitrogen in the 
plants. 
Table IV .—Percentage distribution of nitrogen in plant and kernelsy Hegnauer tract 
Date. 
Nitrogen 
in plant, 
not kernel. 
Nitrogen 
in kernel. 
Average 
weight of 
kernel. 
Total 
nitrogen in 
kernels. 
Average 
nitrogen in 
kernels. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Gm. 
Gm. 
Gm. 
July I.. 
0. 871 
2. 23 
0. 00402 
0. 00709 
0. 0000885 
8. 
. 800 
2. 12 
. 00976 
•0155 
. 000207 
IS. 
•571 
I. 98 
. 01305 
•0155 
. 000258 
22. 
• 529 
1.87 
. 0298 
. 0484 
. 000557 
29. 
. 460 
1-51 
• 0356 
•0334 
. 000528 
Table V. —Weight and distribution of nitrogen in wheat plant, Hegnauer tract 
Date. 
Chaff. 
Above top 
node. 
Below top 
node. 
Below sec¬ 
ond node. 
Below 
third node. 
Total 
plant. 
July I. 
8 . 
15. 
22. 
29. 
Gm . 
0. 0074 
. 0076 
. 00401 
. 0048 
. 0022 
Gm . 
0. 0196 
. 0102 
. 0091 
. 0089 
. 0038 
Gm . 
0. 00569 
. 0092 
.0056 
.0065 
. 0012 
Gm . 
0. 00540 
. 0042 
. 0042 
. 0022 
. 0014 . 
Gm . 
0. 00239 
. 0029 
. 0020 
Gm . 
0. 04757 
. 0496 
. 04041 
. 0408 
. 0420 
It is a well-established fact that the percentage of nitrogen in the 
plant proper decreases with the continuous growth of the plant. This 
is^ clearly seen from the results given in Table IV, which also shows 
the nitrogen percentage of the kernel decreasing with the progressive 
development and increased weights of the kernel when grown under field 
conditions. 
The weight distribution of the nitrogen in the several parts of the 
plant furnishes us some interesting data regarding the changes that take 
place as the kernels develop in size. It will be seen from the data given 
in Table V that the nitrogen (reading down the column) moves from the 
lowest to uppermost part of the plant, and the nitrogen is evidently the 
first to be drawn upon for the formation of the kernels. At the time of 
the filling of the kernel the highest percentage of nitrogen is found in 
the part of the plant above the top node and in the chaff, and the lowest 
percentage of nitrogen is found in the part below the lowest node. As 
the nitrogen enters into the kernel, the quantity in the chaff appears to 
be depleted first, followed by the final draft from the straw above the 
top node. Therefore, if the conditions are favorable for normal develop¬ 
ment, all of the excess nitrogen in the different parts of the plant will be 
moved upward and transferred into the kernel. 
