Numerous epidemiological studies have highlighted the positive effects on health of wholegrain bakery products made from ‘old’ common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. However, ‘old’ common wheat varieties display poor rheological properties, and there is limited information on its free asparagine (ASN) content, the main precursor to acrylamide during the baking process. This paper evaluates the effects of two seeding density levels (SD: 200 and 350 seed m⁻²), three nitrogen levels (NL: 35, 80 and 135 kg N ha⁻¹), and two sulfur levels (SL: 0 and 6.4 kg S ha⁻¹) towards improving the grain yield (GY), rheological characteristics, and ASN content of 14 ‘old’ common wheat varieties. SL and SD treatments significantly increased GY without decreasing the protein content (PC), while NL significantly increased the PC without affecting GY. The dough strength (W) increased significantly with increasing SL and NL but was significantly reduced with increasing SD. ASN significantly increased by 111% as NL increased from 35 to 135 kg ha⁻¹, while ASN significantly decreased by 85.1% with the SL treatment. The findings show that 135 kg N ha⁻¹ combined with 6.4 kg S ha⁻¹ can improve the technical performance of ‘old’ wheat wholegrain flours while maintaining the ASN as low as possible.

The response of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to the application of different rates of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on different agro-climatic zones (ACZs) has not been well studied in Afghanistan. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the impact of soil and climate on the responses of wheat to N and P fertilization, (2) quantify the specific N and P response of winter wheat for different ACZs, and (3) determine the economical application rates of N and P for farmers for each considered ACZs. This paper evaluates the effects of nitrogen levels (NL) at 35.28, 65, 95, and 120 kg N ha⁻¹ and phosphorus levels (PL) at 0, 50, 70, and 90 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, respectively, in four locations (L) for two growing seasons (GS), on both yield and quality characteristics of winter wheat. Soil pH was the main environmental parameter affecting straw yield (SY), grain yield (GY), protein content (PC), and protein yield (PY). Winter wheat SY, GY, PC, and PY increased significantly (p < 0.05) with PL rates up to 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and with NL rates up to 120 kg N ha⁻¹. NL was the most important parameter in determining PC, thus showing potential for further improvement in N management. The highest marginal rate of return was used as an index for the farmers to accept site-specific N and P fertilizer recommendations.

The lower common wheat productivity and quality are major constraints in Afghanistan. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the effect of soil and climatic parameters on the yield and quality of common wheat and (2) investigate the response of different wheat varieties to different N and P fertilization rates, to improve the yield and quality of common wheat. Three wheat varieties (DLN7, ZRDN, and KBL13), three phosphorus levels (PL) at 60, 90, and 120 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹, and three nitrogen ratios (NP) at 1:1, 1.25:1, and 1.5:1, respectively, in four locations (L), were evaluated. The higher average grain yield (GY), straw yield (SY), and starch yield (STY) were obtained with DLN7, followed by KBL13 and ZRDN, for all locations. As PL increased, GY, SY, protein yield (PY), and STY significantly increased in all locations. The PL significantly affected protein content (PC), gluten content (GC), and dough strength (W). The NP significantly improved PC, GC, and PY. Starch (ST), STY, and amylopectin (AP) increased significantly with increasing PL. The amylose to AP ratio increased significantly with increasing NP ratios. The findings show that at NP1/PL120, GY, SY, ST, and AP improved significantly, while at NP1.5:1/PL120, PC and GC improved significantly.

Afghanistan grows maize in about 0.15 m ha with an annual production hovering around 300,000 tonnes. The country does not have any officially released commercial maize hybrid and relies only on open pollinated varieties for cultivating maize. The countries in region enjoy much higher productivity levels ranging from 3.5 to 5.00 tonnes per ha compared to 2.2 tonnes per ha of Afghanistan. Several maize hybrids were introduced from CIMMYT to test them for adaptation and yielding ability in Afghanistan for the purpose of releasing them in the country. The three public sector maize hybrids described in this communication were tested at several locations viz., Nangarhar province, Kabul, Baghlan and Helmand in Afghanistan during 2012 to 2014 crop seasons. The hybrids/inbreds bred by CIMMYT were tested against the currently grown open pollinated (OP) varieties and they yielded on an average 31 to 38% higher than the currently popular open pollinated maize varieties. The hybrids were released for commercial cultivation in 2014.