Grain yield increases in wheat and barley to nitrogen applied after transient waterlogging in the high rainfall cropping zone of western Australia

Nitrogen (N) is a major factor limiting grain production in the high rainfall zone (HRZ, 450–700 mm annual average rainfall of southwestern Australia (SWA). Transient waterlogging and leaching of applied N fertilizer are hazards faced in most years by crop producers. The major crops are wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and lupin (Lupinus angustifiolius L.) grown in rotation. Two series of experiments involving, levels and timing of N fertilizer application and levels of plant population were done. The first series, in 2003–2004, consisted of 3 experiments in 3 growing seasons (early May to late-October) to measure the grain yield (GY) increase (response) of wheat and barley to various methods of N fertilizer application (methods of split N application were compared to N applied at sowing). The aim of the experiments was to determine the optimal N fertilizer application strategy for maximum GY and quality in situations where transient waterlogging was a frequent occurrence. The second series of four experiments, from 2007–2009, measured the GY of wheat sown at three levels of plant population to 4 levels of N applied after transient waterlogging (taken to be rainfall events in which >25 mm of rain was recorded in 24 to 48 hours).

Applying the N fertilizer after high rainfall and transient waterlogging (tactical N application) increased GY and protein percentage of grain compared to applying all of the N fertilizer at sowing. Where transient waterlogging was not frequent, applying the N after waterlogging was not always better than applying part of the N according to growth stage of the crop or according to fixed times after sowing. When the crop was water-logged three or more times, N uptake by the crop at anthesis and apparent fertilizer N recovery in the crop was substantially increased by applying the N after waterlogging compared to applying the entire N at sowing. This study found that a tactical N management strategy for the HRZ of SWA is to apply some N at sowing with subsequent applications made after heavy rainfall that leads to transient waterlogging. Split N fertilizer applied either according to time after sowing or to growth stage of the crop was equally effective for increasing GY in situations where waterlogging was less frequent.

The observation from these experiments, that grain yield increases due to splitting the N dose were associated with increases in ear numbers, lead to a further set of experiments where plant population was increased in conjunction with N applied after waterlogging events. The combined strategy of increased plant population with strategic N application decreased the amount of N required for maximum GY where more than 3 heavy rainfall events occurred in a growing season.

One practical outcome of this research is to indicate that farmers can withhold applications of N fertilizer after sowing in seasons when transient waterlogging does not occur.     

Effects of water content and N addition on potential greenhouse gas production from two differently textured soils under laboratory conditions

GHGs production and emission may vary depending on soil physical properties, water management and fertilization. Two paddy soils characterized by different texture were incubated to evaluate the impact of flooding (permanent or intermittent) and N addition on potential N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ production and release into atmosphere and soil solution. Relationships with volumetric water content (VWC) and water filled pore space (WFPS) were evaluated. Overall, the finer clayey soil (CL) produced 58% more CH₄ than the coarser sandy soil (SA) and showed an earlier sink to source transition; the difference was lower with N addition. Permanent flooding favoured the amount of dissolved CH₄. SA produced more N₂O emissions than CL under permanent flooding (31.0 vs. 3.7%); an opposite pattern was observed for dissolved N₂O (16.4 vs. 52.7%). Fertilization increased N₂O emissions under dry conditions in CL and under flooding in SA.

Our findings showed that i) VWC had a larger influence on N₂O and CH₄ emissions than WFPS, ii) soil type influenced the gas release into atmosphere or soil solution and the timing of sink to source transition in CH₄ emissions. Further investigation on timing of fertilization and drainage are needed to improve climate change mitigation strategies.     

N-Umsatz von verschiedenem Pflanzenmaterial im Boden in Gefäß- und Feldversuchen

Turnover of nitrogen of different plant material in the soil in pot and field trials In pot and field trials, effects of various plant materials like green rape, sugar beet leaves, potato foliage, straw of wheat, maize, or field beans, on the turnover of N in the soil (mineralization, N_min-concentrations, NO₃-leaching) and on yield and N uptake by some crops was tested in relation to mineral N fertilizer application. In both experiments, widely corresponding results were obtained: Irrespective of the N contents of the plant material, biological immobilization of N always was combined with beginning mineralization (pot trial: decrease of NO₃ leaching in late fall). Green rape (C/N = 12/1) showed already after 4 weeks in the field trial a marked net mineralization (N_min) of 20–30% of the added nitrogen which was quantitatively reflected in higher removals of N. Beet leaves (C/N = 20/1) were decomposed at a much slower rate in combination with an increase in N removals of subsequent crops by 6-20 % depending on the rate of mineral fertilizer application. All types of straw (CM = 57-8611) and potato foliage (CM = 73/1) caused a marked biological immobilization of N which resulted in reduced N removals depending on turnover rate (potato foliage: fast, wheat straw: slow) and N contents of the organic material. Different plant residues (straw, leaves) were applicated on a harvested field with cereal to test comparatively one part of the total value of different preceding crops; at onset of vegetation the N_min-contents in soil, depending on the climatic conditions during the non-growing season for mineralization, were analyzed.     

Using a nitrogen mineralization index will improve soil productivity rating by artificial neural networks

ABSTRACT

In the Pampas, nitrogen fertilization rates are low and soil organic matter impacts crop yield. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield was related to total soil nitrogen (total N) and to nitrogen mineralization potential (mineralized N) to determine whether the effects of organic matter may be attributed to its capacity to act as a nitrogen source or to the improvement of the soil physical condition. Data of 386 sites from throughout the region comprised in a recent soil survey were used, in which climate and soil properties to 1 m depth were determined. Artificial neural networks were applied for total N and mineralized N estimation using climate and soil variables as inputs (R² = 0.59–0.70). The models allowed estimating total N and mineralizable N at county scale and related them to statistical yield information. Neural networks were also used for yield prediction. The best productivity model fitted (R² = 0.85) showed that wheat yield could be predicted by rainfall, the photothermal quotient, and mineralized N. The soil organic matter effect on crop yield seems to be mainly related to its nitrogen mineralization capacity. Using mineralized N as predictor would be a valuable tool for rating soil productivity.     

施氮量对土壤无机氮分布和微生物量氮含量及小麦产量的影响

在高肥力土壤条件下,研究了施氮量对土壤无机氮分布和微生物量氮含量及小麦产量的影响。结果表明,小麦生长期间,施氮处理0100.cm土层硝态氮积累量显著大于不施氮处理;当施氮量大于150.kg/hm2时,随施氮量增加,0100.cm土层硝态氮积累量显著增加;随小麦生育进程推进,施氮处理上层土壤硝态氮下移趋势明显,至小麦成熟时,施氮1952～85.kg/hm2处理60100.cm土层硝态氮含量显著大于其它处理。小麦生长期间,0100.cm土层铵态氮积累量较为稳定,施氮处理间亦无显著差异。与不施氮肥相比,施氮提高小麦生长期间040.cm土层土壤微生物量氮含量;当施氮量小于240.kg/hm2时,随施氮量增加,土壤微生物量氮含量增加。小麦的氮肥利用率随施氮量增加而降低;施氮1051～95.kg/hm2,收获时小麦植株吸氮量、生物产量、子粒产量和子粒蛋白质含量提高;而施氮量大于240.kg/hm2时,小麦生育后期的氮素积累量降低,收获时植株吸氮量、生物产量和子粒蛋白质含量降低。说明本试验条件下,施氮1051～50.kg/hm2可满足当季小麦氮素吸收利用,获得较高的子粒产量和蛋白质含量。继续增加施氮量,土壤微生物量氮含量增加,但土壤中残留大量硝态氮,易淋溶损失。     

Mid-Season Prediction of Wheat-Grain Yield Potential Using Plant,Soil, and Sensor Measurements

ABSTRACT

The components that define cereal-grain yield potential have not been well defined. The objective of this study was to collect many differing biological measurements from a long-term winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) study in an attempt to better define yield potential. Four treatments were sampled that annually received 0, 45, 90, and 135 kg N ha^?1 at fixed rates of phosphorus (P) (30 kg ha^?1) and potassium (K) (37 kg ha^?1). Mid-season measurements of leaf color, chlorophyll, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), plant height, canopy temperature, tiller density, plant density, soil moisture, soil NH₄-N, NO₃-N, organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), pH, and N mineralization potential were collected. In addition, soil texture and bulk density were determined to characterize each plot. Correlations and multiple linear-regression analyses were used to determine those variables that can predict final winter wheat grain yield. Both the correlation and regression analyses suggested mid-season NDVI, chlorophyll content, plant height, and total N uptake to be good predictors of final winter wheat grain yield.     

华北平原冬小麦/夏玉米轮作体系对氮素环境承受力分析

通过田间试验研究了华北地区冬小麦/夏玉米轮作体系对氮素的环境承受力。结果表明,冬小麦和夏玉米达到最高产量时的施氮量分别是112和180.kg/hm2。氮肥利用率和农学利用率随施氮量的增加而降低,生理利用率表现出抛物线的趋势。在农户习惯施氮条件下,冬小麦和夏玉米的氮肥利用率分别是10%和6%,每千克氮肥分别增产2和3千克。灌水和集中降雨是引起土壤硝态氮明显下移的主要因素。氮素平衡计算的结果表明,低施氮量时,氮素盈余以残留Nmin为主,高量施氮则以表观损失为主。将收获后090.cm土壤中的硝态氮的量控制到150kg/hm2,可以在兼顾环境的前提下获得较高的产量;此时冬小麦季的施氮量是122.kg/hm2,产量(干物重)达到最高产量4331.kg/hm2;夏玉米季的施氮量是145.kg/hm2,产量(干物重)是7965.kg/hm2,达到最高产量的97%。     

EUF-extrahierbarer Stickstoff und dessen Beziehung zu Stickstoffaufnahme und Ertrag von Weizen

EUF extractable nitrogen and its relation to nitrogen uptake and yield of wheat The investigations were focussed on the question whether nitrogen extracted from soils by EUF may reflect nitrogen availability for cereals. Soil samples were taken from the upper soil layer of farmers' fields differing in soil type and texture. Samples still taken in the autumn after the harvest of sugar beets as well as samples taken under cereals in January had relatively high contents of EUF extractable organic N and low contents of NO₃. Decrease in EUF extractable N during spring (March until end of May) under winter wheat was significantly correlated with the N uptake of the wheat and with grain yield. In the plots not treated with fertilizer N the organic N of the EUF-extracts was as a mineralizable N source more important for crop nutrition than the EUF extractable NO₃. The correlation between the EUF extractable N in spring and the grain yield of wheat was highly significant (r = 0.79***). In this correlation 20 different locations were implicated. Similar good correlations were found between the EUF extractable N and the N uptake of wheat.     

Effect of nitrogen and sulphur fertilizers and seed inoculation with rhizobium phaseoli on the nitrogen‐sulphur relationships of bean (phaseolus vulgaris L.)

A greenhouse experiment with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was performed in order to investigate the effect of nitrogen and sulphur application and seed inoculation on the yield, leaf area, distribution of different nitrogen and sulphur fractions and N/S ratio in shoot, fruit and root.

Inoculation of plants together with nitrogen or sulphur application produces an increase in the concentration of total nitrogen and a decrease in the accumulation of nitrate‐nitrogen and sulphate‐sulphur in shoot, fruit and root. Leaf area increased more with nitrogen than with sulphur application while the highest amounts of fruit dry matter were obtained with sulphur application.

N: S ratios obtained were different according to the part of the plant tested. Sulphur fertilization decreased the N: S ratios in shoot, fruit and root. The data obtained indicate that and adequate N: S ratio can insure maximum production of yield.     

Long-term manure application increased soil organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization through accumulation of unprotected and physically protected carbon fractions

Soil organic carbon(SOC) and nitrogen(N) mineralization are important biogeochemical processes associated with soil fertility. These processes are influenced by physically, chemically, and biologically stabilized SOC fractions, the mechanisms of which are not well known. The present study was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of manure and mineral fertilizers on the contents of SOC fractions to promote the mineralization of SOC and N.Treatments included: i) no fertilizer control(CK); ii)...     

Interaction effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on nitrogen mineralization of wheat residues in a calcareous soil

Abstract

Because of the high pH of the soil in semiarid regions, phosphorus adsorption is unfavorable. So, considerable amounts of phosphorus fertilizers are used annually, where this fertilizer may affect the plant residues' decomposition. To examine the interaction effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on nitrogen mineralization in calcareous soil, a factorial experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three replications. The first factor consisted of various C:N ratios (20, 40, and 60 or three levels of nitrogen N₁:0, N₂:11, and N₃:43?kg N ha^?1, respectively) and the second factor consisted of various C:P ratios (87, 174, and 260 or three levels of phosphorus P₁:0, P₂:12, and P₃:45?kg P ha^?1, respectively), under incubation conditions. The results indicated that the cumulative mineral nitrogen content in all treatments, except for N1P2 and N1P3 treatments, started from a positive amount and remained positive until the end of the incubation period. The highest amount of cumulative mineral nitrogen among treatments was related to N3P1 treatment, while the lowest was associated with N2P3 treatment. Mineralization of nitrogen during 60?d of incubation was the dominant phenomenon, except for the N1P2 and N1P3 treatments which remained in the organic phase. The effect of phosphorus on the cumulative mineralization of nitrogen was significant. With increasing the amount of phosphorus, the total inorganic nitrogen diminished. Nitrogen release begins earlier with lower C:N ratios, and therefore the available nitrogen can be released more quickly to the plant. It is generally concluded that, in calcareous soil, the use of nitrogen fertilizer to adjust C:N ratio and to improve the mineralization of wheat residues will be a suitable option.     

耕作方式对冬小麦氮素积累与转运及土壤硝态氮含量的影响

以济麦22为试验材料,在大田条件下设置条旋耕（SR）、深松+条旋耕（SRS）、深松+旋耕（RS）、旋耕（R）和翻耕（P） 5个耕作方式处理,研究了耕作方式对冬小麦氮素积累、分配和转运及土壤硝态氮含量的影响。结果表明,1）深松+条旋耕和深松+旋耕处理小麦开花至成熟期20140 cm各土层的土壤含水量较低; 拔节期之后的小麦氮素吸收强度、开花和成熟期植株氮素积累量、成熟期氮素向子粒中的分配比例及开花期营养器官中贮存的氮素向子粒中的转运量均高于条旋耕和旋耕处理; 深松+条旋耕和深松+旋耕处理成熟期氮素向子粒中的分配量高于翻耕,翻耕高于旋耕和条旋耕处理。2）深松+条旋耕和深松+旋耕处理成熟期080 cm各土层的土壤硝态氮含量低于翻耕处理,翻耕低于旋耕和条旋耕处理,条旋耕最高; 深松+旋耕在120160 cm土层的土壤硝态氮含量高于其他处理; 各处理在160200 cm土层的土壤硝态氮含量无显著差异。3）深松+旋耕和深松+条旋耕的子粒产量和氮肥偏生产力最高且两者无显著差异,翻耕次之,旋耕和条旋耕低于上述处理。在本试验条件下,综合考虑氮素利用、子粒产量和土壤中硝态氮的淋溶,深松+条旋耕为最佳耕作方式,可供生产中参考。     

Assessing long term effects of compost fertilization on soil fertility and nitrogen mineralization rate

Background

Fertilization with organic waste compost can close the nutrient cycles between urban and rural environments. However, its effect on yield and soil fertility must be investigated.

Aim

This study investigated the long-term effect of compost on soil nutrient and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) concentration, nutrient budgets, and nitrogen (N) mineralization and efficiency.

Methods

After 21 years of annual compost application (100/400 kg N ha^–1 year^–1 [100BC/400BC]) alone and combined with mineral fertilization, soil was analyzed for pH, organic carbon (SOC), nutrient (total N and P, N_min, extractable CAL-P, CAL-K, and Mg), and PTE (Cu, Ni, Zn) concentrations. Yields were recorded and nutrient/PTE budgets and apparent net mineralization (ANM, only 2019) were calculated.

Results

N efficiency was the highest in maize and for mineral fertilization. Compost application led to lower N efficiencies, but increased ANM, SOC, pH, and soil N, and surpluses of N, P, and all PTEs. Higher PTE concentrations were only found in 400BC for Cu. Nutrient budgets correlated with soil nutrient concentration. A surplus of 16.1 kg P ha^–1 year^–1 and 19.5 kg K ha^–1 year^–1 resulted in 1 mg kg^–1 increase in CAL-P and CAL-K over 21 years.

Conclusion

Compost application supplies nutrients to crops with a minor risk of soil-accumulation of PTEs. However, the nutrient stoichiometry provided by compost does not match crop offtakes causing imbalances. Synchronization of compost N mineralization and plant N demand does not match and limits the yield effect. In winter wheat only 65–70% of N mineralization occurred during the growth period.     

施氮量、土壤和植株氮浓度与小麦赤霉病的关系

【目的】赤霉病已成为影响小麦产量和品质的重要病害之一,为了解施用氮肥对小麦赤霉病的影响,本文通过研究不同施氮水平下小麦赤霉病的发病情况,探索施氮、土壤供氮、植株氮浓度与小麦赤霉病的关系。【方法】采用田间小区试验,以多穗型豫麦49-198(YM49-198)和大穗型周麦16(ZM16)为供试品种,设N 0、120、180、240、360 kg/hm25个施氮水平(N0、N120、N180、N240、N360),根据"小麦赤霉病测报技术规范"调查小麦赤霉病的发病情况。【结果】土壤硝态氮含量及0—90 cm土层土壤硝态氮累积量均随施氮量的增加而增加,小麦收获期N0、N120、N180处理0—30 cm土层硝态氮含量及0—90 cm累积量差异不显著,但显著低于N240和N360处理。两个品种小麦赤霉病病穗率和病情指数(DI)随施氮量的增加而增加,各处理间差异显著;豫麦49-198施氮处理的病穗率和DI比不施氮处理分别增加29.5%~132.0%和35.9%~225.2%,周麦16施氮处理的病穗率和DI比不施氮处理分别增加42.4%~161.8%和41.7%~206.9%;两个品种小麦N180处理赤霉病的病穗率和病情指数与N0、N120差异较小,显著低于N240和N360;周麦16较豫麦49-198发病严重,各处理的病穗率和病情指数比豫麦49-198分别高出7%~25%和28.0%~63.6%。小麦赤霉病病穗率和DI与硝态氮含量显著正相关,与0—90 cm硝态氮累积量呈线性正相关。孕穗期、开花期和灌浆期茎基部硝酸盐含量和拔节期~开花期植株的全氮含量各处理间差异较大,且与小麦赤霉病病穗率和DI显著线性正相关。【结论】土壤硝态氮含量及累积量随施氮量增加而增加,小麦收获后施氮量低于N 180 kg/hm2时土壤中硝态氮残留较低,赤霉病发病较轻。小麦赤霉病病穗率和病情指数随施氮量的增加而增加,说明施氮量过高会加重小麦赤霉病病害;小麦拔节期~开花期的氮浓度过高会加重赤霉病病害,因此在这一时期,适宜的施氮量、土壤硝态氮和植株氮浓度在赤霉病发生年份可以减轻病害,综合考虑土壤硝态氮残留、产量和赤霉病害等因素的适宜施氮量为N 180 kg/hm2。     

不同肥力土壤下施氮量对小麦子粒产量和品质的影响

在高、低两种肥力土壤下,研究了施氮量对小麦子粒产量和综合品质性状的影响。结果表明,在高肥力土壤施氮量对产量的影响呈二次曲线关系,获得小麦高产的适宜施氮量J17为193.0kg/hm2,L21为211.4kg/hm2;在低肥力土壤上,随施氮量的提高子粒产量增加,但施氮量超过300kg/hm2时增产效应下降。施氮能够显著提高小麦子粒的蛋白质、湿面筋含量和沉降值,改变子粒蛋白质和淀粉各组分所占的比例,提高面团吸水率、稳定时间、形成时间和评价值等品质指标,以及有利于小麦粉RVA谱特征值的提高,而且高肥力土壤的效果优于低肥力土壤。表明在高肥力土壤下有利于强筋小麦品质性状的提高。     

水氮调控对休耕期土壤养分迁移及翌年土壤肥力的影响

为研究河套灌区盐碱农田不同施氮量在冻融作用后对翌年春播前土壤肥力的影响效应,结合翌年土壤肥力状况确定当地适宜的施氮量。采用田间试验的方法,共设置4个施氮水平(高氮N_3:325 kg/hm^2;中氮N_2:225 kg/hm^2;低氮N_1:125 kg/hm^2;不施氮N_0)研究冻融期内水盐时空分布、全氮、碱解氮以及有机质含量的变化规律,并采用主成分分析法对翌年春播前土壤肥力进行综合评价。结果表明:(1)秋浇后,土壤含水率显著高于秋浇前,表层土壤含水率增加,开始冻结时,水分向表层积聚,随着温度降低水分自表层向深层冻结,各处理灌溉水平相同,不同施氮处理之间对土壤含水率的影响不显著,土壤墒情满足作物对水分的需求;秋收后耕层土壤含盐率随生育期内施氮量的增加而增加,施氮量越大土壤含盐率递增。秋浇后大量盐分被淋洗,融化后盐分受到融冻水的下渗和蒸发的共同作用,使得各处理表层含盐率为N_0(0.14%)相似文献   

DAIRY MANURE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER EFFECTS ON RESIDUAL NITRATE AND PHOSPHATE,AND WHEAT YIELD IN A SANDY CLAY LOAM SOIL

Dairy manure (DM) rates of [0 (DM₀), 30 (DM₃₀₎), 60 (DM₆₀) Mg ha^?1] and three nitrogen (N) rates [0 (N₀), 125 (N₁₂₅), 250 (N₂₅₀) kg ha^?1] were tested in a sandy clay loam, to evaluate their effects on growth and yield of wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.), residual nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the surface soil, and selected soil physical measurements [saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), and bulk density (BD)]. Increasing N and DM rates gave higher wheat yields, increased concentrations of residual NO₃-N and P in the surface soil and improved Ksat and BD. Highest grain yield of 3.8 Mg ha^?1 (70.3% more than the control) was observed in DM₆₀ × N₂₅₀ treatment. Residual accumulation of N-NO₃ and P in the surface soil at high N and/or DM application rates suggests the need to carefully manage N and DM inputs on farm fields to avoid environmental contamination.     

Untersuchungen zur Anpassung des Stickstoff-Angebots aus unterschiedlichen N-Quellen an den Verlauf der N-Aufnahme von Maisbeständen

Investigations on the adjustment of nitrogen supply from different N sources to the N uptake of maize A two years field experiment was conducted to study the effects of the nitrogen fertilizers: wheat swill, BASAMMON (NH₄ + nitrification inhibitor DCD) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) applied at N rates of 0.60.120 or 180 kg N/ha on yield, N uptake and soil mineral N residues of maize for silage or grain production. CAN was either broadcast or placed in the maize rows, with or without the addition of an Azospirillum-biopreparation (AZOGREEN). Due to initially high soil mineral N contents (50–70 kg N/ha) and a high mineralization from the soil (unfertilized: 100–170 kg N/ha), neither effects of fertilizer type, nor interactions between fertilizer type and N rate on biomass production and N uptake of maize were observed. The economically optimum total dry matter production and grain yield were obtained with a fertilization of 60–120 kg N/ha. In contrast to the biomass production the soil mineral N was considerably influenced by fertilizer type and N rate. The nitrate content of the soil increased during the early developmental stages of maize after an early application of swill or BASAMMON, and also during the ripening period after a late high dose of CAN. Though the placement of CAN was reflected in the soil, the soil nitrogen content per unit area could not be much reduced by row fertilization. The effects of AZOGREEN were only small. The results were greatly influenced by the high mineralization potential at the experimental site.     

Effects of Transgenic Cotton-Based Cropping Systems and Their Fertility Levels on Succeeding Wheat Crop

Cotton–wheat is the second most important cropping system after rice–wheat in India and Pakistan, and is practiced on about 4.02 mha. By 2010, more than 6 million Indian farmers had adopted transgenic Bt cotton on 9.4 mha—almost 90% of the country’s total cotton area. There is a paucity of information on the effects of intercropping and integrated nitrogen (N)–management practices in transgenic Bt cotton on productivity, nutrient availability, and soil biological properties in the succeeding wheat crop in a cotton–wheat system. A study was made to evaluate and quantify the residual effect of two-tiered intercropping of cotton and groundnut with substitution of 25–50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) of cotton by farmyard manure (FYM) on productivity and soil fertility in a cotton–wheat system at New Delhi during 2006–2008. Wheat following groundnut-intercropped cotton receiving 50% RDN substitution through FYM had significantly 5% greater grain yield than that after sole cotton. Residual soil fertility in terms of organic carbon (C), potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)-N, and dehydrogenase activity (14%) showed an improvement under cotton + groundnut–wheat system with substitution of 50% RDN of cotton by FYM. Apparent N balance as well as actual change in KMnO₄-N at wheat harvest was negative in most of the treatments, with greater loss (–58.1) noticed under pure stand of the cotton–wheat system with 100% RDN of cotton through urea. The study suggested that inclusion of legume and organic manure in transgenic Bt-cotton–wheat system is a sustainable practice for combating escalating prices of N fertilizers with environmental issues and instability of transgenic hybrids in south Asian countries.     

Nitrogen Balance in the Magruder Plots Following 109 Years in Continuous Winter Wheat

Abstract

The Magruder plots are the oldest continuous soil fertility wheat research plots in the Great Plains region, and are one of the oldest continuous soil fertility wheat plots in the world. They were initiated in 1892 by Alexander C. Magruder who was interested in the productivity of native prairie soils when sown continuously to winter wheat. This study reports on a simple estimate of nitrogen (N) balance in the Magruder plots, accounting for N applied, N removed in the grain, plant N loss, denitrification, non‐symbiotic N fixation, nitrate (NO₃ ^?) leaching, N applied in the rainfall, estimated total soil N (0–30 cm) at the beginning of the experiment and that measured in 2001. In the Manure plots, total soil N decreased from 6890 kg N ha^?1 in the surface 0–30 cm in 1892, to 3198 kg N ha^?1 in 2002. In the Check plots (no nutrients applied for 109 years) only 2411 kg N ha^?1 or 35% of the original total soil organic N remains. Nitrogen removed in the grain averaged 38.4 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and N additions (manure, N in rainfall, N via symbiotic N fixation) averaged 44.5 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 in the Manure plots. Following 109 years, unaccounted N ranged from 229 to 1395 kg N ha^?1. On a by year basis, this would translate into 2–13 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 that were unaccounted for, increasing with increased N application. For the Manure plots, the estimate of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) (N removed in the grain, minus N removed in the grain of the Check plots, divided by the rate of N applied) was 32.8%, similar to the 33% NUE for world cereal production reported in 1999.