Impact of Nitrogen and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on yield and yield components of sunflower in a glasshouse environment

The effects of Nitrogen (N) and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var. Hysun-33) grown in the greenhouse under a natural environment were studied. The N-use efficiency of a sunflower crop grown under three N rates (N₁ = 0 kg ha^?1, N₂ = 120 kg ha^?1, and N₃ = 240 kg ha^?1) and three PGPR levels (R₁ = 0 kg ha^?1, R₂ = 30 kg ha^?1, and R₃ = 60 kg ha^?1) were investigated. The maximum amount of N resulted in higher total dry matter production per plant and the effect was prominent from 34 days after sowing (DAS). Seed yields differed significantly among different sunflower crops especially at limiting N supply, with significant shifts according to the N level. N uptake was an important parameter for yield at all N rates. The 240 kg N ha^?1 treatments provided the maximum yield, while the oil contents in these treatments of higher yield showed a lower oil content (%). Harvest index was also significantly correlated to yield across N rates; however, its importance depended much on environmental conditions as well. It can be inferred from the study that sunflower crop is well-supplied with respect to growth, development, yield and yield components, to enhance N efficiency and depends very much on the N supply. All the parameters gave maximum results with the increment of N while PGPR regimes had no prominent impact on the sunflower crop, the target environment, and the target yield level grown under a specified controlled glasshouse environment.     

Strahlungsnutzung durch Bestände ölreicher Körnerfruchtarten — Winterraps, Öllein und Sonnenblume im Vergleich

Radiation use by oil seed crops — a comparison of winter rape, linseed and sunflower For the production of grain crops rich in oil, winter rape, linseed and sunflower are similarly suitable at many arable locations. We wanted to compare the extent to which radiation (PAR) is intercepted and utilized by the individual species for dry matter and yield production. For this purpose, a 2‐year field experiment comprising the factors genotype, N fertilization and soil tillage was conducted. For five phases of crop development, growth rates (CGR, RGR and NAR) and PAR utilization were calculated. At full ripeness, total dry matter, grain, oil and energy yields, the crop‐ and year‐specific PAR supply, its interception and utilization for dry matter production and the resulting energy binding were determined. Due to the different individual vegetation periods, the PAR supply of the crops differed. The crop assimilation areas also differed, with values for winter rape and sunflower higher than those for linseed. The yield productivity of winter rape and sunflower was also higher than that of linseed. N fertilization increased yield to different extents for the different crops. On average, winter rape and sunflower produced the same amounts of dry matter and energy yield. Due to a higher harvest index, sunflower had the highest grain yield, and because the oil concentration in grain was comparatively high sunflower produced the highest oil yield, too. Under cool and wet climate conditions, however, the productivity of sunflower is offset by a relatively high yield risk because of uncertain ripening. The highest PAR utilization by linseed did not compensate for its very short vegetation period in combination with the lowest PAR interception.     

公顷产10000kg小麦氮素和干物质积累与分配特性

以泰山23和济麦22为试验品种,通过连续2年的田间试验,对单产高达10 000 kg hm^-2的小麦进行了施氮量和氮素吸收转运和分配特性的研究。在2006—2007年生长季,随着施氮量的增加,小麦籽粒产量先增加后降低,施纯氮240 kg hm^-2 (N240)和270 kg hm^-2(N270)处理的产量分别达9 954.73 kg hm^-2和10 647.02 kg hm^-2,比不施氮肥处理(N0)分别增加11.20%和18.93%。与N0处理相比,施氮处理显著增加了小麦植株氮素积累量、籽粒氮素积累量和开花后营养器官氮素向籽粒的转运量;随着施氮量的增加,成熟期小麦植株氮素积累量呈先增后降趋势,以N270处理最高;开花后营养器官氮素向小麦籽粒转运量和转运率先升后降,转运量以N270处理最大,为213.78 kg hm^-2;而转运率以N240处理最高,为67.98%。随施氮量的增加,小麦成熟期各器官干物质积累量、花后营养器官干物质再分配量和再分配率先增后降,均以N270处理最高;开花后干物质积累对籽粒的贡献率亦呈先增后降的趋势,以N240处理最高。2005—2006年的试验结果呈相同变化趋势。在本试验条件下,小麦产量水平达10 000 kg hm^-2时的适宜施氮量为240~270 kg hm^-2,可供生产中参考。     

Yields and quality of Cynara cardunculus L. wild and cultivated cardoon genotypes. A case study from a marginal land in Central Italy

Cardoon yields and quality under low input conditions (reduced nitrogen fertilization and rainfed conditions) in a marginal land of Central Italy are presented. During 2011–2013, two cultivated and two wild cardoons were compared for the lignocellulosic biomass production, grain yield, and their chemical composition. The results showed a 3-year average aboveground biomass and grain yield in the range 8–18 and 1.2–2.8 t ha⁻¹ dry matter respectively, significantly higher in the cultivated genotypes. The grain lipid contents were not significantly different as average, but the wild genotype Tolfa achieved the highest content (20.3%) in the last year of research. Average oil yields were 0.45 and 0.23 t ha⁻¹ in cultivated and wild genotypes respectively. ANOVA showed a general prevalent influence of the genotype factor (G) on crop yields, and grain lipid and protein contents; on the other hand, the nitrogen factor (N) never showed significant effects on the different parameters. The chemical composition of the lignocellulosic biomass showed slight differences among the genotypes, but not always significant. Cardoon cultivation improved soil fertility parameters, even if differences were not always statistically different. Considering the results, dedicated production chains could be implemented in many Italian Regions taking advantage also from the availability of wild cardoon genotypes. The production costs and revenues analysis of cardoon in comparison with other herbaceous annual crops, demonstrated the low cultivation costs per hectare, the higher total revenues deriving from the yield outcomes, and its suitability for the inclusion in arable cropping systems in marginal lands.     

Potential decrease of grass tetany risk in rangelands combining N and K fertilization with MgO treatments

The most practical and effective method to increase dry matter production in rangelands is by adequate fertilization. N and K fertilizers have commonly been used worldwide to increase yield in rangelands. Fertilizers have a significant effect on mineral concentration in the forage. Risk of tetany, causing yield decrease and death in cattle, increases by feeding forage with a ratio of K/(Ca + Mg) ≥ 2.2. The fertilizers containing N and K are the most important factors increasing K/(Ca + Mg) ratio in forages. The present study has aimed to determine whether the tetany risks caused by K and N fertilization may be compensated by Mg fertilization. For this purpose, N (0 and 120 kg ha⁻¹), K (0 and 100 kg ha⁻¹) and Mg (0 and 30 kg ha⁻¹) were applied as combinations of each other. Each plot was separated into three sub-plots sampled on 25 April, 15 May and 5 June to determine Ca, Mg, K concentrations and K/(Ca + Mg) ratio.In this 2-year study, dry matter production in the control plot was 2064 kg ha⁻¹ and nitrogen application increased the dry matter production of the plots by about 100%. Dry weight ratios of grasses increased while legume dry weight ratios decreased drastically in response to N fertilization. An increase was observed in K/(Ca + Mg) ratio with N fertilization due to the fact that legumes have higher concentrations of Ca and Mg than grasses. K fertilization resulted in an approximately 30% increase of K concentration in dry matter. K/(Ca + Mg) ratio in plots where N and K were applied separately was lower than 2.2. However, K/(Ca + Mg) ratio in plots to which N and K were applied in combination was over 2.2, resulting in tetany risk. It is interesting to determine that Mg fertilization did not change Mg concentration in pasture. It was noted that tetany risk did not decrease with the advance of harvest dates. The results indicated that tetany risk caused by N and K fertilizations could not be compensated by Mg treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that fertilization programmes avoiding legume decrease in rangelands may be useful to prevent the tetany risk.     

公顷产10000kg小麦氮素和干物质积累与分配特性

以泰山23和济麦22为试验品种,通过连续2年的田间试验,对单产高达10 000 kg hm^-2的小麦进行了施氮量和氮素吸收转运和分配特性的研究。在2006-2007年生长季,随着施氮量的增加,小麦籽粒产量先增加后降低,施纯氮240 kg hm^-2 (N240)和270 kg hm^-2(N270)处理的产量分别达9 954.73 kg hm^-2和10 647.02 kg hm^-2,比不施氮肥处理(N0)分别增加11.20%和18.93%。与N0处理相比,施氮处理显著增加了小麦植株氮素积累量、籽粒氮素积累量和开花后营养器官氮素向籽粒的转运量;随着施氮量的增加,成熟期小麦植株氮素积累量呈先增后降趋势,以N270处理最高;开花后营养器官氮素向小麦籽粒转运量和转运率先升后降,转运量以N270处理最大,为213.78 kg hm^-2;而转运率以N240处理最高,为67.98%。随施氮量的增加,小麦成熟期各器官干物质积累量、花后营养器官干物质再分配量和再分配率先增后降,均以N270处理最高;开花后干物质积累对籽粒的贡献率亦呈先增后降的趋势,以N240处理最高。2005-2006年的试验结果呈相同变化趋势。在本试验条件下,小麦产量水平达10 000 kg hm^-2时的适宜施氮量为240~270 kg hm^-2,可供生产中参考。     

Can mineral and organic fertilization help sequestrate carbon dioxide in cropland?

The soil organic matter content represents a huge reservoir of plant nutrients and an effective safeguard against pollution; beside it can sequestrate atmospheric CO₂. Since 1966 up to now in the Southeast Po valley (Italy), the soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) dynamics in the 0–0.40 m soil layer under a maize–wheat rainfed rotation are studied as influenced by organic and mineral N fertilizations. Every year in the same plots cattle manure, cattle slurry, and crop residues (i.e. wheat straw and maize stalk) are ploughed under to 0.40 m depth at a same dry matter rate (6.0 and 7.5 t DM ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ after wheat and maize, respectively) and are compared to an unamended control. Each plot is splitted to receive four rates of mineral fertilizer (0–100–200–300 kg N ha⁻¹). In the whole experiment, in 2000 SOC concentration was lower than in 1966 (6.77 and 7.72 g kg⁻¹, respectively), likely for the deeper tillage that diluted SOC and favoured mineralization in deeper soil layer. From 1972 to 2000 SOC stock did not change in the control and N fertilized plots, while it increased at mean rates of 0.16, 0.18, and 0.26 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ with the incorporation of residues, slurry and manure, corresponding to sequestration efficiencies of 3.7, 3.8 and 8.1% of added C with the various materials. TN followed the same SOC dynamic, demonstrating how it depends on the soil organic matter. Manure thus confirmed its efficacy in increasing both SOC content and soil fertility on the long-term. In developed countries, however, this material has become scarcely available; slurry management is expensive and implies high environmental risks. Moreover, in a C balance at a farm (or regional) scale, the CO₂ lost during manure and slurry stocking should be considered. For these reasons, the incorporation of cereal residues, even if only a little of their C content was found capable of soil accumulation, appears the best way to obtain a significant CO₂ sequestration in developed countries. Our long-term experiment clearly shows how difficult it is to modify SOC content. Moreover, because climate and soil type can greatly influence SOC dynamic, to increase CO₂ sequestration in cropland, it is important to optimize the fertilization within an agricultural management that includes all the agronomic practices (e.g. tillage, water management, cover crops, etc.) favouring the organic matter build up in the soil.     

Performance and application of the APSIM Nwheat model in the Netherlands

APSIM Nwheat is a crop system simulation model, consisting of modules that incorporate aspects of soil water, nitrogen (N), crop residues, and crop growth and development. The model was applied to simulate above- and below-ground growth, grain yield, water and N uptake, and soil water and soil N of wheat crops in the Netherlands. Model outputs were compared with detailed measurements of field experiments from three locations with two different soil types. The experiments covered two seasons and a range of N-fertiliser applications. The overall APSIM Nwheat model simulations of soil mineral N, N uptake, shoot growth, phenology, kernels m⁻², specific grain weight and grain N were acceptable. Grain yields (dry weight) and grain protein concentrations were well simulated with a root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.8 t ha⁻¹ and 1.6 protein%, respectively. Additionally, the model simulations were compared with grain yields from a long-term winter wheat experiment with different N applications, two additional N experiments and regional grain yield records. The model reproduced the general effects of N treatments on yields. Simulations showed a good consistency with the higher yields of the long-term experiment, but overpredicted the lower yields. Simulations and earlier regional yields differed, but they showed uniformity for the last decade.In a simulation experiment, the APSIM Nwheat model was used with historical weather data to study the relationship between rate and timing of N fertiliser and grain yield, grain protein and soil residual N. A median grain yield of 4.5 t ha⁻¹ was achieved without applying fertiliser, utilising mineral soil N from previous seasons, from mineralisation and N deposition. Application of N fertiliser in February to increase soil mineral N to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ improved the median yield to 7.8 t ha⁻¹ but had little effect on grain protein concentration with a range of 8–10%. Nitrogen applications at tillering and the beginning of stem elongation further increased grain yield and in particular grain protein, but did not affect soil residual N, except in a year with low rainfall during stem elongation. A late N application at flag leaf stage increased grain protein content by several per cent. This increase had only a small effect on grain yield and did not increase soil residual N with up to 40 kg N ha⁻¹ applied, except when N uptake was limited by low rainfall in the period after the flag leaf stage. The economic and environmental optima in winter wheat were identified with up to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ in February, 90 kg N ha⁻¹ between tillering and beginning of stem elongation and 40 kg N ha⁻¹ at flag leaf stage resulting in a median of 8.5 t ha⁻¹ grain yield, 14.0% grain protein and 13 kg N ha⁻¹ soil residual N after the harvest. The maximum simulated yield with maximum N input from two locations in the Netherlands was 9.9 t ha⁻¹.     

麦季氮肥运筹对冬小麦–夏玉米种植体系物质生产及氮肥利用的影响

2009-2011年在山东临沂冬小麦-夏玉米生产田,探讨了麦季施氮水平和施氮时期对两季作物干物质积累与分配、籽粒产量、氮肥农学利用率和氮肥偏生产力的影响。施氮量设4个处理,分别是0 (N0)、168.75 (N1)、225 (N2)和281.25 kg hm^-2 (N3);氮肥追施时期设2个处理,分别为拔节期(S1)和拔节期+开花期(S2)。在S1条件下,冬小麦和夏玉米的籽粒干物质积累量及夏玉米和周年生物产量均表现为N3>N2>N1,冬小麦和夏玉米的籽粒产量N2和N3处理间无显著差异;氮肥农学利用率和氮肥偏生产力在麦季随施氮量增加显著降低,而在玉米季则逐渐升高,但玉米季氮肥偏生产力N3与N2处理间无显著差异。S2条件下麦季施氮量由N2处理增加25% (N3),冬小麦和夏玉米籽粒干物质积累量、生物产量和籽粒产量无显著变化,氮肥农学利用率和氮肥偏生产力在麦季显著降低、在玉米季无显著变化。与S1相比,S2有利于提高N1和N2条件下冬小麦籽粒与营养器官的干物质积累量、生物产量、籽粒产量和氮肥农学利用率及氮肥偏生产力,但对N3条件下的这些指标无显著影响;而在玉米季,3个施氮量水平下夏玉米的各项指标均显著升高。综合周年生物产量、籽粒产量和氮肥农学利用率及氮肥偏生产力结果,麦季总施氮量225 kg hm^-2及拔节期+开花期追氮是本试验条件和种植模式下的最佳麦季氮肥运筹模式。     

光、氮及其互作对玉米氮素吸收利用和物质生产的影响

以玉米单交种豫玉22为材料,设置2个光照处理和3个氮肥水平,研究光、氮及其互作下玉米酶活性、干物质生产和产量变化特征及其对玉米氮素吸收利用和物质生产的影响。结果表明,弱光胁迫下玉米叶片硝酸还原酶和谷氨酰胺合成酶活性降低,植株和籽粒氮积累量下降;干物质积累量显著降低;果穗穗长、行粒数和穗粒数减少,导致产量显著降低。但弱光胁迫下增施氮肥可以提高叶片硝酸还原酶和谷氨酰胺合成酶活性,增加干物质积累量,穗长、行粒数和穗粒数增加,产量显著提高,并且随施氮量的增多,产量增加效果也越显著。可见,光、氮及其互作对玉米氮素吸收利用及物质生产具有显著影响,弱光胁迫条件下增施氮肥可以部分缓解其致害效应,减少玉米产量损失。     

施氮量对稻麦干物质转运与氮肥利用的影响

为探讨太湖地区稻麦轮作农田适宜施氮量及氮素对干物质转运与氮肥利用的影响,于2007—2009年间在中国科学院常熟农业生态实验站建立田间定位试验。设置4个氮肥处理水平,分别用N0、N1、N2和N3表示。水稻各处理的施氮量分别为0、125、225和325kghm-2;小麦相应处理施氮量分别为0、94、169和244kghm-2(为稻季相应处理施氮量的75%)。结果表明,水稻施氮量超过225kghm-2,小麦施氮量超过169kghm-2后,产量增加不显著。水稻、小麦开花期干物质积累量均随施氮量的增加而增加,但花前营养器官干物质转运对籽粒贡献率均随氮肥用量增加而降低;氮肥农学效率与氮肥生理效率均随氮肥用量增加而降低,且N2与N3处理之间差异不显著;边际产量均随施氮量增加而下降,N3处理边际效益水稻平均低于3.1kgkg-1,小麦平均低于2.4kgkg-1。综上所述,无论水稻还是小麦,N2处理既能保证较高物质转运率,又能保证较高的氮肥利用效率与经济效益。     

Transfer of Grain Legume Nitrogen within a Crop Rotation Containing Winter Wheat and Winter Barley

In a crop rotation trial, conducted from 1985 to 1988 at TU-Munich's research station in Roggenstein, the transfer of grain legume nitrogen was evaluated in crop rotations containing fababeans and dry peas as well as oats (reference crop) and winter wheat and winter barley as following crops. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: Dinitrogen fixation by fababeans ranged from 165 to 240 kg N ha¹, whereas N₂-fixation by peas amounted from 215 to 246 kg N ha^?1. In all seasons the calculated N-balance where only grain was removed was positive, with a net gain being on average 106 (peas) and 84 (fababeans) kg N ha^?1. After the harvest of peas 202 kg N ha^?1 remained on the field on average over seasons (158 kg N ha^?1 in the above ground biomass and 44 kg N ha^?1 as NO₃-N in 0–90 cm depth). As compared to peas, fababeans left 41 kg N ha^?1 less due to smaller amounts of nitrogen in the straw. After oats very small amounts of residual nitrogen (33 kg N ha^?1) were detected. After the harvest of grain legumes always a very high nitrogen mineralization was observed during autumn especially after peas due to a close C/N-relationship and higher amounts of nitrogen in the straw as compared to fababeans. In comparison with fababeans, N-mineralization after the cultivation of oats remained lower by more than 50%. During winter, seepage water regularly led to a considerable decrease of soil NO₃-N content. The N-leaching losses were especially high after cultivation of peas (80 kg N ha ^?1) and considerably lower after fababeans (50 kg N ha^?1) and oats (20 kg N ha^?1). As compared to oats, a higher NO₃-N content in soil was determined at the beginning of the growing period after preceding grain legumes. Therefore, winter wheat yielded highest after preceding peas (68 dt ha^?1) and fababeans (60 dt ha^?1) and lowest after preceding oats (42 dt ha^?1). The cultivation of grain legumes had no measurable effect on yield formation of the third crop winter barley in either of the growing seasons.     

休闲期深松配施氮肥对旱地土壤水分及小麦籽粒蛋白质积累的影响

为探索旱地小麦休闲期蓄水保墒及其配套施肥技术,2009-2011年连续2个小麦生长季,在山西闻喜县进行了休闲期深松或无耕作条件下低(75 kg hm^-2)、中(150 kg hm^-2)、高(225 kg hm^-2)施氮水平的田间试验,以明确深松处理配合施氮对土壤水分、籽粒蛋白质形成的影响。结果表明,深松处理可提高播前土壤蓄水量,尤其是深层土壤(60~160 cm)蓄水量,欠水年和丰水年分别提高12%~34%、10%~22%。深松处理后,籽粒谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、旗叶谷氨酸合酶(GOGAT)、低氮和中氮条件下籽粒GOGAT、籽粒谷丙转氨酶(GPT) 活性均提高;籽粒蛋白质产量和球蛋白含量,及丰水年谷蛋白含量和谷醇比也提高。随施氮量增加,开花期20~200 cm土壤蓄水量呈下降趋势,但籽粒GS、灌浆中后期旗叶GOGAT、灌浆后期籽粒GPT活性均上升,籽粒蛋白质及其组分含量提高,中氮条件下籽粒谷醇比最高。施氮量对深松处理开花期深层土壤蓄水量、籽粒蛋白质产量、籽粒GS和GPT活性有较大调控效应。深松配施氮肥条件下,丰水年开花期土壤水分与籽粒清蛋白、谷蛋白、蛋白质含量关系密切,而欠水年开花期土壤水分与谷醇比关系密切。氮代谢酶主要影响籽粒球蛋白含量、蛋白质产量的积累,丰水年还影响籽粒谷蛋白含量和谷醇比的提高。总之,旱地小麦休闲期深松蓄水效果好;配施氮量225 kg hm^-2有利于提高籽粒蛋白质及其组分含量,在欠水年施氮量150 kg hm^-2有利于提高籽粒蛋白质产量及谷醇比。     

Effect of Phosphorus and Nitrogen Fertilization on Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) Nitrogen Uptake and Yield

Little is known about the effect of combined phosphorus and nitrogen (P‐N) fertilization on the N requirement of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of varying levels of P and N, as well as the interaction P × N, on the N uptake, yield and N apparent utilization efficiency under field conditions. Split‐plot design experiments were conducted in the mid‐western Pampas in Argentina. Four levels of N (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg N ha^?1) and three levels of P (0, 12 and 40 kg P ha^?1) were applied to two Typic Hapludolls over two growing seasons (1997–98 and 1998–99). N uptake and soil N‐NO₃ contents were determined at the V₇, R₅ and R₉ growth stages. The sunflower yield ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 Mg ha^?1. The total N requirement was around 45 kg N Mg^?1 grain, and this result suggests that it is not necessary to use different N requirements (parameter b) for fertilized crops when a yield response is expected. To achieve a 100 % yield maximum a N supply (soil plus fertilizer) of 181 kg N ha^?1 at P₄₀ was needed. However, at P₀, the highest yield was about 80 % of the maximum yield with a N supply (soil plus fertilizer) of 164 kg N ha^?1. P application increased the apparent use efficiency of the supplied N.     

White lupine as a beneficial crop in Southern Europe. II. Nitrogen recovery in a legume–oat rotation and a continuous oat–oat

One experiment lasting for two years was carried out at Pegões (central Portugal) to estimate the impact of mature white lupine residue (Lupinus albus L.) on yield of fodder oat (Avena sativa L. cv. Sta. Eulalia) as the next crop in rotation, comparing with the continuous cultivation of cereal, under two tillage practices (conventional tillage and no-till) and fertilized with five mineral nitrogen (N) rates, with three replicates. Oat as a first crop in the rotation provided more N to the agro-ecosystem (63 kg N ha⁻¹) than did lupine (30–59 kg N ha⁻¹). This was at a cost of 100 kg of mineral N ha⁻¹, whereas lupine was grown without addition of N. A positive response of oat as a second crop was obtained per kg of lupine-N added to the system when compared with the continuous oat–oat. The cereal also responded positively to mineral N in the legume amended soil in contrast with the oat–oat sequence where no response was observed, partly due to the fast mineralization rate of lupine residue and a greater soil N immobilization in the continuous oat system. Each kg N ha⁻¹ added to the soil through the application of 73 kg DM ha⁻¹ mature lupine residue (above- and belowground material) increased by 72 kg DM ha⁻¹ the oat biomass produced as the second crop in rotation when 150 kg mineral N ha⁻¹ were split in the season, independent of tillage practice. Mature legume residue conserved in the no-tilled soil depressed the yield of succeeding cereal but less than the continuous oat–oat for both tillage practices, where the application of mineral N did not improve the crop response.     

Effects of cover crops on soil mineral nitrogen and on the yield and nitrogen content of maize

Current agricultural practice favours winter cover crops, which can not only optimize N management in field crop rotation; but also affect subsequent crops. Three field experiments were carried out in Eastern Slovenia to examine the effects of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), winter rape (Brassica napus ssp.oleifera (Metzg.) Sinsk), subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) as winter cover crops on the mineral N (N_min) content of soil and on the yield and N content of subsequent maize (Zea mays L.), fertilized with 120 kg N ha⁻¹. Italian ryegrass and winter rape decreased soil N_min contents before winter and in spring more than both clovers. In contrast, clovers accumulated significantly higher amounts of N in organic matter and had lower C/N ratios than winter rape and especially Italian ryegrass. In comparison to the control (bare fallow without cover crop), clovers increased the whole above ground maize dry matter yield, maize grain yield and N contents in whole above ground plants and in grain. The yields and N contents of maize following winter rape were on the same level as the control, while yields and N contents of maize following Italian ryegrass were, in two of the experiments, at the same level as the control. The effects of Italian ryegrass on the maize as subsequent crop in the third experiment were markedly negative. Maize in the control treatment exploited N much more efficiently than in treatments with cover crops. Therefore, cover crop N management should be improved, especially with a view to optimizing the timing of net N mineralization in accordance with the N demands of the subsequent crop.     

低氮密植栽培对超级稻产量和氮素利用率的影响

为了研究低氮密植栽培对水稻分蘖发生及成穗率、干物质积累及其转化、氮素利用率和产量的影响,2012—2013年以超级稻Y两优1号为材料,在湖南长沙和海南澄迈进行了施氮量(75、150、225 kg N hm–2)与栽插密度(68、40、27、19穴m–2),每穴苗数(单、双、三本穴–1)与栽插密度(40、27、19、14穴m–2)的大田栽培试验。结果表明,在基本苗数相同或相近的条件下,减苗增密在齐穗期和成熟期的干物质量及产量分别比增苗减密高10.5%、5.2%和2.9%,有效穗数对产量的贡献最大,达到显著水平;在低氮密植条件下,有效分蘖期缩短6 d左右,分蘖成穗率、表观转化率、氮肥偏生产力和氮素籽粒生产效率分别提高10.9%、21.0%、150.6%和19.6%。在施氮量为75 kg N hm–2的密植(40~68穴m–2)条件下,齐穗期和成熟期的干物质量及长沙点产量分别比中、高氮(150~225 kg N hm–2)常规密度(19~27穴m–2)低3.2%、7.5%和1.2%,但差异不显著,而澄迈点产量在2012年和2013年分别比之低5.2%和高9.1%,且差异均达显著水平。在施氮量为150 kg N hm–2的密植条件下,成熟期干物质量比高氮常规密度低1.7%,但齐穗期干物质量和产量比高氮常规密度高10.3%和3.3%。因此,超级稻采用低氮密植栽培,在100~150 kg N hm–2和40穴m–2条件下提早了够苗期,增加了有效穗数,提高了分蘖成穗率和结实率,加之齐穗期适宜的干物质积累和较高的表观转化率,有利于高产的形成和氮肥利用率的提高。     

不同施氮水平对超高产夏玉米氮磷钾积累与分配的影响

为探明不同施氮水平下玉米超高产(≥13 500 kg hm^-2)群体氮磷钾积累及分配规律,通过苏玉20、浚单20两品种3年不同氮肥运筹方案的试验,实现了籽粒最高产量14 753 kg hm^-2的目标。结果表明：(1)随着生育进程,两品种氮磷钾在植株、籽粒中积累逐渐增大,在叶片、茎秆、叶鞘中呈先单峰变化趋势,叶片氮钾峰值在大口期,磷峰值在开花期。增大灌浆期植株氮积累量及叶片氮转移率,促使成熟期籽粒氮磷较大积累量,利于超高产玉米群体的形成。(2)籽粒产量、1 kg氮生产籽粒量、氮肥的农学效率、氮素利用率、植株(及叶片、茎秆、叶鞘、籽粒等器官)氮磷钾含量在450 kg hm^-2施氮水平时达到最大值,其值(苏玉20)分别为14753 kg hm^-2、44.0 kg、19.24%、38.63%、335.4 kg hm^-2、178.2 kg hm^-2、230.7 kg hm^-2,过高过低施氮均使氮磷钾积累量及产量下降。(3)由两品种产量与施氮水平的回归方程,确定了超高产时的最佳施氮量、超高产施氮水平和最佳施氮范围,苏玉20分别为457.0 kg hm^-2、418.3~495.7 kg hm^-2、418.5~495.4 kg hm^-2;浚单20分别为452.7 kg hm^-2(最佳施氮量)、410.8~494.6 kg hm^-2 (最佳施氮范围)。     

Solar radiation interception and canopy expansion of sweet corn in response to phosphorus

Insufficient phosphorus (P) availability decreases the yield of Zea mays, particularly for sweet corn crops grown in cool environments. This research examined the mechanisms of yield reductions with initial emphasis on canopy expansion processes that affect the interception of solar radiation. Experiments in two consecutive seasons (2001/2002 and 2002/2003) were grown at a low P site (Olsen P = 6 μg ml⁻¹) at Lincoln, New Zealand. Each experiment contained five rates of P application. In 2001/2002 rates of 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 kg P ha⁻¹ were applied. In 2002/2003 an additional 0, 0, 10, 20 or 40 kg P ha⁻¹ was applied to the same plots producing total P treatments of 0, 50, 110, 170 or 240 kg P ha⁻¹ summed over the two seasons.When P availability was limited (0 or 50 kg P ha⁻¹) the rates of leaf tip and fully expanded leaf appearance were slower in both seasons. Phyllochrons (°Cd leaf tip⁻¹) were 5 °Cd longer in crops that received 0 kg P ha⁻¹ than those fertilised with ≥100 kg P ha⁻¹. The area of individual leaves was also reduced by low P inputs but the ranking of leaf area by main stem leaf position was conservative. The leaf area of the largest leaf of the unfertilised crops was at least 22% less than the maximum measured leaf area in both seasons. In contrast, P fertiliser application had no effect on leaf senescence.The rate of leaf appearance per plant, individual leaf area and plant population were integrated to calculate green leaf area index (GLAI) and to estimate accumulated radiation interception (RI_cum) for these crops. The total RI_cum throughout the season in the unfertilised crops was 12–28% less than for those crops that received ≥100 kg P ha⁻¹ in both seasons. This difference partly explained the differences in crop biomass production in response to P availability. A sensitivity analysis showed that RI_cum was equally sensitive to changes of the rate of leaf appearance and the area of individual leaves in response to P supply. Both processes need to be incorporated in mechanistic models of P effects on Z. mays which can be used to design efficient P fertiliser strategies.     

Drought Tolerance and Water‐Use Efficiency of Biogas Crops: A Comparison of Cup Plant,Maize and Lucerne‐Grass

The cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is discussed as an alternative energy crop for biogas production in Germany due to its ecological benefits over continuously grown maize. Moreover, a certain drought tolerance is assumed because of its intensive root growth and the dew water collection by the leaf cups, formed by fused leaf pairs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate evapotranspiration (ET ), water‐use efficiency (WUE ) and the relevance of the leaf cups for the cup plant's water balance in a 2‐year field experiment. Parallel investigations were conducted for the two reference crops maize (high WUE ) and lucerne‐grass (deep and intensive rooting) under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Root system performance was assessed by measuring water depletion at various soil depths. Transpiration‐use efficiency (TUE ) was estimated using a model approach. Averaged over the 2 years, drought‐related above‐ground dry matter reduction was higher for the cup plant (33 %) than for the maize (18 %) and lucerne‐grass (14 %). The WUE of the cup plant (33 kg ha^?1 mm^?1) was significantly lower than for maize (50 kg ha^?1 mm^?1). The cup plant had a lower water uptake capacity than lucerne‐grass. Cup plant dry matter yields as high as those of maize will only be attainable at sites that are well supplied with water, be it through a large soil water reserve, groundwater connection, high rainfall or supplemental irrigation.