Nitrogen use efficiency of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as influenced by wheat–cotton cropping systems

Wheat–cotton rotations largely increase crop yield and improve resources use efficiency, such as the radiation use efficiency. However, little information is available on the nitrogen (N) utilization and requirement of cotton under wheat–cotton rotations. This study was to determine the N uptake and use efficiency by evaluating the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N use and the soil N balances, which will help to improve N resource management in wheat–cotton rotations. Field experiments were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons in the Yangtze River region in China. Two cotton cultivars (Siza 3, mid-late maturity with 130 days growth duration; CCRI 50, early maturity with 110 days growth duration) were planted under four cropping systems including monoculture cotton (MC), wheat/intercropped cotton (W/IC), wheat/transplanted cotton (W/TC) and wheat/direct-seeded cotton (W/DC). The N uptake and use efficiency of cotton were quantified under different cropping systems. The results showed that wheat–cotton rotations decreased the cotton N uptake through reducing the N accumulation rate and shortening the duration of fast N accumulation phase as compared to the monoculture cotton. Compared with MC, the N uptake of IC, TC and DC were decreased by 12.0%, 20.5% and 23.4% for Siza 3, respectively, and 7.3%, 10.7% and 17.6% for CCRI 50, respectively. Wheat–cotton rotations had a lower N harvest index as a consequence of the weaker sink capacity in the cotton plant caused by the delayed fruiting and boll formation. Wheat–cotton rotations used N inefficiently relative to the monoculture cotton, showing consistently lower level of the N agronomic use efficiency (NAE), N apparent recovery efficiency (NRE), N physiological efficiency (NPE) and N partial factor productivity (NPFP), particularly for DC. Relative to the mid–late maturity cultivar of Siza 3, the early maturity cultivar of CCRI 50 had higher N use efficiency in wheat–cotton rotations. An analysis of the crop N balance suggested that the high N excess in preceding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in wheat–cotton rotations led to significantly higher N surpluses than the monoculture cotton. The N management for the cotton in wheat–cotton rotations should be improved by means of reducing the base fertilizer input and increasing the bloom application.     

Short-term water management at early filling stage improves early-season rice performance under high temperature stress in South China

Asymmetric warming and frequent temperature extremes are the consequences of climate change that are affecting crop growth and productivity over the globe while heat stress at early filling stage is of serious concern for the early-season rice in double cropping rice system of South China. In present study we assessed different short-term water management strategies to cope with the high temperature at early filling stage in rice. Water was applied as flood irrigation at two various depths i.e., 4–5 cm (I1) and 5–10 cm (I2) during 9:00–18:00 and then drained off at 18:00 as well as applied over-head during different time spans i.e., over-head sprinkle irrigation during 11:00–12:00, 13:00–14:00 and 14:00–15:00 at 60–80% relative humidity (RH) at early filling stage and regarded as S1, S2 and S3, respectively. A control was maintained with the maintenance of 1 cm water layer as normal farmer practice of this region. A fragrant rice cultivar, ‘Yuxiangyouzhan’ in early March (regarded as early season rice) in both 2014–15 and the effectiveness of different water management strategies were measured by estimating physio-biochemical responses, photosynthesis, yield and quality of rice exposed to high temperature stress at early filling stage. Our results showed that water treatments lowered lipid peroxidation (in terms of reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents) whilst proline and protein contents were affected differently. The water treatments also regulated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), nevertheless, improved plant photosynthesis and gas exchange, rice yield and quality attributes considerably by lowering severity of canopy temperatures than control (CK). On average, both flood and sprinkler water application were proved effective against high temperature stress, nonetheless, flood irrigated treatments were remained more effective than sprinkler which provided 26.58 and 43.63% higher grain yields in 2014–15, respectively than CK. On average, 5.58 and 11.92% higher grain yields were recorded in flood irrigation than sprinkler irrigation whereas among individual water application treatments, I1 was noted as the most effective regarding grain yield of rice (26.76 and 49.35% higher yield than CK) in both years which suggests that maintenance of 4–5 cm water layer might be helpful for the rice to withstand against high temperature stress at post heading and/or early filling stage in early-season rice production in South China.     

Effects of plant density on grain yield,protein size distribution,and breadmaking quality of winter wheat grown under two nitrogen fertilisation rates

Nitrogen (N) and plant density are two crucial factors that affect winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality, but little is known regarding the effects of interactions between these two factors on the amount and size distribution of protein fractions and quality traits. We grew the bread wheat cultivar Jinan17 in two successive seasons (2012–2013 and 2013–2014) at three densities of 120 plants m⁻² (low), 180 plants m⁻² [the usual rate for a multiple-spike cultivar with high tillering ability in the North China Plain (NCP)], and 240 plants m⁻² (high) and two levels of N fertilisation of 0 (low N availability treatment without N fertilisation) and 240 kg ha⁻¹ (the usual N rate for winter wheat production in the NCP) to evaluate the effect of N level × plant density interaction on grain yield, grain protein concentration, the amount and composition of protein fractions, dough development time, dough stability time, and loaf volume. The effect of plant density on Jinan 17 grain yield and quality differed between the two N levels. As plant density increased, all the parameters listed above decreased under 0 kg ha⁻¹ N fertilisation, but increased under 240 kg ha⁻¹ N fertilisation. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the dough rheological properties and breadmaking quality of Jinan 17 were affected by plant density under both N levels, primarily through changes in the polymerisation degree of glutenins in the flour.     

Genotypic variation in nitrogen use efficiency in medium- and long-duration rice

A field experiment was conducted in the dry season at Los Baños, Philippines, to assess the differences in grain yield and N utilization of 10 medium-duration (119±4 days after seeding [DAS]) genotypes and 10 long-duration (130±4 DAS) ones with varying acquisition and usage of soil and fertilizer N. Significant differences among genotypes were observed in grain yield and N uptake, efficiency and partitioning parameters (physiological N use efficiency [PNUE], agronomic N use efficiency [ANUE], apparent recovery [AR], partial factor productivity of applied N [PFP_N], N productivity index [NPI], and N harvest index [NHI]). The N-efficient genotypes that produced high grain yield at both low and high levels of N were IR54790-B-B-38, BG380-2, BG90-2 (medium-duration), and IR3932-182-2-3-3-2, IR54853-B-B-318, and IR29723-88-2-3-3 (long-duration). Inefficient genotypes that produced low yields at low N levels but responded well to N application were IR58125-B-B-42, IR49457-33-1-2-2-2, and BG34-8 (medium-duration), and IR8192-200-3-3-1-1, IR21848-65-3-2-2, and PR106 (long-duration). IR20 (medium) and Palawan (long-duration) were N-inferior genotypes giving low yields at both low and high N levels. Increase in grain yield was highly correlated with N uptake (r²=0.75**). The grain yield-N uptake relationship for individual genotypes indicated significant differences in slope and in the yield obtained with soil N (GY₀). Differences in GY₀ were due to genotypic variation in N uptake and efficiency of use. NHI was related to both N uptake and use efficiency. NPI, which integrated both GY₀ and PNUE, provided a better ranking of genotypes. The performance of efficient and inefficient genotypes over a range of soil and fertilizer N supply was consistent over three seasons of trials.     

Effect of depth of fertilizer banded-placement on growth,nutrient uptake and yield of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

A better understanding of crop growth and nutrient uptake responses to the depth of fertilizer banded-placement in the soil is needed if growth and nutrient uptake responses are to be maximized. A two-year field study covering two rape seasons (2010–2011 and 2011–2012) was conducted to examine the effect of banded-placement of N–P–K fertilizer at various depths on growth, nutrient uptake and yield of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The results showed that fertilization at 10 cm and 15 cm soil depth produced greater taproot length and dry weight than fertilization at 0 cm and 5 cm. 0 cm and 5 cm deep fertilization significantly increased the lateral root distribution at 0–5 cm soil depth, while 10 cm and 15 cm deep fertilization induced more lateral root proliferation at 5–15 cm soil depth. At 36 days after sowing (DAS), 5 cm deep fertilization produced better aboveground growth and nutrient uptake than 10 cm and 15 cm deep fertilization. However, reversed results were observed after 36 DAS. 10 cm and 15 cm deep fertilization produced more rapeseed than 0 cm and 5 cm deep fertilization, moreover, the yield difference was more significant in drought season (2010–2011) than in relatively normal season (2011–2012). In summary, these results preliminarily suggest that both 10 cm and 15 cm are relatively proper fertilizer placement depth when the practice of banding fertilizer is used in oilseed rape production. But from the viewpoint of diminishing the production cost, 10 cm deep fertilization should be recommended in actual farming. Because 15 cm deep fertilization may require higher mechanical power input, and thus resulting in higher cost of production.     

Attainable yield achieved for plastic film-mulched maize in response to nitrogen deficit

Nitrogen (N) stress limits the yields of maize (Zea mays L.) that have been plastic film-mulched in northwest China. Using the tested Hybrid-Maize simulation model, which was combined with field experiments using four levels of N fertilisers (0, 100, 250 and 400 kg N ha⁻¹), we aimed to understand the variability of the attainable yield in response to N stress under plastic film mulching. We show that the application of N250 or N400 results in 100% simulated potential LAI, which is, thus, close to 100% of the simulated potential of both biomass and grain yield. However, N stress treatments significantly decreased the biomass and grain yields, achieving only 40–50% of the simulated potential (N0 treatment) and 70–80% of the simulated potential (N100 treatment). Growth dynamic measurements showed that N stress significantly decreased the LAI, delaying the source capacity growth (canopies) around the silking stage and resulting in lower final kernel numbers. The lower LAI resulted in decreased dry matter accumulation and allocation during the reproductive stage; this decrease led to a decrease in the kernel growth rate and in the grain filling duration, which resulted in a significantly lower kernel weight. This knowledge could be helpful for the optimisation of N management to close the yield gaps of dryland maize in semi-arid monsoon climate regions.     

Rice panicle length measuring system based on dual-camera imaging

The length of the rice panicle determines the number of grains it can hold, and consequently rice yield; it is therefore one of the most important traits assessed in yield-related research. However, the conventional method of measuring panicle length is still a manual process that is inconsistent, subjective and slow. In this study, a novel prototype, dubbed “Smart-PL”, was developed for the automatic measurement of rice panicle length based on dual-camera imaging. Cameras with a long-focus lens and a short-focus lens were utilized to capture both a detailed image and a complete image of the rice panicle, respectively. Specific image processing algorithms were exploited, to analyze the neck image for neck identification and the whole-panicle image for path extraction. Subsequently, co-registration was used to identify the neck location in the whole-panicle image, and a resampling method was used to search for the path points between the panicle neck and the tip. Finally, the panicle length was calculated as the sum of the distances between each adjacent path point. To evaluate the accuracy of this prototype, six batches of rice panicles were tested. The results showed that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the system was about 1.23%, and the automatic measurements had a good agreement with manual measurements, regardless of panicle type. To evaluate the efficiency of this prototype, 3108 panicle samples were tested under continuous-measurement conditions, and the measuring efficiency was approximately 900 panicles per hour, 6 times over manual method. In conclusion, the system automatically extracts panicle length while providing three advantages over the manual method: objectiveness, high efficiency and high consistency.     

Early assessment of ecological services provided by forage legumes in relay intercropping

In organic agriculture, weeds and nitrogen deficiency are the main factors that limit crop production. The use of relay-intercropped forage legumes may be a way of providing ecological services such as weed control, increasing N availability in the cropping system thanks to N fixation, reducing N leaching and supplying nitrogen to the following crop. However, these ecological services can vary considerably depending on the growing conditions. The aim of this study was to identify early indicators to assess these two ecological services, thereby giving farmers time to adjust the management of both the cover crop and of the following crop.Nine field experiments were conducted over a period of three years. In each experiment, winter wheat was grown as sole crop or intercropped with one of two species of forage legumes; Trifolium repens L. or Trifolium pratense L. Two levels of fertilization were also tested (0 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹). After the intercropping stage, the cover crop was maintained until the end of winter and then destroyed by plowing before maize was sown. Legume and weed biomass, nitrogen content and accumulation were monitored from legume sowing to cover destruction.Our results showed that a minimum threshold of about 2 t ha⁻¹ biomass in the aboveground parts of the cover crop was needed to decrease weed infestation by 90% in early September and to ensure weed control up to December. The increase in nitrogen in the following maize crop was also correlated with the legume biomass in early September. The gain in nitrogen in maize (the following crop) was correlated with legume biomass in early September, with a minimum gain of 60 kg N ha⁻¹ as soon as legume biomass reached more than 2 t ha⁻¹.Legume biomass in early September thus appears to be a good indicator to predict weed control in December as well as the nitrogen released to the following crop. The indicator can be used by farmers as a management tool for both the cover crop and following cash crop. Early estimation of available nitrogen after the destruction of the forage legume can be used to adjust the supply of nitrogen fertilizer to the following crop.     

Erosion/productivity modelling of maize farming in the Philippine uplands: Part I: parameterising the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator

This paper describes the parameterisation of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model to simulate open-field farming and intercropping of maize with leguminous shrub hedgerows. Whenever possible, parameters for the model were determined from measured or standard values for the environment of the field trials, while other parameters were derived from previous modelling experience in tropical environments. The remaining parameters were derived using step-wise calibration, where one or two parameters were calibrated against closely related measured data. Once parameterised, APSIM gave acceptable predictions of maize yields and soil loss from open-field farming and hedgerow intercropping. The version of APSIM described in this paper is used to simulate maize yields and soil erosion from open-field farming and hedgerow intercropping in the second paper in this series (Nelson et al., this issue). In the third paper, Nelson et al. (this issue) use cost–benefit analysis to compare the economic viability of hedgerow intercropping relative to traditional open-field farming of maize in relatively inaccessible upland areas.     

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on nitrate leaching in relation to grain yield response on loamy sand in Sweden

High rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer may increase N leaching with drainage, especially when there is no further crop response. It is often discussed whether leaching is affected only at levels that no longer give an economic return, or whether reducing fertilization below the economic optimum could reduce leaching further. To study nitrate leaching with different fertilizer N rates (0–135 kg N ha⁻¹) and grain yield responses, field experiments in spring oats were conducted in 2007, 2008 and 2009 on loamy sand in south-west Sweden. Nitrate leaching was determined from nitrate concentrations in soil water sampled with ceramic suction cups and measured discharge at a nearby measuring station. The results showed that nitrate leaching per kg grain produced had its minimum around the economic optimum, here defined as the fertilization level where each extra kg of fertilizer N resulted in a 10 kg increase in grain yield (85% DM). There were no statistically significant differences in leaching between treatments fertilized below this level. However, N leaching was significantly elevated in some of the treatments with higher fertilization rates and the increase in nitrate leaching from increased N fertilization could be described with an exponential function. According to this function, the increase was <0.04 kg kg⁻¹ fertilizer N at and below the economic optimum. Above this fertilization level, the nitrate leaching response gradually increased as the yield response ceased and the increase amounted to 0.1 and 0.5 kg kg⁻¹ when the economic optimum was exceeded by 35 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively. The economic optimum fertilization level depends on the price relationship between grain and fertilizer, which in Sweden can vary between 5:1 and 15:1. In other words, precision fertilization that provides no more or no less than a 10 kg increase in grain yield per kg extra N fertilizer can be optimal for both crop profitability and the environment. To predict this level already at fertilization is a great challenge, and it could be argued that rates should be kept down further to ensure that they are not exceeded due to overestimation of the optimum rate. However, the development of precision agriculture with new tools for prediction may reduce this risk.