In-Season Prediction of Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Protein in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In a 3-year study, grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and grain protein (GP) were evaluated as a function of rate and timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application. Linear models that included preplant N, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), cumulative rainfall, and average air temperature from planting to sensing (T-avg) were evaluated to predict NUE and GP in winter wheat. GreenSeeker readings were collected at Feekes (F) 3, 4, 5, and 7 growth stages. Combined with rainfall and/or T-avg, NDVI alone was not correlated with NUE. However, NDVI and rainfall explained 45% (r² = 0.45) of the variability in GP at F7 growth stage. Preplant N, NDVI, rainfall and growing degree days (GDD) combined explained 76% (r² = 0.76) of the variability in GP at F3. Mid-season climatic data improved the prediction of GP and should therefore be considered for refining fertilizer recommendations when GP levels are expected to be low.     

Relationship Between Coefficient of Variation Measured by Spectral Reflectance and Plant Density at Early Growth Stages in Winter Wheat

ABSTRACT

The use of by-plot coefficient of variation (CV) has not been evaluated in precision agricultural work. This study evaluated the relationship between CVs determined from normalized-difference vegetative index (NDVI) sensor readings, plant population, and sensing direction on NDVI values. Randomly selected plots, measuring 1 m² (2003) and 3 m² (2004), were established for this study. Plots in 2004 were divided into three 1 m² subplots with, 0 and 120 kg ha^?1 fall-applied N, and 80 kg ha^?1 topdress nitrogen (N). Sensor reading of subplots were taken at Feekes 5 and 7 using the Green Seeker hand-held sensor. Results showed that the relationship between vegetative RI (RI_NDVI) and harvest RI (RI_Harvest) improved with increasing CV values. The prediction of RI_Harvest was improved when CV was integrated into the RI_NDVI calculation. RI_Harvest can be better predicted with RI_NDVI when the CV of spectral radiance measurements is used in the RI_NDVI equation.     

LEAF PHOTOSYNTHESIS,BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND WATER AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCIES OF TWO CONTRASTING NAKED VS. HULLED OAT GENOTYPES SUBJECTED TO WATER AND NITROGEN STRESSES

Water and nitrogen (N) are the two most important factors influencing the growth and yield of oat (Avena sativa). A pot culture study was conducted to determine the physiological and biomass production of contrasting oat genotypes to water and N supply conditions. With sufficient water, biomass yield of the naked ‘Shadow’ was 12.4% and 10.0% greater than ‘Bia’ in the treatments 750 and 1250 mg N pot^?1, respectively, but ‘Bia’ produced greater grain yield than ‘Shadow’. Under severe water stress conditions, increasing N supply decreased P_N mainly due to the reduction of g_s and E. ‘Shadow’ had higher chlorophyll and leaf N than ‘Bia’, while there were no differences in plant total N, NuptE and NUE. With increasing N application and water stress, WUE_L and WUE_P both increased. NUE was inversely related with increasing N rates and water stress levels, resulting in a trade-off relationship between WUE_P and NUE.     

Developing nitrogen management strategies under drip fertigation for wheat and maize production in the North China Plain based on a 3‐year field experiment

The intensive winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer maize (Zea mays L.) cropping systems in the North China Plain (NCP) rely on the heavy use of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizers. As the fertigated area of wheat and maize in the NCP has grown rapidly during recent years, developing N management strategies is required for sustainable wheat and maize production. Field experiments were conducted in Hebei Province during three consecutive growth seasons in 2012–2015 to assess the influence of different N fertigation rates on N uptake, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency [NUE: recovery efficiency (RE_N) and agronomic efficiency (AE_N)]. Five levels of N application, 0 (FN₀), 40 (FN_40%), 70 (FN_70%), 100 (FN_100%), and 130% (FN_130%) of the farmer practice rate (FP: 250 kg N ha^?1 and 205.5 kg N ha^?1 for wheat and maize, respectively), corresponding to 0, 182.2, 318.9, 455.5, and 592.2 kg N ha^?1 y^?1, respectively, were tested. Nitrogen in the form of urea was dissolved in irrigation water and split into six and four applications for wheat and maize, respectively. In addition, the treatment “drip irrigation + 100% N conventional broadcasting” (DN_100%) was also conducted. All treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed the significant influence of both N fertigation rate and N application method on grain yield and NUE. Compared to DN_100%, FN_100% significantly increased the 3‐year averaged N recovery efficiency (RE_N) by 0.09 kg kg^?1 and 0.04 kg kg^?1, and the 3‐year averaged N agronomic efficiency (AE_N) by 2.43 kg kg^?1 and 1.62 kg kg^?1 for wheat and maize, respectively. Among N fertigation rates, there was no significant increase in grain yield in response to N applied at a greater rate than 70% of FP due to excess N accumulation in vegetative tissues. Compared to FN_70%, FN_100%, and FN_130%, FN_40% increased the RE_N by 0.17–0.57 kg kg^?1 and 0.03–0.34 kg kg^?1and the AE_N by 4.60–27.56 kg kg^?1 and 2.40–10.62 kg kg^?1 for wheat and maize, respectively. Based on a linear‐response relationship between the N fertigation rate and grain yield over three rotational periods it can be concluded that recommended N rates under drip fertigation with optimum split applications can be reduced to 46% (114.6 kg N ha^?1) and 58% (116.6 kg N ha^?1) of FP for wheat and maize, respectively, without negatively affecting grain yield, thereby increasing NUE.     

Effects of Nitrogen Application Rates on Rice Grain Yield,Nitrogen-Use Efficiency,and Water Quality in Paddy Field

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is common in the central Zhejiang Province area, China. A three-year (2009–11) experiment was conducted to determine the optimum N application rate for this area by studying the effects of various N rates on rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield, N-use efficiency (NUE), and quality of paddy field water. Results showed that no significant yield differences were observed under N rates from 180 to 315 kg ha^?1. The NUE could be improved by reducing N application rates without significantly decreasing yield. Due to high ammonia (NH₄⁺-N) and nitrate (NO₃^—N) concentrations, 5–7 days after N application was a critical stage for reducing N pollution. The N rate for the greatest yield was 176 kg ha^?1, accounting for 65 percent of the conventional N rate (270 kg ha^?1). The N-rate reduction in this area may be necessary for maintaining high yield, improving NUE, and reducing environmental pollution.     

黄淮南部平原喷灌冬小麦灌浆特性及水氮优化耦合研究

为了优化冬小麦水氮配置,实现养分水分资源高效利用,试验设计3个灌水水平(低灌水W1:25 mm;中灌水W2:40 mm;高灌水W3:55 mm)和5个氮肥水平(N0:0;N1:80 kg/hm^2;N2:180 kg/hm^2;N3:240 kg/hm^2;N4:300 kg/hm^2),共计15个处理,探究了喷灌条件下灌水、施氮及其互作对籽粒灌浆特性及水氮利用效率的影响,并通过建模求解最优水氮配置。结果表明:施氮对te(灌浆持续时间)和tm(最大灌浆速率出现时间)影响显著,两者均随施氮量的增加表现为先增加后降低。N3施氮水平下te和tm最大,均值分别为43.9,24.6天,比N0(不施氮)分别增加1.7,3.0天。W2N3处理的tm值最大,比最小处理W1N0延后5.0天。GFmax(最大灌浆速率)与AG(平均灌浆速率)呈极显著相关(r=0.841**),千粒重与产量(r=0.791**)、te(r=0.755**)和tm(r=0.717**)呈极显著正相关。W2N3组合产量和WUE(水分利用效率)均为最大,分别为8960 kg/hm^2和2.83 kg/m^3。水氮耦合通过优化灌浆过程可有效提高冬小麦产量。喷灌灌水定额26~35 mm、施氮量193~204 kg/hm^2(基施40%+拔节期追施60%)的水氮资源配置模式可实现节水增产双效目标。     

Adjusting Midseason Nitrogen Rate Using a Sensor-Based Optimization Algorithm to Increase Use Efficiency in Corn

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to formulate an in-season nitrogen (N) fertilization optimization algorithm (NFOA) to estimate midseason N rates that maximize corn (Zea mays L.) growth and minimize fertilizer inputs. Treatments included: a zero kg N ha^?1; three treatments of 134 kg N ha^?1 fixed rate applied in split, preplant, or sidedress; two treatments of 67 kg N ha^?1 fixed rate preplant or sidedress applied; three NFOA-based midseason N rates (RI-NFOA, RICV-NFOA, flat-RICV-NFOA) with (67 kg N ha^?1) and without preplant N; and two resolutions (0.34 and 2.32 m²) tested for RICV-NFOA only. With the 67 kg N ha^?1 preplant application, midseason RI-NFOA-based N rates resulted in an N use efficiency (NUE) of 65% while the 134 kg N ha^?1 fixed rate split applied had 56% NUE. Using the RICV-NFOA, NUE and net returns to N fertilizer were higher when spatial variability was treated at 2.32 m² resolution.     

Phosphorus Enriched Organic Amendments can Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Wheat

Although nitrogen (N) has the highest requirement for plant growth, N use efficiency (NUE) seldom exceeds 40%. NUE may be improved by integrated application of fertilizer N and enriched organic amendments. The present experiment aimed to test the extent of increase in NUE by integrated application of fertilizer N farmyard manure (FYM) and rock phosphate enriched compost (RPEC). Mineralization kinetics and N release from FYM and RPEC were studied by an incubation experiment. Results revealed that maximum potentially mineralizable N as well as N release (283.9, 186.7 mg kg^?1 soil, respectively) were from RPEC + fertilizer N treated soils, followed by FYM + fertilizer N. Maximum yield, N uptake, and N recovery were obtained from RPEC + fertilizer N treated soils followed by FYM + fertilizer N. Soils treated with RPEC had shown significantly higher dehydrogenase activity than FYM treated soils. Thus, RPEC might increase yield as well as NUE over FYM. N uptake by plant at maximum tillering stage and flowering stage of wheat correlated positively (R² > 0.85) with the decay rate (k and kN₀) parameter of incubation experiment suggesting their relevance as indicators of plant available N.     

Agronomic Assessment of Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Spring Wheat and Interrelations with Leaf Greenness Under Field Conditions

Four spring wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown without (N0 = 0 kg N ha^?1) and under ample (N1 = 250 kg ha^?1) nitrogen (N) fertilizer in field experiments in two seasons. The aim was to assess genotypic variation in N use efficiency (NUE) components and N-related indices during grain filling thus to identify superior wheat genotypes. Leaf chlorophyll (SPAD) readings at crucial growth stages were employed to help differentiate genotypes. Interrelations between yield and N-related indices with SPAD, where also assessed to explain possible pathways of improving NUE early in the growing season. Results showed that genotypic effects on NUE were mostly evident in 2000, a year with drier preanthesis and wetter postanthesis than the normal periods. ‘Toronit’ almost always had the highest biomass yield (BY) and grain yield (GY). Except in 1999 under N0, ‘L94491? showed the highest % grain N concentration (GNC). Genotypes affected SPAD at almost all stages and N fertilization delayed leaf senescence for all genotypes and growth seasons. Correlations between SPAD at different growth stages and GY, N biomass yield at maturity (NBYM) and GNC were significant (P≤ 0.001), positive and strong/very strong (>r = 0.7). N translocation efficiency (NTE) was inversely related to PANU (~r = ? 0.77, P≤ 0.001), suggesting that N after anthesis is being preferentially transported to the ears to meet the N demand of the growing grains. It is concluded that there is still a large potential for increased NUE by improved N recirculation, use of fast and inexpensive crop N monitoring tools and high yielding, N uptake efficient genotypes.

Abbreviations: NUE, Nitrogen use efficiency; SPAD, Minolta SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, NHI, nitrogen harvest index; HI, Harvest index; NTE, N translocation efficiency from vegetative plant parts to grain; DMTE, dry matter translocation efficiency; CPAY, contribution of pre-anthesis assimilates to yield; PANU, Post-anthesis N uptake, d.a.s., days after sowing, N0, zero (0) kg ha^?1 applied N fertilizer, N1, 250 kg ha^?1 applied N fertilizer.     

Effect of nitrogen application on growth and yield of pumpkin

Evaluation of any crop response to different nitrogen amounts is important for determining the amount that can be considered as optimum from economical and environmental point of view. This study was conducted to (1) evaluate the growth and yield of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) under different nitrogen rates and (2) determine the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of pumpkin in two growing seasons (2013 and 2014). In both growing seasons, nitrogen fertilizer (at three rates including 50, 150, and 250 kg ha^?1) was band-dressed on the planted side of each furrow, coinciding with 4–6 leaves stage and flowering. Crop performance over 2 years was evaluated by measuring shoot dry matter, crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), intercepted PAR (PAR_i), radiation use efficiency (RUE), shoot nitrogen uptake, water use efficiency (WUE), NUE, and fruit and seed yield. The results showed that in both growing seasons, the highest growth and yield of pumpkin were obtained by applying 250 kg N ha^?1 (using urea fertilizer containing 46% nitrogen). Increased nitrogen rate from 50 to 250 kg ha^?1 resulted in 87.3%, 27.0%, 62.1%, 87.5%, and 84.5% increase in shoot dry weight, RUE, WUE, fruit yield, and seed yield of pumpkin, respectively, across both growing seasons. However, higher application nitrogen rate decreased the NUE of pumpkin, i.e., the NUE decreased by 62.5% when the nitrogen rate increased from 50 to 250 kg ha^?1. The effect of nitrogen applied in 2014 growing season on growth and yield of pumpkin was higher than that in 2013 growing season, which might be due to more suitable weather condition. In conclusion, the nitrogen rate of 250 kg ha^?1 produced the highest amount of fruit and seed yield in pumpkin.     

Liming and Nitrogen Effects on Maize Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT

The study was aimed to determine the appropriate nitrogen (N) rate to combine with liming for enhanced maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Two maize varieties [Ikom White (IKW) and Obatanpa-98 (Oba-98)], two lime rates (0 kg ha^?1 and 500 kg ha^?1) and three N rates (0, 90 and 180 kg ha^?1) were used. The treatments were laid as a split-split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The growth attributes, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), harvest index, dry matter, and grain yield increased (P ≤ 0.05) with increases in N rates, especially in plots amended with lime. Oba-98 was better yielding (2.12 versus (vs) 1.88 t ha^?1) and absorbed more (P ≤ 0.05) radiation (442.06 vs 409.54 μmol m^?2s^?1) than IKW. The efficiency indices and partial factor productivity were best optimized at the 90 kg ha^?1 N rate with Oba-98 having higher values than IKW. Therefore, liming (500 kg ha^?1) plus N at 180 kg ha^?1produced the best yield of the hybrid maize, Oba-98.     

Differential responses of grain yield,grain protein,and their associated traits to nitrogen supply in soft red winter wheat

Increased application of nitrogen fertilizers has significantly raised grain yield and protein concentration in wheat. However, only 30–50% of applied fertilizer nitrogen are usually utilized by the plant. In this study, four soft red winter wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L., IL07‐4415, MD05W10208‐11‐8, OH06‐150‐57 and Sisson) were grown under three different nitrogen regimes (high, medium, and low) in a greenhouse, and grain yield, grain protein concentration, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and their associated traits were evaluated. Among the four genotypes, a high‐yielding cultivar, Sisson, exhibited superior performance in terms of grain weight plant⁻¹ and NUE for yield (NUEY) at low nitrogen due to maintained grain number spike⁻¹ and harvest index. Significant yield losses due to nitrogen limitation were attributable to reduced spike number plant⁻¹ and grain number spike⁻¹ in the other genotypes. Interestingly, a linear relationship between NUEY and NUE for grain protein (NUEP) was detected at high (R ² = 0.67) and low (R ² = 0.42) nitrogen; both of these traits were positively correlated with grain number spike⁻¹, 1000‐seed weight, and harvest index under nitrogen‐limited conditions (R ² = 0.35–0.48). These results suggest that simultaneous improvement of NUEY and NUEP could be achieved through the selection of the three yield components (grain number spike⁻¹, 1000‐seed weight, and harvest index) at low nitrogen.     

The effect of form and level of inorganic N on nitrogen use efficiency of sugarcane grown in pots

To-date, assessments of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of sugarcane have not included the contribution of its components, nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). This study determined these values, based on biomass and plant nitrogen (N) content, in two four-month-old pot-grown genotypes. The treatments included six N regimes, with nitrate (NO₃^—N) or ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) supplied alone, or as NO₃^?-N for the first 6 weeks and then NH₄⁺-N until harvest, each as 4 or 20 mM. Regardless of the N form, NUE was higher at four than at 20 mM due to significantly higher NUpE at low N supply. The results indicated that there was luxury N uptake and preference for NH₄⁺-N nutrition, which resulted in the highest determined NUE. There were significant differences between genotypes in biomass, morphological growth parameters, N uptake, total plant N and NUE, the latter matching previously established sucrose yield-based NUE field rankings.     

Long-Term Effects of Nitrogen Management Practices on Grain Yield,Nitrogen Uptake,and Efficiency in Irrigated Corn

ABSTRACT

Crop management strategies that improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) increase profits while reducing the detrimental effects on the environment associated with fertilizer nitrogen (N) loss. Effective N management should include several critical factors that are very interrelated. A study was conducted at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Goodwell, OK to evaluate the effects of multiple nitrogen management practices including N rate, source, time of application, methods of fertilizer and residue incorporation over a long period of time on grain yield, N uptake and NUE in irrigated corn. Fourteen treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results of data analyzed on the individual year and averages of all years showed that grain yield and N uptake were improved with N rates and N management practices compared to checks. Both N recovery and efficiency of use were high for the 118 kg N ha^{? 1} rate.     

Variable-timing,fixed-rate application of cattle biogas effluent to rice using a leaf color chart: microcosm experiments in Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Livestock production plays a leading role in agricultural land-use change. Producing biogas from livestock waste and subsequently using the biogas effluent as fertilizer for crops is a promising option to solve environmental problems resulting from expanding livestock production. However, it is difficult to promptly and accurately measure the nitrogen (N) concentration of effluent for farmers in developing countries, making precise N management difficult. The objectives of the current study were (1) to evaluate the feasibility of variable-timing, fixed-rate application of cattle biogas effluent using a leaf color chart (LCC) for rice (Oryza sativa L.) and (2) to determine the optimum LCC threshold for grain yield. We conducted two microcosm experiments in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam in 2018 using eight treatments of N-fertilizer application. In the Zero treatment, we applied no N. In the Estd treatment, we split-applied N as effluent (E) at fixed rate and timing as the standard method. In E2.75, E3.00, E3.25, E3.50, and E3.75, we applied effluent whenever the LCC value went below 2.75, 3.00, 3.25, 3.50, and 3.75, respectively. In U3.25, we applied N as urea (U) whenever the LCC value fell below 3.25. The total effluent-N application rate ranged from 90 to 210 kg N ha^?1 season^?1. Rice growth was normal but there was a substantial yield gap between the two microcosm experiments due to the seasonal difference in solar radiation. Rice yield tended to increase with increasing LCC threshold. There was a positive linear relationship between LCC and chlorophyll content (SPAD) values (R ² = 0.73–0.79). Grain yield was well explained (R ² = 0.70–0.89) by the seasonal mean LCC or SPAD value. Plant total N uptake increased with increasing LCC threshold, but the three calculated indices of N use efficiency (NUE) – apparent N recovery, agronomic NUE, and internal NUE – were not always improved with a higher LCC threshold. Our results showed that the tested variable-timing, fixed-rate strategy for the application of cattle biogas effluent was feasible and the optimum LCC threshold for grain production was 3.75 under the current microcosm conditions.     

Nitrogen accumulation efficiency: Relationship between excess fertilizer and soil‐plant biological activity in winter wheat

The point at which nitrogen (N) applied approaches 100% recovery in the soil once plant and microbial sinks have been saturated has not been determined in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production systems. In dryland winter wheat, subsoil accumulation has not been found to occur until N rates exceed that required for maximum yield. Many conventional N rate experiments have not properly evaluated subsoil N accumulation due to the lack of equally spaced N rates at the high end of the spectrum over which accumulation is expected to occur. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (i) determine when soil profile accumulation efficiencies reach 100% in continuous winter wheat production and (ii) to evaluate the potential for nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃ ^‐N) leaching in continuous winter wheat when extremely high rates of fertilizer N are used. Two field experiments (T505 and T222) were conducted for two years using ten N rates (preplant‐incorporated) ranging from 0 to 5376 kg N ha¹. No additional preplant fertilizer was applied in the second year. Following the first and second year wheat harvest, soil cores were taken to 2.4 m and bulk density, ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄‐N) and NO₃‐N were determined. Crop N‐use efficiency (NUE) (N uptake treated ‐ N uptake check/rate applied) and soil profile inorganic N accumulation efficiencies (NAE) [net inorganic N accumulation in the soil profile/(fertilizer applied ‐ net N removed in the crop)] changed with fertilizer rate and were inversely related. Priming (increased net mineralization of organic N pools when low rates of fertilizer N are applied) may have occurred since increased NUE was observed at low N rates. The highest N‐accumulation efficiencies were at N rates of 168 and 448 kg ha^‐1 in experiments T505 and T222, respectively. At both T222 and T505, no subsoil accumulation of NH₄‐N or NO₃‐N beyond 100 cm was observed for any of the N treatments when compared to the 0‐N check, even when N rates exceeded 448 kg ha^‐1.     

On‐farm comparison of variable rates of nitrogen with uniform application to maize on canopy reflectance,soil nitrate,and grain yield

Recent development in canopy optical‐sensing technology provides the opportunity to apply fertilizer variably at the field scale according to spatial variation in plant growth. A field experiment was conducted in Ottawa, Canada, for two consecutive years to determine the effect of fertilizer nitrogen (N) input at variable‐ vs. uniform‐application strategies at the V6–V8 growth stage, on soil mineral N, canopy reflectance, and grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The variable N rates were calculated using an algorithm derived from readings of average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of about 0.8 m × 4.6 m, and N fertilizer was then applied to individual patches of the same size of NDVI readings (0.8 m × 4.6 m) within a plot (2184 m²). Canopy reflectance, expressed as NDVI, was monitored with a hand‐held spectrometer, twice weekly before tasseling and once a week thereafter until physiological maturity. Soil mineral N (0–30 cm depth) was analyzed at the V6 and VT growth stages. Our data show that both variable and uniform‐application strategies for N side‐dressings based on canopy‐reflectance mapping data required less amount of N fertilizer (with an average rate of 80 kg N ha^–1 as side‐dressing in addition to 30 kg N ha^–1 applied at planting), and produced grain yields similar to and higher nitrogen‐use efficiency (NUE) than the preplant fully fertilized (180 kg N ha^–1) treatment. No difference was observed in either grain yield or NUE between the variable‐ and uniform‐application strategies. Compared to unfertilized or fully fertilized treatments, the enhancements in grain yield and NUE of the variable‐rate strategy originated from the later N input as side‐dressing rather than the variation in N rates. The variable‐rate strategy resulted in less spatial variations in soil mineral N at the VT growth stage and greater spatial variations in grain yield at harvest than the uniform‐rate strategy. Both variable‐ and uniform‐application strategies reduced spatial variations in soil mineral N at the VT stage and grain yield compared to the unfertilized treatment. The variable‐rate strategy resulted in more sampling points with high soil mineral N than the uniform‐rate strategy at the VT stage.     

Response of nitrogen use efficient sorghums to nitrogen fertilizer

Little information is available on the response of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes differing in nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) (g DM g N^‐1) to added N fertilizer. Such knowledge is important for reducing the reliance upon fertilizer N. A dryland field experiment was conducted in 1993 and 1994 at Mead, NE evaluating the agronomic responsiveness of 13 sorghum genotypes differing in NUE to three N rates (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha^‐1) and also to determine physiological factors that contribute to improved NUE. The experiment was conducted on a fine montmorillonitic, mesic, Typic Argiudoll soil. Total N at maturity, dry matter, and grain yield were used to calculate NUE terms. Genotype differences were found for all measured variables both years, but no N rate by genotype effects were significant. Nitrogen fertilizer enhanced plant N contents and grain yield, but decreased NUE for total biomass and grain production. An early freeze in 1993 markedly reduced the later maturing genotype grain yields which, in turn, influenced NUE group comparisons. All genotypes in the study attained their full yield potential in 1994. The linear response to N rate of the N non‐responsive group was significantly less than the moderately responsive or N responsive group. High NUE sorghums had greater yields than low NUE types averaged over N levels only in 1994 since Naga White, a high NUE type, did not reach maturity in 1993. There was no difference in the linear response to N between these two groups. A linear increase in grain yield with increasing N rate was significantly greater for hybrids than lines. The results suggest that specific selection for high NUE sorghums will not diminish responsiveness to applied N.     

氮施用量对夏玉米土壤水氮动态及水肥利用效率的影响

采用田间小区试验,监测夏玉米不同生长期土壤水分和硝态氮剖面含量变化,研究不同施氮量对其时空变化及籽粒产量、水肥利用效率的影响,探讨氮肥对水肥资源高效利用的调节作用。结果表明：不同施氮处理,土壤剖面水分和硝态氮随土壤深度的变化趋势基本一致,即表层50 cm土壤水分和硝态氮含量较高且呈降低态,50-110 cm相对较低且波动较小,灌浆期二者均达到最低值;各生长期表层50 cm土壤含水量呈不施氮处理均高于施氮处理,50-110 cm土层则相反;施氮能提高土壤硝态氮含量,土壤硝态氮运移受土壤水分状况和含量的影响,含量越高,向下移动越深;施氮能显著提高水分利用效率及籽粒产量,增产效果明显（增产28.52%-37.86%）,二者均以施氮240 kg/hm^2处理最高;随施氮量的增加籽粒产量及籽粒吸氮量和水分利用效率增幅均表现为先升高后降低之趋势,当施氮量超过240 kg/hm^2后,籽粒产量和水分利用效率提高并不显著;不施氮与施氮处理氮素生产力、氮肥利用率之间均存在极显著差异。在本试验条件下,从控制土壤硝态氮积累及取得较高的产量和氮素利用率综合考虑,夏玉米的适宜施氮量范围应控制在120-240 kg/hm^2较好。     

Nitrogen Rate Influence on Pearl Millet Yield,Nitrogen Uptake,and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Nebraska

Abstract

Pearl millet is a potential dryland crop for Nebraska. Experiments were conducted in eastern Nebraska in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and in western Nebraska in 2000 and 2001. The objectives were to determine optimum nitrogen (N) rate, N uptake, and N use efficiency (NUE) for pearl millet. The hybrids “68×086R” and “293A×086R” and N rates of 0, 45, 90, and 135 kg N ha^?1 were used. Hybrids had similar yield, N uptake and NUE responses. In western Nebraska in 2000, pearl millet yield response to N rate was linear, but the yield increase was only 354 kg ha^?1 to application of 135 kg N ha^?1. In eastern Nebraska, pearl millet response to N rate was quadratic with maximum grain yields of 4040 in 2001 and 4890 kg ha^?1 in 2002 attained with 90 kg N ha^?1. The optimum N rate for pearl millet was 90 kg N ha^?1 for eastern Nebraska. For western Nebraska, drought may often limit pearl millet's response to N fertilizer.