Increased plant nitrogen loss with increasing nitrogen applied in winter wheat observed with 15nitrogen

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is generally the most costly input for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Therefore, it was important to maximize fertilizer use efficiency and minimize N losses to the environment. One of the mechanisms responsible for decreased N use efficiency (NUE) was plant N loss. The objectives of this experiment were to determine fertilizer N recovery in winter wheat when produced for forage and grain, and to quantify potential plant N losses from flowering to maturity in winter wheat. Two long‐term (>25 years) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) N rate fertility experiments (Experiment 222 and Experiment 502) were selected to evaluate ¹⁵N fertilizer recovery. Percent ¹⁵N recovery was determined from all microplots in plant tissue at flowering, in the grain, and straw at harvest and in the soil. Fertilizer N(¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃) was applied atratesof 0, 45, 90, and 135kg N ha^‐1 in Experiment 222, and 0, 22, 45, 67, 90, and 112 kg N ha^‐1 in Experiment 502. The ratio ofNO₃ ^‐to NH₄ ⁺ in wheat forage at flowering was positively correlated with estimated plant N loss. Estimated plant N loss (total N uptake in wheat at flowering minus N uptake in the grain and straw at maturity) ranged from a net gain of 12 kg N ha^‐1 to a loss of 42 kg N ha^‐1, and losses increased with increasing N applied.     

Effect of nitrogen rate on plant nitrogen loss in winter wheat varieties 1

Gaseous nitrogen (N) loss from winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants has been identified, but has not been simultaneously evaluated for several genotypes grown under different N fertility. Two field experiments were initiated in 1993 and 1994 at the Agronomy Research Station in Stillwater and Perkins to estimate plant N loss from several cultivars as a function of N applied and to characterize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). A total of five cultivars were evaluated at preplant N rates ranging from 30 to 180 kg·ha^‐1. Nitrogen loss was estimated as the difference between total forage N accumulated at anthesis and the total (grain + straw) N at harvest. Forage, grain, straw yield, N uptake, and N loss increased with increasing N applied at both Stillwater and Perkins. Significant differences were observed among varieties for yield, N uptake, N loss, and components of NUE in forage, grain, straw, and grain + straw. Estimates of N loss over this two‐year period ranged from 4.0 to 27.9 kg·ha^‐1 (7.7 to 59.4% of total forage N at anthesis). Most N losses occurred between anthesis and 14 days post‐anthesis. Avoiding excess N application would reduce N loss and increase NUE in winter wheat varieties. Varieties with high harvest index (grain yield/total biomass) and low forage yield had low plant N loss. Estimates of plant loss suggest N balance studies should consider this variable before assuming that unaccounted N was lost to leaching and denitrification.     

Functional traits associated with nitrogen use efficiency in wheat

The association between functional traits and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was investigated to assist the breeding of nitrogen (N) use-efficient bread wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum) varieties. This study combined results from a climate chamber experiment involving 41 spring wheat varieties and a field experiment involving six winter and six spring wheat varieties grown with and without the application of mineral N fertiliser. The climate chamber experiment was analysed by partial least squares (PLS) regression, with several predictors and NUE as response, to identify traits related to NUE. Specific hypotheses were then tested in the field experiment. The PLS indicated six traits of particular importance for overall NUE: leaf chlorophyll (SPAD value) of the top leaf at stem elongation, grains ear^?1, ears pot^?1, straw biomass pot^?1, days between emergence and anthesis, and days between emergence and completed senescence. In the field experiment, the SPAD value of flag leaves of winter wheat around anthesis was positively correlated with NUE and total grain N, at both N levels. Fast development was positively correlated with high NUE and N uptake efficiency in spring wheat. Early senescence of the flag leaf was positively correlated with grain N concentration and negatively correlated with grain-specific N efficiency in winter wheat at low N fertilisation levels. The results indicate that high SPAD value of the top leaf might be a candidate trait that could be used in wheat breeding for improved NUE, while genetic variation in senescence could possibly be used to tailor varieties for different end-use quality when grown at low N. More studies are needed to validate these findings in other environments and for other genotypes.     

Nitrogen fixation by annual forage legumes and its contribution to succeeding wheat in the Ethiopian highlands

Soil fertility is declining in most agro‐ecosystems in sub‐Saharan Africa, and incorporation of forage legumes into production systems to utilize the nitrogen fixed by the legumes could alleviate the problem, if efficient nitrogen‐fixing legumes are used. The amounts of nitrogen fixed by Lablab, Medicago, Trifolium, and Vicia species and their contribution to the following wheat crop were estimated in field experiments on an Alfisol at Debre Zeit in the Ethiopian highlands. The amounts of nitrogen (N) fixed ranged from 40 kg N ha^‐1 for T. steudneri to 215 kg N ha^‐1 for L. purpureus. The increase in grain yields of wheat following the legumes ranged from 16% for T. steudneri to 71% for M. tranculata where no N fertilizer was applied to the wheat. Additional N fertilizer applied to wheat at 60 kg N ha^‐1 had no significant effects on wheat grain or straw DM andN yields. In another experiment, eight lablab treatments consisting of factorial combinations of two cultivars (Rongai and Highworth), two Rhizobium inoculation treatments (inoculated and uninoculated) and two times of harvest (for hay at 50% flowering and for seed at seed maturity), were compared on lablab forage production and N yield, and residual effects on two succeeding wheat crops. Inoculation had no significant effects on nodulation, shoot DM or N yields. Rongai had significantly higher shoot DM and N yields than Highworth. Lablab harvested at flowering had significantly higher shoot DM and N yields than lablab harvested at seed maturity. Grain yields of the first wheat crop following the various lablab crops were 93–125% higher than grain yields of the wheat following wheat (continuous wheat) where no N fertilizer was applied. Therefore, lablab is a potential forage crop for incorporation into cereal production systems to improve feed quality and to reduce dependence on N fertilizers for cereal production.     

Changes in N leaching and crop production as a result of measures to reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation

The effects of various measures introduced to increase nitrogen (N)‐use efficiency and reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation (winter wheat, spring barley, green manure, winter wheat, spring barley, spring oilseed rape) were examined with respect to N leaching, soil mineral N (SMN) accumulation and grain yield. An N‐use efficient system (NUE) with delayed tillage until late autumn and spring, direct drilling of winter wheat, earlier sowing of winter and spring crops and use of a catch crop in winter wheat was compared with a conventional system (CON) in a field experiment with six separately tile‐drained plots in south‐western Sweden during the period 1999–2011 (two crop rotation cycles). Total leaching of NO₃‐N from the NUE system was significantly 46 and 33% lower than in the CON system during the first and second crop rotation cycle, respectively, with the most pronounced differences apparently related to management strategies for winter wheat. Differences in NO₃‐N leaching largely reflected differences in SMN during autumn and winter. There was a tendency for lower yields in the NUE system, probably due to problems with couch grass. Overall, the measures for conserving N, when frequently used within a crop rotation, effectively reduced NO₃ concentrations in drainage water and NO₃‐N leaching losses, without severely affecting yield.     

Nitrogen Use Efficiency in an 11-Year Study of Conventional and Organic Wheat Cultivation

Abstract

Resource conservation with respect to nitrogen (N) was compared in organic and conventional cultivation of winter and spring wheat. Sustainability was measured in the nitrogen use efficiency of plant‐available N. The amounts of N entering each system and the amounts removed in the harvested crop and remaining as unused mineral nitrogen in the soil at harvest were determined. Net surpluses and losses during the growing season were also monitored, and the environmental variables influencing N harvest in the different cultivation systems were identified. The study was carried out in three different cultivation systems: conventional animal production (CONV), organic animal production (ORG1), and organic cereal production (ORG2). On average for all years and sampling occasions in winter wheat, there were approximately 60 kg more mineral nitrogen left in the soil during the growing season in CONV than in ORG1, and coefficients of variation were higher in CONV. The maximum values were considerably higher in CONV than in ORG1 (p=0.06–0.09), which increased the risk of leaching in the former, particularly in winter wheat cultivation. Nitrogen use efficiency in winter and spring wheat cultivation was 74% in whole crop conventional winter wheat and 81% in organic. Nitrogen use efficiency in harvested winter wheat grain was 44% for CONV and 49% for ORG1. ORG1 spring wheat was as efficient as ORG1 winter wheat, whereas ORG2 spring wheat used 73% of N in the whole crop and 39% in grain. Multivariate regression analysis showed that climate affected CONV and ORG1 winter wheat differently. High temperature in May increased grain yields in ORG1, but the converse was true for CONV. Large unused mineral N reserves at harvest coincided with large N harvest in CONV winter wheat. Residual fertility effects from the preceding crop produced high yields in ORG1 winter and spring wheat but had no effect in CONV. Generally, an increase in N reserves between plant development stages 13 and 31 was positive for both CONV and ORG1 winter wheat. Both winter and spring wheat require most N during this period, so the potential for improvement seems to lie in increasing mineralization (e.g., by intensified weed harrowing early in stage 13 in winter wheat and between stages 13 and 31 in spring wheat). Cultivation of winter wheat in ORG1 was a more efficient use of nitrogen resources than CONV. CONV efficiency could be improved by precision fertilization on each individual field with the help of N analysis before spring tillage and sensor‐controlled fertilization.     

Application of urease inhibitor improves protein composition and bread‐baking quality of urea fertilized winter wheat

Background: Nitrogen losses is an economic problem for wheat production and a high risk to the environment. Therefore, improved N fertilizer management is a key to increasing the N efficiency and minimizing N losses. To increase N efficiency, enhanced fertilizers such as urea combined with urease inhibitor can be used. Aims: The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of different N forms on grain storage protein subunits in winter wheat and to examine whether the observed changes correlate with parameters of baking quality. Methods: The investigation was performed over two consecutive years at two locations in Germany. Protein subunits were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE. Results: Protein concentrations were similarly increased after fertilization with ammonium nitrate and urea + urease inhibitor. Analysis of the individual storage protein fractions indicated that both fertilizers specifically enhanced ω‐gliadins and HMW glutenins, but the effect was more pronounced in the ammonium nitrate treatment. Application of urea + urease inhibitor had greater influence on the protein composition and resulted in higher specific baking volume as well as the best fresh keeping ability, in comparison with urea treatment. Conclusion: Considering that the urea + urease inhibitor treatment resulted in almost comparable improvements of NUE and baking quality, with the additional benefit of reduced N losses in combination with easy handling, urea + urease inhibitor can be recommended as a viable alternative to both urea alone and ammonium nitrate treatments. This opens up an opportunity for the reduction of N loss in wheat production when use of urea is preferred.     

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.     

Long continued applications of N fertilizer to cereals on sandy loam: grain and straw response to residual N

Abstract. The residual value of mineral N fertilizer applied in the spring was investigated in a field experiment where four cereals (winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley and spring oats) had been grown at reduced (0.7N), normal (1N) or high (1.3N) N fertilizer rates for 20 to 28 years. The effect of previous N fertilizer dressing was tested in two succeeding years by replacing the original N rate with five test N rates ranging from 0 to 240 kg N ha^?1 for winter cereals and 0 to 200 kg N ha^?1 for spring cereals. In the first test year, winter wheat grown on plots previously supplied with the high rate of mineral fertilizer (202 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) yielded more grain and straw and had a higher total N uptake than wheat on plots previously supplied with the normal (174 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) or reduced (124 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) rate. The grain yield response and N uptake was not significantly affected by the N supply in the test year. The winter wheat grown in the second test year was unaffected by the previous N supply. Grain and straw yield response and total N uptake for spring barley, winter barley and oats, were almost identical irrespective of the previous N rate. After 20 to 28 years there were no significant differences in soil C and N (0 to 20 cm) between soil receiving three rates of N fertilizer. Soil from differently fertilized oat plots showed no significant differences in N mineralizing capacity. Nitrate leaching losses from the soils at the three N rates were estimated and the N balances for the 20 to 28 years experimental period calculated. The data indicated a reduction in overall loss of 189 to 466 kg N ha^?1 at the normal and high N rates compared with the reduced N rate. We conclude that the N supplying capacity and soil organic matter content of this fertile sandy loam soil under continuous cereal cropping with straw removal was not significantly affected by differences in N fertilizer residues.     

CHANGES IN TOTAL INORGANIC PROFILE NITROGEN IN LONG-TERM RYE–WHEAT–RYEGRASS FORAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEM*

ABSTRACT

Inorganic soil profile nitrogen (N) levels can increase with application rates greater than those necessary for maximum cereal grain yields. Forage systems are different than grain production systems in that harvest is generally prior to anthesis and gaseous plant N loss is not allowed to occur. This promotes removal of more total N from the system and results in higher nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE).Nitrogen rates representing increased profile N accumulation as well as those below this threshold were evaluated from a long-term rye–wheat–ryegrass production experiment. Nitrogen rates from 1979–1993 were 0, 56, 84, 112, 168, and 224 kg N ha^?1.Rates were doubled in 1994 in an effort to add N at a rate above which no increase in forage production would be expected.Wheat was eliminated from the winter seeding mix in 1994, as it was an extremely small portion of the total harvested forage. Deep soil cores (0–366 cm) were taken during the early summer of 1996 from plots with a history of continuous fertilization and forage production since 1979.Cores were split into 15 cm (0–60 cm) or 30 cm increments (60–366 cm) and analyzed for NO₃–N, NH₄–N, and pH.Total inorganic N accumulations were calculated by adding NO₃–N and NH₄–N.Surface accumulations of NH₄–N were significant with annual N rates of 224 kg N ha^?1 or more. No differences in NH₄–N were noted at lower depths, thus movement through the profile was not observed. Nitrate–N at the highest N rate was significantly higher than check levels down to 270 cm increasing the risk of groundwater contamination.It should be noted that the maximum N rate was increased to 448 kg ha^?1 in 1994 in an attempt to determine a level above which no yield response would be noted. No increase in forage production has been consistently noted with rates over 224 kg N ha^?1 and at this level the only adverse effect is increased NO₃–N in the surface 90 cm. These long-term experimental results support the conclusion that nitrogen fertilizer additions at recommended rates do not increase the risk of NO₃–N leaching.     

冬小麦对基肥和追肥15N的吸收与利用

【目的】 研究不同生育期 (花期、灌浆期和收获期) 肥料氮的去向和氮素的吸收运转对冬小麦产量形成的贡献。 【方法】 采用15N示踪结合盆栽试验,尿素N 90 mg/kg等分为基施和拔节期追施。分别在开花期、灌浆期和收获期破坏性取样,测定冬小麦地上部、根和土壤15N含量等指标。 【结果】 在整个生育期,冬小麦吸氮量42.8%来自土壤,57.2%来自肥料,其中来自基肥和追肥的比例分别为26.6% 和30.6%。冬小麦植株对氮肥15N 的吸收率随作物的生长而增加,从开花期到收获期增加了50%,15N氮肥在土壤中的残留率从开花期到收获期下降约50%。冬小麦收获后,约28.6%的肥料15N残留在土壤中,肥料15N损失率为33.9%,基肥氮的损失率比追肥氮高21%。冬小麦对肥料15N的全部回收率为37.5%,其中籽粒吸收量约是秸秆的4倍,64.9%的籽粒氮素从开花前营养器官吸收转运而来。 【结论】 在整个生育期,冬小麦吸收的氮素来源于肥料和土壤氮的比例约为6∶4,基肥和追肥氮对冬小麦氮素吸收具有同等贡献,在当前N 250 kg/hm2的施氮水平下,适当增加追肥氮的比例可以减少氮肥损失率。残留在土壤中的肥料氮对于补充土壤氮素消耗具有重要意义。      

Time of availability influences mixed‐nitrogen‐induced increases in growth and yield of wheat 1

Previous studies have indicated that under hydroponic conditions, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants produce higher grain yields, more tillers, and increased dry matter when continuously supplied with mixtures of NO₃ and NH₄ than when supplied with only NO₃. The objective of this study was to determine if mixed N needs to be available before or after flowering, or continuously, in order to elicit increases in growth and yield of wheat. During vegetative development, plants of the cultivar ‘Marshal’ were grown in one of two nutrient solutions containing either a 100/0 or 50/50 mixture of NO₃ to NH₄ and, after flowering, half the plants were switched to the other solution. At physiological maturity, plants were harvested, separated into leaves, stems, roots, and grain and the dry matter and N concentration of each part determined. Yield components and the number of productive tillers were also determined. Availability of mixed N at either growth stage increased grain yield over plants receiving continuous NO₃, but the increase was twice as large when the mixture was present during vegetative growth. When the N mixture was available only during vegetative growth the yield increase was similar to that obtained with continuous mixed N. The yield increases obtained with mixed N were the result of enhanced tillering and the production of more total biomass. Although plants receiving a mixed N treatment accumulated more total N than those grown solely with NO₃, the greatest increase occurred when mixed N was available during vegetative growth. Because availability of mixed N after flowering increased the N concentration over all NO₃ and pre‐flowering mixed N plants, it appears that the additional N accumulation from mixed N needs to be coupled with tiller development in order to enhance grain yields. These results confirm that mixed N nutrition increases yield of wheat and indicate that the most critical growth stage to supply the N mixture to the plant is during vegetative growth.     

Assessment of nitrogen uptake and utilization in drought tolerant and Striga resistant tropical maize varieties

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop in the Guinea savannas of Nigeria. Despite its high production potential, drought, Striga hermonthica parasitsim, and poor soil fertility particularly nitrogen deficiency limit maize production in the savannas. Breeders at IITA have developed drought- and Striga-tolerant cultivars for testing, dissemination, and deployment in the region. Information on the response of these cultivars to N fertilization is, however, not available. This study evaluated grain yield, total N uptake (TNU), N uptake (NUPE), N utilization (NUTE), and N use efficiency (NUE) of selected maize cultivars along with a widely grown improved maize cultivar at two locations in the Guinea savannas of northern Nigeria. Maize grain yield increased with N application. The average grain yield of the maize cultivars was 76% higher at 30, 156% higher at 60, and 203% higher at 120 kg N ha^?1 than at 0 kg N ha^?1. This suggests that N is a limiting nutrient in the Nigerian savannas. Five drought-tolerant cultivars produced consistently higher yields when N was added at all levels. These cultivars had either high NUPE or NUTE confirming earlier reports that high N uptake or NUTE improves maize grain yield. The study also confirms earlier reports that maize cultivars that are selected for tolerance to drought are also efficient in uptake and use of N fertilizer. This means that these cultivars can be grown with application of less N fertilizer thereby reducing investment on fertilizers and reduction in environmental pollution.     

Leaching and plant offtake of N in field pea/cereal cropping sequences with incorporation of 15N-labelled pea harvest residues

Abstract. Field peas (Pisum sativum L.) were grown in sequence with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in large outdoor lysimeters. The pea crop was harvested either in a green immature state or at physiological maturity and residues returned to the lysimeters after pea harvest. After harvest of the pea crop in 1993, pea crop residues (pods and straw) were replaced with corresponding amounts of ¹⁵N‐labelled pea residues grown in an adjacent field plot. Reference lysimeters grew sequences of cereals (spring barley/spring barley and spring barley/winter wheat) with the straw removed. Leaching and crop offtake of ¹⁵N and total N were measured for the following two years. These treatments were tested on two soils: a coarse sand and a sandy loam. Nitrate concentrations were greatest in percolate from lysimeters with immature peas. Peas harvested at maturity also raised the nitrate concentrations above those recorded for continuous cereal growing. The cumulative nitrate loss was 9–12 g NO₃‐N m^–2 after immature peas and 5–7 g NO₃‐N m^–2 after mature peas. Autumn sown winter wheat did not significantly reduce leaching losses after field peas compared with spring sown barley. ¹⁵N derived from above‐ground pea residues accounted for 18–25% of the total nitrate leaching losses after immature peas and 12–17% after mature peas. When compared with leaching losses from the cereals, the extra leaching loss of N from roots and rhizodeposits of mature peas were estimated to be similar to losses of ¹⁵N from the above‐ground pea residues. Only winter wheat yield on the coarse sand was increased by a previous crop of peas compared to wheat following barley. Differences between barley grown after peas and after barley were not statistically significant. ¹⁵N lost by leaching in the first winter after incorporation accounted for 11–19% of ¹⁵N applied in immature pea residues and 10–15% of ¹⁵N in mature residues. Another 2–5% were lost in the second winter. The ¹⁵N recovery in the two crops succeeding the peas was 3–6% in the first crop and 1–3% in the second crop. The winter wheat did not significantly improve the utilization of ¹⁵N from the pea residues compared with spring barley.     

Response of Wheat Cultivars to Nitrogen and Sulfur for Crop Yield,Nitrogen Use Efficiency,and Protein Quality in the Semiarid Region

ABSTRACT

The effects of nitrogen (N at 0, 100 and 180 kg N ha-1) and sulfur (S at 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg S ha-1) on crop yield, nutrient uptake, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and amino acid composition of two bread wheat cultivars, ‘Shehan’ and ‘Enkoy,’ grown in Andisols and Cambisols in randomized blocks with three replications were evaluated. Both cultivars responded significantly (P < 0.05) to N and S applications and S application with N improved the NUE by 28%. The yield increase for the two cultivars by N and S application ranged between 0.8 to 2.4 Mg ha^?1. The N concentration increased significantly from N0 to N2 in both cultivars. Sulfur fertilization increased the concentration of cysteine and methionine by 27% and 14%, respectively, as compared to N alone. The grain yield, NUE, N, and S uptake, and the S-amino acid concentration of ‘Enkoy’ were significantly higher than ‘Shehan’ cultivar.     

Sulfur fertilization of wheat and triticale for forage production

Abstract

Throughout the Great Plains, wheat (Triticurn aestivum L.) is utilized for grain and forage production. Triticale (Triticum aestivum L. x Secale cereale L.) is known for its ability to produce large quantities of high quality forage. With recent improvement in winter hardiness, interest in and acreage of triticale is spreading north in the central Great Plains. The forage production potential of wheat and triticale is essential to many livestock producers. Very few data are available concerning the effects of sulfur (S) fertilization on production and quality of wheat or triticale forage. Greenhouse research was conducted to evaluate the addition of S as either ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) or ammonium sulfate (AS) on production and quality of wheat and triticale forage on four different soils. Sulfur fertilization increased forage yields and S concentrations of both crops on all soils, and in many cases, resulted in higher N concentrations in the forage. Sulfur fertilization also increased in vitro digestibility of wheat, but had little effect on triticale digestibility. Both S sources performed similarly. Application of S after the first clipping was effective in increasing second clipping forage production on three of the four soils, and forage S concentrations were dramatically increased for both crops on all soils. Although the magnitude of response varied, S fertilization was effective in increasing production and quality of wheat and triticale forage grown in the greenhouse.     

Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of wheat increased with root length and biomass due to nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium interactions

Balanced applications of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are known to increase grain yield of wheat but the impact of the interactions among N, P, and K on root growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) have not been proven. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balanced applications of N, P, and K on the rooting patterns and NUE of wheat. Two glasshouse experiments were conducted. A rhizobox study was used to assess the impact of interactions among N, P, and K fertilisers on total root length, biomass, specific root length, root length density, N use efficiency (NUE), and N uptake efficiency of the shoots (NUpE_shoot) and N nutrition index. In a separate pot study, plants were grown to maturity to confirm the effect of the observed changes in root growth on NUE, NUpE_grain, and grain/biomass yield. In the rhizobox experiment when plants were supplied with N+P+K, total root biomass increased approximately six‐fold relative to plants grown with N alone or with no fertiliser. Plants exposed to N+P+K had NUpE_shoot and NUE values that were five and ten times higher, respectively, than plants that received just fertiliser N. Plants supplied with N+P or N+P+K had N nutrition indices close to one (N‐adequate), while plants that only received N had an index of 0.62 (N‐deficient). The pot study confirmed that the changes in root length and biomass in plants exposed to N+P+K resulted in significant increases in NUE, NUpE_grain, shoot biomass, and grain yield at maturity. Interactions among fertiliser N, P, and K played a critical role in influencing root biomass and length, which was associated with increases in NUE, NUpE_shoot and NUpE_grain.     

Rapid Estimation of Potentially Mineralizable N in Early Spring Following Fall Biosolids Applications to Winter Wheat

The amount of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) in early spring is critical to winter wheat production because maximum nitrogen (N) uptake begins then. We evaluated the Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method for quantifying PMN in early spring from biosolids fall-applied to soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Anaerobically digested and lime stabilized biosolids were fall-applied at 0, 50 and 100 kg PAN ha^?1 at six locations in the Virginia Coastal Plain in 2013. The Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method did not provide an accurate estimation of spring PAN for biosolids applied in the fall for no-till winter wheat. The sum of preplant soil inorganic N and PMN of the unamended soil was better related to grain yield than PMN alone. The Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method is inadequate for use in no-till management but may provide an accurate mid-season estimate of winter wheat yield potential when used in combination with pre-plant soil inorganic N.     

Optimizing Fertilizer Nitrogen for Winter Wheat Production in Yangtze River Region in China

Excessive nitrogen (N) application has been considered as one of the reasons for restricting yield increases in rice-wheat rotation system in the Yangtze River area. From 2007 to 2009, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of optimized N management on grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and N surplus of winter wheat in Jianghan Plain (Hubei province, China). Results indicated that grain yield and crop N uptake of treatments with reducing fertilizer N (N₁₃₅₍₂₎ for the first year and N₁₂₀₍₃₎ for the second season) did not significantly reduce yield compared to farmers’ practice (FP). Under the same amount of N application, three-time splitting improved grain yield and enhanced NUE as compared with two-time splitting. The optimized N treatment of N₁₃₅₍₂₎ and N₁₂₀₍₃₎ was observed with higher NUE parameters, i.e. recovery efficiency (RE_N), agronomic efficiency (AE_N) and partial factor productivity (PFP_N). Positive correlation between SPAD value and leaf N concentration provided the effective tool to evaluate N status during the growth season. The optimized N rate and top dressing frequency could reduce the residual N retained in the 0–20 cm soil layer after harvest, which could reduce the possibility of soil N loss to the environment. This paper provides insights into N management strategy based on farmers’ practices, which could be regarded as a guideline to improve agricultural management for wheat growth season.     

Effects of cropping system and rates of nitrogen in animal slurry and mineral fertilizer on nitrate leaching from a sandy loam

Abstract. Leaching of nitrate from a sandy loam cropped with spring barley, winter wheat and grass was compared in a 4-year lysimeter study. Crops were grown continuously or in a sequence including sugarbeet. Lysimeters were unfertilized or supplied with equivalent amounts of inorganic nitrogen in calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or animal slurry according to recommended rates (1N) or 50% above recommended rates (1.5N).
Compared with unfertilized crops, leaching of nitrate increased only slightly when 1N (CAN) was added. Successive annual additions of 1.5N (CAN) or 1N and 1.5N (animal slurry) caused the cumulative loss of nitrate to increase significantly. More nitrate was leached after application of slurry because organic nitrogen in the slurry-was mineralized.
With 1N (CAN) the leaching losses of nitrate were in the following order: continuous spring barley undersown with Italian ryegrass < continuous ley of perennial ryegrass < spring barley in rotation and undersown with grass < perennial ryegrass grown in rotation = winter wheat grown in rotation < sugarbeet in rotation < continuous winter wheat < continuous barley < bare fallow.
At recommended levels of CAN (1N), cumulative nitrate losses over the four years were similar for the crops when grown in rotation or continuously. When crops received 1.5N (CAN) or animal slurry, nitrate losses from the crops grown continuously exceeded those from crops in rotation. Including a catch crop in the continuous cropping system eliminated the differences in nitrate leaching between the two cropping systems.