Possibility of Introducing Winter Legumes,Hairy Vetch and Faba Bean,as Green Manures to Turmeric Cropping in Temperate Region

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to examine the possibility of introducing winter legumes, hairy vetch and faba bean, as green manures to turmeric cropping in a temperate region. Hairy vetch shoots were incorporated to determine the effect of N and P added as green manure. Higher values in plant height and number of leaves of turmeric were observed in the treatment with incorporation of hairy vetch than in that without incorporation (no-incorporation) throughout the growth periods. The differences in total amounts of N and P of turmeric between incorporation and no-incorporation treatments were the highest on 15 October, when the amount was increased by 8.0 g N and 1.1 g P m^–2 compared with the no-incorporation treatment. From September to October, curcumin content rapidly increased with rhizome thickening, and gradually increased. We also quantified the N and P contribution from faba bean residues to the succeeding turmeric. The total amounts of N and P in turmeric cultivated after incorporating shoot and root residues into previously cultivated faba bean field were 2.5 g N and 1.0 g P m^–2, respectively, larger than incorporating only roots. In previously fallow field, the incorporation of the shoot increased the total amount of N and P in tumeric by 4.5 g and 1.9 g m^–2, respectively, compared with that without incorporation. In the second year after incorporation, growth and nutrient uptake of the turmeric crop did not significantly differ from those without incorporation. In the temperate region, these winter legumes would be used as basal organic matters for turmeric production.     

Management Effects of Disease-Suppressive Rotation Crops on Potato Yield and Soilborne Disease and Their Economic Implications in Potato Production

Soilborne potato diseases are persistent problems in potato production. Use of disease-suppressive rotation crops, such as Brassica spp. (mustards, rapeseed) and sudangrass, has shown potential for management of soilborne diseases and enhanced yield in various crop production systems. However, how to best implement these crops into productive potato cropping systems has not yet been determined. In this research, potential disease-suppressive crops were evaluated under four different types of production management (as a cover crop, green manure, harvested crop-residue incorporated, and harvested crop-residue not incorporated) in potato rotation field trials, and their effects on disease, yield, and economic viability determined. Mustard blend, sudangrass, and rapeseed rotations reduced the tuber disease black scurf (by 16–27 %) and increased yield (by 6–11 %) relative to a barley rotation control, but only mustard blend consistently reduced common scab (by 11 %). All rotation crops managed as green manures produced lower disease (by 15–26 %) and higher yields (by 6–13 %) than other management practices. Overall, the combination of mustard blend managed as a green manure was most effective, reducing scurf by 54 % and increasing yield by 25 % relative to a soybean cover crop. The use of mustard or rapeseed as a harvested crop with incorporation provided the best economic return, increasing net income by more than $860/ha relative to the standard barley rotation, but mustard blend grown as a green manure or non-incorporated harvest crop also substantially increased net income ($600 to $780/ha).     

The Suppression of Verticillium Wilt of Potato Using Corn as a Green Manure Crop

Field studies involving the effects of growing sweet corn (Zea mays var. Jubilee sweet corn and var. Jubilee super-sweet corn) as a green manure for 2 or 3 seasons demonstrated both suppression of verticillium wilt by 60–70% (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) and increased potato yields. Although these treatments showed no direct effect on V. dahliae soil populations, the colonization of V. dahliae on potato feeder-roots and in potato tissue of stem apices were reduced. Feeder-root colonization by V. dahliae was positively correlated with verticillium wilt incidence (P?≤?0.05 to P?≤?0.01) and negatively correlated with yield (P?≤?0.05). Corn green manures additionally increased populations of several soilborne fungi which included Ulocladium, and Fusarium equiseti. Specific nutritional and microbial effects were secondary to the effects of cropping practices. When compared with the fallow treatments for 1994, 1995, and 1997, the percentage yield increases for 1994 were: +34% for total yield, +57% for U.S. #1’s, and +127% for tubers >280 g; for 1995 (a year of reduced degree-days and decreased verticillium incidence): +14% for total yields, +15% for U.S. #1 yields, and +21% for tubers >280 g; for 1997: +24% for yield totals, +74% for U.S. #1’s and +179% for tubers >280 g. For establishing these yield benefits, stalks with and without ears of corn were used as green manures. Corn varieties differed for effectiveness as a green manure, which could be accounted for by differences of biomass. When compared with the super-sweet corn, the sweet corn produced an increase (>2-fold) of biomass with less than half of the resulting wilt incidence. When potato was grown consecutively for 2 years, the benefits from green manures became mostly eliminated. However, following 2 consecutive years of potato, a single green manure of sweet corn was sufficient to return the potato crop to the original benefits of verticillium suppression and increased yields. This occurred even though soilborne V. dahliae inoculum levels had increased by >4-fold from 45 to 182 cfu g^?1 of soil. Results of this study demonstrate the importance of green manures and soil-ecology to the management of the Russet Burbank potato.     

Some unique benefits with sudangrass for improved U.S. #1 yields and size of Russet Burbank potato

Three studies provided additional knowledge of beneficial effects of sudangrass for yield and quality increases of the Russet Burbank potato. Two of these studies showed significant increases of both U.S. #1 and smooth tubers > 280 g following green manures of sudangrass. These sudangrass (HS-33) effects did not differ from a sorghum-sudan hybrid (Trudan-8). When a sudangrass green manure was compared with a fallow treatment, results of the first study showed mean yield increases of 36% for U.S. #1 tubers > 280 g and yields of a second study by 34% for U.S. #1 tubers. This same sudangrass treatment outperformed green manures of either Austrian winter pea, barley, or sweet corn by increased U.S. #1 yields that ranged from 27% to 61%. By several lines of evidence, these benefits were found to extend beyond the effect of Verticillium suppression. Soil N was significantly increased following green manures of sudangrass, and these increases were in turn negatively correlated with wilt incidence and positively correlated with yields of both U.S. #1 tubers and tubers > 280 g. Additional benefits also included significant increases of tuber grade percentages for marketable tubers and of smooth tubers > 280 g. Benefits from sudangrass green manures beyond the effects of Verticillium suppression became further evident following a greenhouse study that involved field soil and sudangrass that had been grown in the same field. This study corroborated both field experiments by showing increased yields with green manures of sudangrass that approximated 5.5 t ha^-1 dry wt. As with the field studies, these yield benefits also extended beyond the effects of Verticillium suppression and were closely associated with significant increases ofFusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum, andF. solani. Throughout all studies, sudangrass green manures significantly increased microbial activities with increased populations ofFusarium spp. and increased concentrations in soil of mineralizable N, organic P, K, Mn, along with the percent soil organic matter -all factors that could have contributed to significant increases of yield and quality.     

Potato Early Dying and Yield Responses to Compost,Green Manures,Seed Meal and Chemical Treatments

Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is a soilborne fungal pathogen of many crops. In potato, it is the major causal agent of Early Dying. In Manitoba, potato fields planted with cv. Russet Burbank are infested with highly pathogenic V. dahliae isolates, which can produce up to 90 % disease severity. The objective of the study was to evaluate selected compost, green manure, and seed-meal treatments, in comparison with the soil fumigant Vapam, for their ability to reduce propagule density of V. dahliae in soil and decrease disease, and to enhance potato yield. Select green manure crops (oriental and white mustard, Canada milk vetch, sorghum-sudangrass, rye, alfalfa, oat/pea mixture), organic amendments (composted cattle manure and mustard seed-meal), and Vapam, and crop sequences that contribute to the suppression of Verticillium, or the improvement of potato yield were used in a 3-year field study initiated in 2006. Survival in soil of microsclerotia was evaluated as a measure of treatments’ success in potentially reducing Early Dying. Compost and seed-meal treatments, compared to an untreated control, reduced incidence to 30 and 40 %, respectively, but only seed-meal reduced V. dahliae propagule density. Overall, green manures over 1 or 2-years were ineffective in reducing propagule density or improving potato yield. Vapam was partially effective in reducing the propagule density only at the beginning of the potato season, but it did not reduce disease incidence compared to the control. Compost and seed-meal are promising as alternative control of V. dahliae. Only compost reduced disease and increased potato yield, which was associated with improved nutrient availability (phosphorus and sulfate) in soil.     

Nitrogen Balance in Forage Rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Tachisuzuka) Cultivation in Pots with Animal Manure Application

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the nitrogen (N) balance in forage rice cultivation using animal manure in 1/2,000a Wagner pots in a greenhouse. The cattle manure and poultry manure were applied at 3 levels of N (0, 14, 28 g available N m^–2) without additional chemical fertilizer application. The pots were designed to simulate the fluid percolation in the paddy field. The results indicated increasing levels of N input improved plant height, tiller number, SPAD value and biomass (straw, grain and root) production, however, N leaching from soil (Andosols) due to percolating water also increased. The planting of rice plants proved to reduce 30% of the N leaching loss. N use efficiency, the ratio of N uptake by plant per unit N application, decreased in higher N application. The N uptake by the above-ground parts occupied about 66% of the whole plants.     

盛花期油菜还田对土壤微生物和后茬花生的影响

为明确油菜作为绿肥对土壤微生物和后茬花生生长的影响,选用种子硫苷含量不同的甘蓝型油菜和芥菜型油菜盛花期地上部作为绿肥,以盆栽方式模拟绿肥归田。结果表明：相比低硫苷甘蓝型油菜,高硫苷的芥菜型油菜不同生育期植株硫苷含量相对较高,花期植株硫苷含量差异显著。模拟还田后30d内,两类油菜植株体内硫苷的降解产物异硫氰酸酯（ITC）,均在20d时出现最高峰值。芥菜型油菜硫苷含量高,作为绿肥用其抑制细菌和真菌 的能力较强,而低硫苷甘蓝型油菜肥用,对真菌无抑菌能力。芥菜型油菜还田能促进后茬花生生长,花生有效根瘤数和单株干重分别比对照增加11.4%和7.1%,均达到了显著水平。     

豆科绿肥对砖红壤交换性盐基组成的动态影响

利用尼龙网袋法研究三尖叶猪屎豆、四棱豆、大叶千斤拔、马占相思、绒毛山蚂蝗和葛六种绿肥的施用对土壤交换盐基的动态影响。结果表明,施用绿肥均能够显著增加土壤的交换性盐基含量(对Na+作用不显著),表明施用绿肥能使土壤的保肥和缓冲能力增强,且均在绿肥施用后的前60 d效果最显著(K+在前30 d最显著),随后缓慢降低并逐渐接近于对照;6种绿肥中葛和绒毛山蚂蝗的Ca/K、Ca/Mg和(Ca+Mg)/SEB(交换性盐基总量)均显著高于对照,而K/SEB低于对照,说明绿肥对土壤交换性盐基比例关系的影响以交换性Ca的相对富集为主要特征;相关分析表明,土壤交换性Ca、Mg、K和SEB之间显著正相关,而与交换性Na、绿肥全Ca、全Mg、全K均无显著相关性。     

Growth and Nutrient Accumulation of Winged Bean and Velvet Bean as Cover Crops in a Subtropical Region

We examined biomass dry matter and nutrient uptake of live plant parts, leaf area index, and litter of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) 12, 18, 24 and 30 weeks after sowing (WAS). The two plants had similar leaf and stem+petiole biomasses. At 30 WAS winged bean had a significantly lower pod yield than velvet bean. Between 18 and 30 WAS, winged bean produced less litter than velvet bean due to differences in growth stages. The total mulch of live parts and litter of winged bean and velvet bean completely covered the ground by 18 and 12 WAS, respectively. Compared to velvet bean, the leaf and stem+petiole of winged bean had a significantly higher N concentration; significantly higher N uptake at 24 and 30 WAS; significantly lower C/N ratio; and significantly higher P, K and Mg concentrations. In winged bean, P uptake was significantly higher in the leaf at 30 WAS and in the stem+petiole at all harvesting times. The total biomass of the leaf, stem+petiole and litter of winged bean was 317–561 g DM m-², and their N content was 12.3–17.7 g m-². The total biomass of live parts and litter of winged bean might be sufficient to suppress weeds and increase soil N. Winged bean is an appropriate legume cover crop and green manure due to its longer growing period and superior ground-covering ability and high N input.     

四棱豆绿肥营养元素含量及品质评价

对17份四棱豆绿肥N、P、K、Ca、Mg、S、Fe、B、Mn、Cu、Zn、Mo、Cd、Cr、Hg、Pb、As营养元素含量进行分析评价。结果表明,四棱豆是含N、P、K高的优质绿肥,且中微量元素含量丰富,重金属含量低。根据综合评价,17份四棱豆均属于二级或三级有机肥。     

Effect of nitrogenous amendments on the incidence of sclerotium wilt of potato

Summary The effects of nitrogen on the incidence of potato wilt caused bySclerotium rolfsii was tested on the highly susceptible cultivar Patronis grown in a greenhouse in earthen pots containing autoclaved sterilized soil artificially inoculated withS. rolfsii. Three levels, each of urea and mustard oil cak were applied at rates equivalent to 112, 140 and 168 kg N/ha 7 days after inoculating the soil and 5 days before planting the tubers. Both amendments reduced the incidence of sclerotium wilt but urea at the highest rate showed the highest reducing effect.     

施用不同豆科绿肥对酸性土壤无机磷分级的动态影响

采用尼龙袋法,研究酸性土壤施用4种豆科绿肥(尖叶木蓝、铺地木蓝、扁豆与链荚豆)后,在1年内不同时间,土壤无机磷各组分含量的动态变化。结果表明:不同绿肥对于土壤无机磷影响的效果存在显著差异,但总体上施用豆科绿肥可显著降低酸性土壤无机磷的总量,对于土壤无机磷各组分,施用绿肥可显著增加土壤铁磷(Fe-P)以及铝磷(Al-P)的含量,但显著降低土壤中钙磷(Ca-P)以及闭蓄态磷(O-P)的含量;施用绿肥对于土壤无机磷的影响随施肥时间的变化而不同。     

Effects of irrigation system and green manure on yield and nicotine content of Virginia (flue-cured) Organic tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum), under Mediterranean conditions

Organic tobacco consists of a new industrial crop product. Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of irrigation system and fertilization on the growth (biomass and roots) of organic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabaccum cv NC 71). The experiment was designed as a split plot design with four replicates, two main plots (drip and sprinkler irrigation) and three sub-plots (vetch as green manure, red clover as green manure and control; without fertilization). Drip irrigation was characterised by lower amount of water applied to the soil. Furthermore the tobacco yield was not affected by the reduced water application and the crops under drip irrigation were higher than those with sprinkler irrigation. Positive effect of green manure in the nicotine content of tobacco leaves was also observed, and that reported for first time under organic system. Equally the higher amount of nitrogen from green fertilization with vetch led to increase of nicotine concentration (0.91% max concentration). Agronomic water use efficiency (WUE) for drip irrigation was always higher than those for sprinkler irrigation. There were no significant differences between the drip and sprinkler irrigation concerning the root biomass. Moreover, green manures increased roots dry weight. Yield of tobacco crop was significantly increased by the green manures, with the lowest yield (1850 kg ha^?1) to be found in the control plots. Finally, green manures increased the SPAD values and number of leaves, with most significant impact the time when vetch applied to soil.     

An integrated fertilization system of canola (Brassica napus L.) production under different crop rotations

Cropping systems in farmland areas of Iran are characterized by continuous cultivation of crops with consumption of chemical fertilizers leading to serious soil erosion and fertility decline. Information regarding the simultaneous evaluation of crop rotation and fertilization on the canola is lacking. Hence, field experiments were conducted during 2007-2010 using split-split plot design. Three crop rotations: chickpea, sunflower, wheat, and canola (R1); green manure, chickpea, green manure, wheat, green manure and canola (R2); canola, wheat, and canola (R3) were used as main plots. Sub plots were consisted of six methods of fertilization including (N1): farmyard manure (FYM); (N2): compost; (N3): chemical fertilizers; (N4): FYM + compost and (N5): FYM + compost + chemical fertilizers; and control (N6). Four levels of biofertilizers consisted of (B1): phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB); (B2): Trichoderma harzianum; (B3): PSB + T. harzianum; and (B4): without biofertilizers were arranged in the sub-sub plots. Results showed that green manure application in canola rotation (R2) increased grain yield and nutrient uptake. Combined application of FYM, compost and chemical fertilizers (N5) elevated the nitrogen uptake rate and grain oil yield. Simultaneous use of PSB and T. harzianum (B3) resulted in the increase of nitrogen and sulfur contents of grain. R2 rotation with regard to its biological and environmental efficiencies accompanied with FYM + compost and B3 (PSB + T. harzianum) is suggested as a low input system to obtain a more sustainable and productive farming in canola.     

Maximizing yields in rice–groundnut cropping sequence through integrated nutrient management

Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers can improve crop productivity and sustain soil health and fertility. The present research was conducted to study the effects of application of green manures [sesbania (Sesbania aculeate Poiret) and crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea L.)] and farmyard manure on productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and its residual effects on subsequent groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crop. Rice and groundnut crops were grown in sequence during rainy and post-rainy seasons with and without green manure in combination with different fertilizer and spacing treatments under irrigated conditions. The results showed that application of green manures sesbania and crotalaria at 10 t ha⁻¹ to rice compared to no green manure application significantly increased grain yield of rice by 1.6 and 1.1 t ha⁻¹, and pod yields of groundnut crop succeeding rice by 0.25 and 0.16 t ha⁻¹, respectively. There was no significant difference between the application of crotalaria or farmyard manure at 10 t ha⁻¹ on grain yields of rice, but pod yields of subsequent groundnut crop were greater with application of green manure. There was no significant effect of different spacing 20×15,15×15,15×10 cm² (333 000; 444 000; 666 000 plant ha⁻¹, respectively) on grain yield of rice. Pod yields of groundnut were significantly greater with closer spacing 15×15 cm² (444 000 plants ha⁻¹) as compared to spacing of 30×10 cm² (333 000 plants ha⁻¹). Maximum grain of rice was obtained by application of 120:26:37 kg NPK ha⁻¹ in combination with green manures, whereas maximum pod yield of groundnut was obtained by residual effect of green manure applied to rice and application of 30:26:33 kg NPK ha⁻¹ in combination with gypsum applied to groundnut crop.     

Agronomic and economic evaluation of Sesbania rostrata green manure establishment in irrigated rice

Research on crop establishment methods may improve green manure performance, reduce costs, and increase the adaptability of pre-rice green manure technology in lowland rice-based cropping systems. A two-season field experiment was conducted at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Philippines in 1991–1992 to compare four establishment practices of Sesbania rostrata green manure (zero tillage, with tillage, relay cropping in rice for 2 or 4 weeks) with four mineral N fertilizer levels (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg urea N/ha) in an intensive irrigated lowland system with three rice crops per year. S. rostrata was grown twice a year during the 43-day dry-wet and wet-dry transition periods between the wet and dry season rice crops.

Grain yield potential and fertilizer responsiveness of rice was generally highest in the dry season. On the other hand, S. rostrata growth was more vigorous in the wet season (long-day period) than in the dry season, regardless of establishment method. Green manure N accumulation was lowest with zero tillage (30 and 90 kg N/ha in dry and wet season, respectively) and highest when it was relay-cropped for two weeks (60 and 180 kg N/ha in dry and wet season, respectively). Land preparation for Sesbania ensured best green manure stand (> 100 plants/m² vs 20–40 plants/m² at no-till establishments) but increased costs of green manuring by US$16/ha compared with other establishment methods. A quadratic response function between mineral fertilizer equivalence and green manure N indicated that up to 75 kg N/ha, lowland rice uses green manure N more efficiently than urea. Depending on season and establishment method, S. rostrata substituted for 35 to 90 kg of split-applied urea N. Benefit-cost ratios indicated that pre-rice green manure use in the wet season under the current fertilizer and labor prices in the Philippines was a less attractive economic option than mineral N fertilizer. This was true for all establishment methods. In the dry season, S. rostrata established by relay cropping gave the highest rate of return. The 2-week relay cropping of green manure with irrigated rice gave highest green manure N accumulation and rice grain yield, and may be economically viable where fertilizer prices are higher or labor costs are lower than in the Philippines.     

施用豆科绿肥后砖红壤酸度随时间的动态变化

利用尼龙网袋法分析马占相思、蝴蝶豆、蔓草虫豆、猪屎豆、葛、绒毛山蚂蝗和四棱豆7种热带绿肥施入砖红壤后,对其酸度的动态影响。结果表明:施用绿肥后,土壤pH值显著提高,交换性酸总量和交换性铝含量明显降低,并且均在施用后的前2个月内效果最好,此后,土壤pH值快速下降,交换性酸总量和交换性铝含量快速增加,马占相思8个月后pH值显著低于对照,交换性铝含量显著高于对照,蔓草虫豆1 a后的交换性铝含量也显著高于对照土壤,葛与猪屎豆降低酸度的效果最好。     

不同基因型小麦产量和氮利用效率的差异及其相互关系

为给氮高效利用小麦品种的选育提供科学依据,通过土培盆栽试验,以河南省大面积种植的20个小麦品种为材料,比较分析了不施氮(N0)、施纯氮180 kg·hm-2 (N180)、360 kg·hm-2 (N360)三种施氮水平下不同基因型小麦产量、氮素积累量、氮利用效率和氮响应度的差异及其相互关系.结果表明,在同一施氮水平下,不同基因型间、相同基因型不同施氮水平间小麦产量、氮积累总量、氮利用效率和氮响应度存在显著差异.与N0相比,施氮处理的籽粒产量、生物学产量、籽粒氮素积累量、氮素积累总量均显著提高,大多数品种的收获指数表现为施氮处理大于不施氮处理,但多数小麦品种的氮素收获指数却随施氮水平增加而降低.相关分析表明,籽粒产量与氮素积累量呈极显著正相关(rN0=0.944**,rN180＝0.919**,rNs60＝0.981**),氮利用效率与氮素积累量之间亦呈极显著正相关(rN0=0.944*,rN180 =0.919*,rN360＝0.982*).以氮利用效率和氮响应度为指标进行系统聚类分析,将供试基因型划分为高效弱响应、高效强响应、低效弱响应和低效强响应4种类型.由此说明,在现代高产小麦的育种过程中,高肥育种兼顾低肥水平下的表现,在一定范围内可同时对小麦氮高效利用和氮强响应型进行遗传选择.     

Above and belowground litter decomposition of cover crops grazed at different intensities

Grazing cover crops may increase land-use efficiency while promoting sustainability. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop litter quantity, quality, decomposition, and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N uptake. Cover crops were a mixture of rye (Secale cereale L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) managed as follows: no grazing +34 kg N ha⁻¹ (NG34), no grazing +90 kg N ha⁻¹ (NG90), heavy grazing (HG), moderate grazing (MG), and light grazing (LG). Grazed treatments received 90 kg N ha⁻¹. After cover crop termination, above- and belowground litter was collected and incubated in situ for 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 days, with cotton plants sampled on the same days to estimate N recovery and synchrony between N release from litter and uptake by cotton. By Day 128, only 13% of initial NG34 aboveground biomass had disappeared, whereas 42% of HG disappeared. Nitrogen retained in aboveground litter of HG was less than NG90 (27 vs. 60 kg N ha⁻¹), and aboveground final N stock (at Day 128) of HG was less than NG90 and LG (16, 47, and 41 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively). Belowground litter contributed 98 kg N ha⁻¹ versus 46 for aboveground. Belowground N disappearance from litter bags was greater from NG90 than NG34 (39 vs. 21 kg N ha⁻¹). Cotton N uptake by Day 128 was similar across treatments (191 kg N ha⁻¹). Grazing cover crops impact aboveground litter quantity, quality, and decomposition rates, and belowground litter plays an important role on the N cycling.     

A comprehensive study of plant density consequences on nitrogen uptake dynamics of maize plants from vegetative to reproductive stages

Nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), defined as grain produced per unit of fertilizer N applied, is difficult to predict for specific maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes and environments because of possible significant interactions between different management practices (e.g., plant density and N fertilization rate or timing). The main research objective of this study was to utilize a quantitative framework to better understand the physiological mechanisms that govern N dynamics in maize plants at varying plant densities and N rates. Paired near-isogenic hybrids [i.e., with/without transgenic corn rootworm (Diabrotica sp.) resistance] were grown at two locations to investigate the individual and interacting effects of plant density (low—54,000; medium—79,000; and high—104,000 pl ha⁻¹) and sidedress N fertilization rate (low—0; medium—165; and high—330 kg N ha⁻¹) on maize NUE and associated physiological responses. Total aboveground biomass (per unit area basis) was fractionated and both dry matter and N uptake were measured at four developmental stages (V14, R1, R3 and R6). Both plant density and N rate affected growth parameters and grain yield in this study, but hybrid effects were negligible. As expected, total aboveground biomass and N content were highly correlated at the V14 stage. However, biomass gain was not the only factor driving vegetative N uptake, for although N-fertilized maize exhibited higher shoot N concentrations than N-unfertilized maize, the former and latter had similar total aboveground biomass at V14. At the R1 stage, both plant density and N rate strongly impacted the ratio of total aboveground N content to green leaf area index (LAI), with the ratio declining with increases in plant density and decreases in N rate. Higher plant densities substantially increased pre-silking N uptake, but had relatively minor impact on post-silking N uptake for hybrids at both locations. Treatment differences for grain yield were more strongly associated with differences in R6 total biomass than in harvest index (HI) (for which values never exceeded 0.54). Total aboveground biomass accumulated between R1 and R6 rose with increasing plant density and N rate, a phenomenon that was positively associated with greater crop growth rate (CGR) and nitrogen uptake rate (NUR) during the critical period bracketing silking. Average NUE was similar at both locations. Higher plant densities increased NUE for both medium and high N rates, but only when plant density positively influenced both the N recovery efficiency (NRE) and N internal efficiency (NIE) of maize plants. Thus plant density-driven increases in N uptake by shoot and/or ear components were not enough, by themselves, to increase NUE.