水分与氮素及其互作对水稻产量和水肥利用效率的影响研究进展

了解水分、氮素及其互作对水稻产量与水、氮利用效率的影响,对协同提高水稻产量与水氮利用效率有重要意义。本文概述了水稻节水灌溉技术、氮肥利用效率与氮肥施用技术、水分与氮素对水稻产量及水氮利用效率的耦合效应、作物-土壤关系及水氮调控机制等方面取得的进展;讨论了存在的问题,这些问题包括:高产水稻作物与土壤的水氮互作效应尚不明确;高产水稻水氮耦合与高效利用的分子机理不清楚;协同提高水稻产量与水氮利用效率的调控途径尚未掌握。针对这些问题,建议今后重点研究:高产水稻作物与土壤的水氮互作效应及其机制;水氮互作调控水稻吸收利用水分和氮素的生理与分子机理;协同提高水稻产量和水氮利用效率的调控途径与关键技术。     

Growing maize in clumps as a strategy for marginal climatic conditions

Under dryland conditions of the Texas High Plains, maize (Zea mays) production is limited by sparse and erratic precipitation that results in severe water stress particularly during grain formation. When plant populations are reduced to 2.0–3.0 plants m⁻² to conserve soil water for use during grain filling, tillers often form during the vegetative growth and negate the expected economic benefit. We hypothesized that growing maize in clumps spaced 1.0 m apart would reduce tiller formation, increase mutual shading among the plants, and conserve soil water for grain filling that would result in higher grain yield. Studies were conducted during 2006 and 2007 at Bushland, TX. with two planting geometries (clump vs. equidistant), two irrigation methods (low-energy precision applicator, LEPA, and low-elevation spray applicator, LESA) at three irrigation levels (dryland, 75 mm and 125 mm in 2006; and dryland, 50 mm and 100 mm in 2007). For dryland plots in 2007, clump plants had only 0.17 tillers (0.66 tillers m⁻²) compared with 1.56 tillers per plant (6.08 tillers m⁻²) for equidistant spacing. Tillers accounted for 10% of the stover for the equidistant plants, but less than 3% of the grain. Clump planting produced significantly greater grain yields (321 g m⁻² vs. 225 g m⁻² and 454 g m⁻² vs. 292 g m⁻² during 2006 and 2007, respectively) and Harvest Indexes (0.54 vs. 0.49 and 0.52 vs. 0.39 during 2006 and 2007, respectively) compared with equidistant plants in dryland conditions. Water use efficiency (WUE) measurements in 2007 indicated that clumps had a lower evapotranspiration (ET) threshold for initiating grain production, but the production function slopes were 2.5 kg m⁻³ for equidistant treatments compared to 2.0 kg m⁻³ for clump treatments. There was no yield difference for method of irrigation on water use efficiency. Our results suggest that growing maize in clumps compared with equidistant spacing reduced the number of tillers, early vegetative growth, and Leaf Area Index (LAI) so that more soil water was available during the grain filling stage. This may be a useful strategy for growing maize with low plant populations in dryland areas where severe water stress is common.     

水氮供应对北疆春玉米产量、水氮利用及品质的影响

为了探明膜下滴灌条件下水氮供应对北疆春玉米产量、水氮利用效率以及子粒品质的影响,设计3个灌水量水平和4个施氮量水平共12个处理的双因素测坑试验。结果表明,在同一灌水量条件下,随施氮量的增加,春玉米子粒产量、水分利用效率(WUE)、地上部干物质量、氮素吸收量以及总淀粉和粗蛋白含量,均表现出先增后减的趋势,耗水量无显著变化,氮素利用效率(NUE)和粗脂肪含量分别表现出递增和递减的趋势。在同一施氮量条件下,随灌水量的增加,耗水量、子粒产量、NUE和总淀粉含量以及地上部干物质量与氮素吸收量,均表现出递增趋势,粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量相反,而WUE先增后减。通过CRITIC和TOPSIS综合评价排序,与试验地肥力相近的北疆膜下滴灌春玉米适宜的灌水量为5 100 m³/hm²、施氮量为460 kg/hm²。     

Effects of drip irrigation regimes on potato tuber yield and quality under plastic mulch in arid Northwestern China

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of drip irrigation regimes on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth, tuber yield and quality, and water use efficiency (WUE) when grown under plastic mulch in an arid area of Northwestern China in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2008 experiment consisted of a drip irrigation check without plastic mulch and four different drip irrigation frequency treatments with plastic mulch: once every day, once every 2 days, once every 4 days, and once every 8 days. In 2009 and 2010 the drip check treatment without mulch was irrigated at −25 kPa soil matric potential (SMP) during three potato development stages and four different SMP drip irrigation strategies were compared during the potato development stages (using plastic mulch): S1 (−25 kPa SMP during the three development stages), S2 (−25 kPa SMP during tuber initiation and bulking and −35 kPa SMP during maturation), S3 (−25 kPa SMP during tuber initiation and maturation and −35 kPa SMP during bulking), S4 (−35 kPa SMP during the three development stages). Plastic mulch negatively affected tuber yield, WUE, and tuber quality. In the presence of plastic mulch, tuber yield, specific gravity, starch content, and vitamin C content seemed to be enhanced as the irrigation frequency increased, although the differences were not statistically significant. Irrigation frequency did not affect WUE for potato grown under plastic mulch. Analysis of plant height, tuber yield and WUE showed that a drip irrigation threshold of −35 kPa SMP led to obvious water stress for potato growth in this arid area. Under plastic mulch in 2010, S2 was the optimum drip irrigation regime because of the significantly higher yield than S3 and S4, the highest WUE and significantly firmer tubers than any of the other irrigation regimes tested.     

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.     

Dryland maize yields and water use efficiency in response to tillage/crop stubble and nutrient management practices in China

Rainfed crop production in northern China is constrained by low and variable rainfall. This study explored the effects of tillage/crop residue and nutrient management practices on maize (Zea mays L.) yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and N agronomic use efficiency (NAE) at Shouyang Dryland Farming Experimental Station in northern China during 2003–2008. The experiment was set-up using a split-plot design with 3 tillage/crop residue methods as main treatments: conventional, reduced (till with crop residue incorporated in fall but no-till in spring), and no-till (with crop residue mulching in fall). Sub-treatments were 3 NP fertilizer rates: 105–46, 179–78 and 210–92 kg N and P ha⁻¹. Maize grain yields were greatly influenced by the growing season rainfall and soil water contents at sowing. Mean grain yields over the 6-year period in response to tillage/crop residue treatments were 5604, 5347 and 5185 kg ha⁻¹, under reduced, no-till and conventional tillage, respectively. Grain yields under no-till, were generally higher (+19%) in dry years but lower (−7%) in wet years. Mean WUE was 13.7, 13.6 and 12.6 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ under reduced, no-till, and conventional tillage, respectively. The no-till treatment had 8–12% more water in the soil profiles than the conventional and reduced tillage treatments at sowing and harvest time. Grain yields, WUE and NAE were highest with the lowest NP fertilizer application rates (at 105 kg N and 46 kg P ha⁻¹) under reduced tillage, while yields and WUE tended to be higher with additional NP fertilizer rates under conventional tillage, however, there was no significant yield increase above the optimum fertilizer rate. In conclusion, maize grain yields, WUE and NAE were highest under reduced tillage at modest NP fertilizer application rates of 105 kg N and 46 kg P ha⁻¹. No-till increased soil water storage by 8–12% and improved WUE compared to conventional tillage, thus showing potentials for drought mitigation and economic use of fertilizers in drought-prone rainfed conditions in northern China.     

Characteristics of canopy structure and contributions of non-leaf organs to yield in winter wheat under different irrigated conditions

Non-leaf green organs of wheat plants may have significant photosynthetic potential and contribute to grain yield when the plants are subjected to stress at late growth stages. Canopy structure, change of green non-leaf organ area (e.g., ear, peduncle, sheath), the proportion of green non-leaf organs area to total green area and the contribution proportion from different organs’ photosynthate to grain yield in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied at Wuqiao Experiment Station of China Agricultural University, Hebei, China, in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 using two winter wheat cultivars, Shijiazhuang8 (SJZ-8) and Lumai21 (LM-21). Four irrigation treatments used were W0 (no water applied during spring), W1 (750 m³ ha⁻¹ water applied at elongation), W2 (1500 m³ ha⁻¹ applied 50% at elongation and 50% at anthesis) and W4 (3000 m³ ha⁻¹ applied 25% at upstanding, booting, anthesis and grain filling), respectively. Results showed that the area of top three leaf blades decreased and the proportion of green non-leaf organ area to the total green area at anthesis increased with the decreasing of water supply. Root weight increased in the 0-100 cm soil layer and decreased in the 100-200 cm layer when water supply increased, suggesting reducing irrigation enhanced root weight in deep soil layer. The photosynthetic contribution of non-leaf organs above flag leaf node to grain yield increased with decreasing water supply, and was significantly higher than that of the flag leaf blade contribution. Winter wheat grain yield increased, but water use efficiency (WUE) decreased, with increase in water supply. Higher light transmission ratio in the canopy after anthesis was achieved with smaller size and high quality top leaf blades, higher grain-leaf ratio and larger proportion of green non-leaf area, which lead to higher canopy photosynthetic rate and WUE after anthesis. Irrigation of 1500 m³ ha⁻¹ applied in two parts, 750 m³ ha⁻¹ applied at elongation and another 750 m³ ha⁻¹ applied at anthesis, was the best irrigation scheme for efficient water use and for high yield in winter wheat.     

Sulfur fertilization improves nitrogen use efficiency in wheat by increasing nitrogen uptake

Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays a central role for improving yield in wheat and high N use efficiency (NUE) is desired to protect ground and surface waters. Several studies showed that sulfur (S) fertilization may increase NUE, but no attempts have been made to explain whether this increase is due to greater recovery efficiency (RE), an enhanced internal efficiency (IE) or by an improvement of both efficiencies. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different N and S fertilizer rates, and their interaction on N uptake, its partition at maturity, NUE and its main components. Field experiments were carried out during two consecutive growing seasons in the Argentinean Pampas using a single bread-wheat genotype grown under different combinations of N and S fertilizer rates. Additional experiments were performed in farmer fields using N and S fertilization evaluating different genotypes in order to analyze the components of NUE in other environmental conditions. Plant N uptake increased linearly in response to N addition until rates of ca. 80 kg N ha⁻¹. Sulfur addition showed no effect at the lowest N fertilizer rate, but N uptake was increased when S was applied at the highest N rate, revealing a synergism between both nutrients. At the lowest S rate RE was 42%, and increased to 70% when S fertilizer was added. No changes in IE in response to S fertilization were observed. These results were also observed in farmer field experiments, in genotypes that showed different IE. This study showed that S addition increased NUE mainly by increasing the N recovery from the soil. Thus, the concurrent management of N and S is important for reducing the potential pollution of residual soil nitrate by increasing N recovery from the soil while sustaining high nitrogen use efficiency.     

不同小麦品种产量和氮素吸收利用的差异

为明确不同氮肥水平下不同小麦品种产量、氮素吸收和利用的差异,在大田条件下,以山东省主推的21个小麦品种为材料,研究了0、120、180、240和300kg·hm~(-2)共5个氮肥水平下不同小麦品种的产量、氮素利用率、氮素吸收效率和氮素利用效率等指标。结果表明,氮肥、品种及两者的互作效应显著影响冬小麦籽粒产量、氮素利用率、氮素吸收效率和利用效率;氮肥水平不同则品种间的氮效率差异程度不同。大部分供试品种的氮效率类型在不同氮肥水平下的聚类结果不一致,仅临麦4号、鲁原502、泰山28和山农25在各氮肥水平下的产量、氮素利用率均较高,可划为氮高效品种。氮高效品种达到高氮效率的途径不同,临麦4号通过高氮素吸收效率、泰山28通过高氮素利用效率、鲁原502和山农25通过氮素吸收效率和利用效率共同作用实现氮高效。由此可知,应在不同氮肥水平下对冬小麦品种进行产量和氮素利用率的综合评价,以筛选出适应不同地力环境的品种和与品种特性相适应的施肥技术;在氮高效品种的选育和推广中,应针对不同小麦品种的氮素吸收和利用特性进行鉴别和调控,才能最大程度挖掘和利用其高产、高效潜力,实现增产增效。     

Chlorophyll meter-based nitrogen management of rice grown under alternate wetting and drying irrigation

Farmers have adopted alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation to cope with water scarcity in rice production. This practice shifts rice land away from being continuously anaerobic to being partly aerobic, thus affecting nutrient availability to the rice plant, and requiring some adjustment in nutrient management. The use of a chlorophyll meter (also known as a SPAD meter) has been proven effective in increasing nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) in continuously flooded (CF) rice, but its use has not been investigated under AWD irrigation. This study aimed at testing the hypotheses that (i) SPAD-based N management can be applied to AWD in the same way it is used in CF rice, and (ii) combining chlorophyll meter-based nitrogen management and AWD can enhance NUE, save water, and maintain high rice yield. Experiments were conducted in a split-plot design with four replications in the 2004 and 2005 dry seasons (DS) at IRRI. The main plots were three water treatments: CF, AWD that involved irrigation application when the soil dried to soil water potential at 15-cm depth of −20 kPa (AWD₋₂₀) and −80 kPa (AWD₋₈₀) in 2004, and AWD₋₁₀ and AWD₋₅₀ were used in 2005. The subplots were five N management treatments: zero N (N₀), 180 kg N ha⁻¹ in four splits (N₁₈₀), and three SPAD-based N-management treatments in which N was applied when the SPAD reading of the youngest fully extended leaf was less than or equaled 35 (N_SPAD35), 38 (N_SPAD38), and 41 (N_SPAD41). In 2005, N_SPAD32 was tested instead of N_SPAD41. A good correlation between leaf N content per unit leaf area and the SPAD reading was observed for all water treatments, suggesting that the SPAD reading can be used to estimate leaf N of rice grown under AWD in a way similar to that under CF. SPAD readings and leaf color chart (LCC) values also showed a good correlation. There were no water × nitrogen interactive effects on rice yield, water input, water productivity, and N-use efficiency. Rice yield in AWD₋₁₀ was similar to those of CF; yields of other AWD treatments were significantly lower than those of CF. AWD₋₁₀ reduced irrigation water input by 20% and significantly increased water productivity compared with CF. The apparent nitrogen recovery and agronomic N-use efficiency (ANUE) of AWD₋₁₀ and AWD₋₂₀ were similar to those of CF. The ANUE of N_SPAD38 and N_SPAD35 was consistently higher than that of N₁₈₀ in all water treatments. N_SPAD38 consistently gave yield similar to that of N₁₈₀ in all water treatments, while yield of N_SPAD35 about 90% of that of CF. We conclude that a combination of AWD₋₁₀ and SPAD-based N management, using critical value 38, can save irrigation water and N fertilizer while maintaining high yield as in CF conditions with fixed time and rate of nitrogen application of 180 kg ha⁻¹. Treatments AWD₋₂₀ and N_SPAD35 may be accepted by farmers when water and N fertilizer are scarce and costly. The findings also suggested LCC can also be a practical tool for N-fertilizer management of rice grown under AWD, but this needs further field validation.     

Identification of traits to improve the nitrogen-use efficiency of wheat genotypes

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer represents a significant cost for the grower and may also have environmental impacts through nitrate leaching and N₂O (a greenhouse gas) emissions associated with denitrification. The objectives of this study were to analyze the genetic variability in N-use efficiency (grain dry matter (DM) yield per unit N available from soil and fertilizer; NUE) in winter wheat and identify traits for improved NUE for application in breeding. Fourteen UK and French cultivars and two French advanced breeding lines were tested in a 2 year/four site network comprising different locations in France and in the UK. Detailed growth analysis was conducted at anthesis and harvest in experiments including DM and N partitioning. Senescence of either the flag leaf or the whole leaf canopy was assessed from a visual score every 3-4 days from anthesis to complete canopy senescence. The senescence score was fitted against thermal time using a five parameters monomolecular-logistic equation allowing the estimation of the timing of the onset and the rate of post-anthesis senescence. In each experiment, grain yield was reduced under low N (LN), with an average reduction of 2.2 t ha⁻¹ (29%). Significant N × genotype level interaction was observed for NUE. Crop N uptake at harvest on average was reduced from 227 kg N ha⁻¹ under high N (HN) to 109 kg N ha⁻¹ under LN conditions while N-utilization efficiency (grain DM yield per unit crop N uptake at harvest; NUtE) increased from 34.0 to 52.1 kg DM kg⁻¹ N. Overall genetic variability in NUE under LN related mainly to differences in NUtE rather than N-uptake efficiency (crop N uptake at harvest per unit N available from soil and fertilizer; NUpE). However, at one site there was also a positive correlation between NUpE and NUE at LN in both years. Moreover, across the 2 year/four site network, the N × genotype effect for NUpE partly explained the N × genotype effect for grain yield and NUE. Averaging across the 16 genotypes, the timing of onset of senescence explained 86% of the variation in NUtE amongst site-season-N treatment combinations. The linear regression of onset of senescence on NutE amongst genoytpes was not significant under HN, but at three of the four sites was significant under LN explaining 32-70% of the phenotypic variation amongst genotypes in NutE. Onset of senescence amongst genotypes was negatively correlated with the efficiency with which above-ground N at anthesis was remobilized to the grain under LN. It is concluded that delaying the onset of post-anthesis senescence may be an important trait for increasing grain yield of wheat grown under low N supply.     

诱变结合小孢子培养的氮高效大麦DH株系评价

为了筛选大麦氮高效种质资源,以花30和8份不同诱变来源的DH株系为研究对象,采用田间试验方法,设置高氮(160 kg·hm-2)和低氮(45 kg·hm-2)两个氮肥水平,研究不同DH株系对两个氮肥水平的响应,同时对不同氮效率类型DH株系的干物质和氮素积累、转运以及氮素吸收利用特性进行分析.结果表明,在两个氮肥水平下,...     

玉米秸秆还田条件下冬灌时间与施氮方式对冬小麦生长发育及水肥利用效率的影响

为给玉米秸秆还田条件下冬小麦的水氮运筹提供依据,以小麦品种临优2069为材料,研究了山西省小麦-玉米一年两熟区玉米秸秆还田条件下冬灌时间和施氮方式对冬小麦生长发育及水氮利用效率的影响。结果表明,随着冬前灌水时间的推迟,小麦总茎数、单株分蘖数、成穗数、产量、籽粒水分生产率、氮肥表观利用率均呈先升高后降低趋势,以11月25日冬灌的最高。在施氮量相同条件下,氮肥一次性底施(N10∶0)的拔节期总茎数、成穗数、产量、籽粒水分生产率和氮素吸收量、表观利用率高于氮肥70%底施+30%拔节期追施(N7∶3)处理,冬前总茎数、单株分蘖数则相反。冬前灌水时间提前和氮肥一次性底施有利于提高小麦前期单株干重;冬前灌水时间推迟和后期追氮则有利于灌浆期穗部和总干物质的积累。因此,山西省小麦-玉米一年两熟区,秸秆还田条件下氮肥采取一次性底施,并于11月25日冬灌,可实现冬小麦的高产高效栽培。     

Forage soybean yield and quality response to water use

Forages could be used to diversify reduced and no-till dryland cropping systems from the traditional wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow system in the semiarid central Great Plains. Forages present an attractive alternative to grain and seed crops because of greater water use efficiency and less susceptibility to potentially devastating yield reductions due to severe water stress during critical growth stages. However, farmers need a simple tool to evaluate forage productivity under widely varying precipitation conditions. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the relationship between crop water use and dry matter (DM) yield for soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), (2) evaluate changes in forage quality that occur as harvest date is delayed, and (3) determine the range and distribution of expected DM yields in the central Great Plains based on historical precipitation records. Forage soybean was grown under a line-source gradient irrigation system to impose a range of water availability conditions at Akron, CO. Dry matter production was linearly correlated with water use resulting in a production function slope of 21.2 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. The slope was much lower than previously reported for forage production functions for triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) and millet (Setaria italic L. Beauv.), and only slightly lower than slopes previously reported for corn (Zea mays L.) and pea (Pisum sativa L.) forage. Forage quality was relatively stable during the last four weeks of growth, with small declines in crude protein (CP) concentration. Values of CP concentration and relative feed value indicated that forage soybean was of sufficient quality to be used for dairy feed. A standard seed variety of maturity group VII was found to be similar (in both productivity and quality) to a variety designated as a forage type. The probability of obtaining a break-even yield of at least 4256 kg ha⁻¹ was 90% as determined from long-term precipitation records used with the production function. The average estimated DM yield was 5890 kg ha⁻¹ and ranged from 2437 to 9432 kg ha⁻¹. Regional estimates of mean forage soybean DM yield ranged from 4770 kg ha⁻¹ at Fort Morgan, CO to 6911 kg ha⁻¹ at Colby, KS. Forage soybean should be considered a viable alternative crop for dryland cropping systems in the central Great Plains.     

Effects of Water-Saving Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Yield Components of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The effects of nitrogen (N) application (32, 72 and 112 kg N ha-¹ in 2000, and 32, 92 and 152 kg N ha-¹ in 2001) and water-saving irrigation and their interaction on grain yield and yield components of the rice cultivar Champa-Kamphiroozi, which is a local cultivar in a semi-arid area in the south of Islamic Republic (I.R.) of Iran, were investigated. The plants were cultivated under sprinkler irrigation (1.0 ET_p and 1.5 ET_p), intermittent flooding (1-day and 2-day intervals) and continuous flooding (control). The experiments were conducted on a clay loam-clay soil under a semi-arid environment using four replications in a split plot design with irrigation method as main plots and N levels as subplots. The results indicated that intermittent flooding irrigation at 2-day intervals was as effective as continuous flooding for grain yield, showing high water-use efficiency (WUE). The soil moisture tension in the root zone before each irrigation under this condition was –300 to –400 cm. Sprinkler irrigation and intermittent flooding increased WUE by 20 to 60%, compared with continuous flooding, and the increase in N application rate to 112-152 kg ha-¹ increased grain yield under any irrigation condition. Under sprinkler irrigation, grain yield was low and percentage of unfilled grain was high, although WUE was high. However, by adopting sprinkler irrigation, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer application necessary for cultivation was reduced. Furthermore, when nitrogen application must be limited due to groundwater pollution, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer necessary for cultivation can be reduced.     

Estimating maize nutrient uptake requirements

Generic, robust models are needed for estimating crop nutrient uptake requirements. We quantified and modeled grain yield–nutrient uptake relations in maize grown without significant biotic and abiotic stresses. Grain yield and plant nutrient accumulation in above-ground plant dry matter (DM) of commercial maize hybrids were measured at physiological maturity in on-station and on-farm experiments in Nebraska (USA), Indonesia, and Vietnam during 1997–2006. These data were used to model the nutrient requirements for yields up to 20 Mg ha⁻¹ using the QUEFTS (QUantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils) approach. The model required estimation of two boundary lines describing the minimum and maximum internal nutrient efficiencies of N, P and K (IE, kg grain per kg nutrient in plant DM), which were estimated at 40 and 83 kg grain kg⁻¹ N, 225 and 726 kg grain kg⁻¹ P and 29 and 125 kg grain kg⁻¹ K, respectively. The model predicted a linear increase in grain yield if nutrients are taken up in balanced amounts of 16.4 kg N, 2.3 kg P and 15.9 kg K per 1000 kg of grain until yield reached about 60–70% of the yield potential. The corresponding IEs were 61 kg grain kg⁻¹ N, 427 kg grain kg⁻¹ P and 63 kg grain kg⁻¹ K. The model predicted a decrease in IEs when yield targets approached the yield potential limit. A spherical model was derived from QUEFTS model outputs and found to be particularly suitable for practical applications such as estimating fertilizer needs. The proposed spherical model offers generality across environments and management practices, allowing users to estimate the optimal N, P and K uptake requirements based on two inputs: estimated yield potential and yield target. Further improvements in modeling the relationship between N uptake and grain yield can be made by taking into account differences in harvest index. Accuracy in the simulation of N uptake using the spherical model was improved from an RMSE of 35 kg N ha⁻¹ to 25 kg N ha⁻¹ when harvest index was accounted for, suggesting that the relationship between N uptake and actual yield is affected by both yield potential and efficiency in biomass partitioning.     

Potato growth with and without plastic mulch in two typical regions of Northern China

Plastic film mulching is an important agricultural practice to save water and improve crop productivity in Northern China. Three field experiments were conducted to examine the effect of plastic mulch on soil temperature, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth and evapotranspiration under drip irrigation in two typical regions of Northern China in 2001 and 2006. Results suggest that daily mean soil temperature under mulch was 2–9 °C higher than without mulch, especially during the early growth. Potato growth was restrained under mulching conditions in the North China Plain mainly due to the higher air temperature in this region and thus the higher soil temperature. The negative effects of mulching included a lower emergence and fewer marketable tubers per plant. Evapotranspiration and potato tuber yield were both reduced by mulch, especially in the North China Plain. In northwest China, mulch favorably increased the weight of jumbo tubers (W ≥ 300 g) per plant. Mulching duration had little effect on potato evapotranspiration in northwest China. However, both tuber yield and water use efficiency (WUE) decreased with increases in mulch duration, which suggests the plastic mulch should be removed early.     

The high yield of irrigated rice in Yunnan,China: ‘A cross-location analysis’

A number of field trials on rice productivity have demonstrated very high yield, but reported limited information on environmental factors. The objective of this study was to reveal the environmental factors associated with high rice productivity in the subtropical environment of Yunnan, China. We conducted cross-locational field experiments using widely different rice varieties in Yunnan and in temperate environments of Kyoto, Japan in 2002 and 2003. The average daily radiation throughout the growing season was greater at Yunnan (17.1 MJ m⁻² day⁻¹ average over 2 years) relative to Kyoto (13.2 MJ m⁻² day⁻¹). The average daily temperature throughout the growing season was 24.7 °C at Yunnan, and 23.8 °C at Kyoto. The highest yield (16.5 tonnes ha⁻¹) was achieved by the F1 variety Liangyoupeijiu at Yunnan in 2003, and average yield of all varieties was 33% and 39% higher at Yunnan relative to Kyoto in 2002 and 2003, respectively. There was a close correlation between grain yield and aboveground biomass at maturity, while there was little variation in the harvest index among environments. Large biomass accumulation was mainly caused by intense incident radiation at Yunnan, as there was little difference in crop radiation use efficiency (RUE) between locations. Large leaf area index (LAI) was also suggested to be an important factor. Average nitrogen (N) accumulation over 2 years was 49% higher at Yunnan than at Kyoto, and also contributed to the large biomass accumulation at Yunnan. The treatments of varied N application for Takanari revealed that the ratio of N accumulated at maturity to the amount of fertilized N was significantly higher at Yunnan than at Kyoto, even though there was no great difference in soil fertility. The Takanari plot with high N application showed a N saturation in plant growth at Kyoto, which might be related to low radiation and relatively high temperatures during the mid-growth stage. These results indicate that the high potential yield of irrigated rice in Yunnan is achieved mainly by intense incident solar radiation, which caused the large biomass and the N accumulation. The low nighttime temperature during the mid-growth stage was also suggested to be an important factor for large biomass accumulation and high grain yield at Yunnan.     

水肥管理模式对小麦氮素吸收及转运的影响

为优化冬小麦水肥管理模式,在2013-2016三个小麦生长季,通过裂区试验,以春季5个不同水肥管理模式作为主区[M₀:不灌溉+趁墒追肥模式;M₁:拔节水+拔节肥模式;M₂:拔节和扬花或灌浆初灌溉2水+拔节肥模式;M₃:返青-拔节水(+追肥)+孕穗或扬花水+灌浆水的3水模式;M₄:起身水(+1/2追肥)+拔节水(+1/2追肥)+扬花或灌浆初浇水+灌浆水的4水模式],以2个当地主推冬小麦品种作为裂区(衡观35和衡4399),比较分析了不同水肥管理模式下小麦不同生育阶段生物量、氮素吸收量、氮素利用效率、花后氮素转运效率、氮素贡献率及产量的差异。结果表明,冬小麦干物质积累量在起身到拔节期平均以M₀模式最高,从扬花期开始平均以M₀模式最低,成熟期M₁、M₂、M₃和M₄模式分别较M₀模式高15.9%、27.6%、40.0%和39.5%。随...     

Nitrogen utilization efficiency of safflower hybrids and open-pollinated varieties under Mediterranean conditions

The identification of the factors determining nutrient utilization of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is useful for the successful introduction of the crop to the cropping system of a region. A field study was conducted to compare and analyze the relative importance of the various component traits causing variation in nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) of safflower under Mediterranean conditions. Ten genotypes, four hybrids and six open-pollinated varieties, were grown for two growing seasons without irrigation, on a silty clay (Typic Xerorthent) soil. Seed yield varied greatly among genotypes and ranged from 923 to 3391 kg ha⁻¹. Hybrids showed a mean seed yield superiority of 12.5% against varieties. Seed yield was the most important component of seed N yield and its contribution to the total variation in seed N yield among genotypes was at least 53%. NUE for biomass production during the seed-filling period was lower compared to that during the vegetative period. Genotypes differed in NUE for seed production (NUE_s) and the differences followed those of nitrogen harvest index (NHI). The contribution of NHI to the total variation in NUE_s among genotypes was much greater compared to that of yield per unit seed nitrogen and accounted for more than 79%. NUE_s is positively correlated with seed yield, suggesting that high yield was probably associated with more efficient exploitation of nitrogen. NUE_s is negatively correlated with (leaf + stem) N concentration at maturity, meaning that low straw N concentration may be indication of higher NUE_s. Results indicated that selection for NUE in safflower should be based on multiple criteria rather than just one criterion and also should be accompanied by evaluation for seed yield to ensure an improvement in both traits.