Orchardgrass and perennial ryegrass with applied nitrogen and in mixtures with legumes

High-yielding grass-legume mixtures play an important role in forage-animal systems but finding compatible and adapted species can sometimes be difficult. The objective of this study was to examine productivity of perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass in pure stands with N and in mixtures with legumes.
Broadcast sowings were made on conventionally prepared seedbeds in August 1979 and May 1980 on a Hagerstown silt loam soil (fine, mixed mesic Typic Hapludalf). When sown alone orchardgrass cv. Pennlate and perennial ryegrass cv. Reveille received rates of N ranging from 0 to 448 kg ha⁻¹ a⁻¹. The grasses were also grown in mixtures with alfalfa cv. Arc, red clover cv. Arlington, or birds foot trefoil cv. Viking. The same legumes were sown alone. Four legume seed rates were used in both the pure legume and mixed stands.
Orchardgrass-N swards were more productive than ryegrass-N swards over 3 years. More dry matter (DM) was harvested from pure stands of     

Assessment of the nitrogen status of grassland

Two types of diagnostics are used for N management in grasslands: diagnostics based on N concentration of shoots and diagnostics based on soil mineral N. The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) is an example of the first type. However, its evaluation requires the determination of shoot dry weight per unit area and, thus, constitutes a practical limit to its utilization in the context of farm studies. In order to simplify its evaluation, a method based on the N concentration of the upper sward layer (N_up) has been proposed. The objectives of this study were to test the relationship between NNI and N_up in the context of permanent grassland and to examine the relationship between N_up and soil mineral status. The study was conducted as two experiments, one on small cut‐plots receiving contrasting rates of mineral N fertilization, and a second on plots of an existing field‐scale lysimeter experiment. In each plot and at several dates, shoot biomass within quadrats was measured, N concentration was determined on the upper leaves and on the entire shoots, and mineral nitrogen of the soil below the vegetation sampled was determined. N concentration of the upper lamina layer of the canopy was linearly related to the NNI determined on the entire shoots. Therefore, determining N concentration in leaves at the top of canopy appears to be an alternative means to evaluate NNI without having to measure shoot biomass. The absence of an overall significant correlation between soil mineral N content and sward N index, observed over the two studies, indicates that each of these two indicators has to be considered specifically in relation to the objective of the diagnostic procedure. As sward N index may vary independently of soil mineral N content, the sward N indicator does not appear to be a suitable indicator for diagnosis of environmental risks related to nitrate leaching. However, soil mineral N content does not allow the prediction of sward N status and thus is not a suitable indicator of sward growth rate. Although soil mineral N content is an important environmental indicator for nitrate‐leaching risks during potential drainage periods, it has a limited diagnosis value with respect to the herbage production function of grasslands.     

Developing a critical nitrogen dilution curve for forage brassicas

Defining the critical nitrogen concentration (N_c; g N kg^?1) for maximum growth of forage brassicas will aid in the fertilizer management of these crops. Typically, the N_c value decreases with increasing crop biomass. In this paper, we used a nitrogen (N) response experiment with kale (Brassica oleracea) to define a critical N dilution (N_c = 55·3 × biomass^?0·47). However, at biomass <3·4 t ha^?1, a constant N_C of 31·2 g N kg^?1 was found. This N dilution curve compared favourably with published data sets for a range of forage brassicas but was substantially different from the established N dilution curve for oilseed rape (Brassica napus). This study also found a strong relationship (R² = 0·81) between the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) and the NO₃ content of forage brassicas from a range of data sets. The NNI is the actual N concentration of the shoot as a ratio of the N_c from the established curve. The relationship between NNI and NO₃ contents was significantly different between leafy forage brassica crops and root forage brassicas. For each 0·1 increase in NNI, the proportion of total N that was in the form of NO₃ increased by 2·7% for leaf/stem brassicas and 0·60% for root crop brassicas. The critical dilution curve defined in this study can be used to manage fertilizer N in forage brassica crops, so that growth can be maximized but the risk of high NO₃ concentrations in the forage can be minimized.     

基于植被指数时序动态的冬小麦氮素营养诊断方法

为构建冬小麦冠层临界植被指数时序模型,探究实时、无损诊断冬小麦全生育期氮素营养状况的可能性,基于冬小麦不同生育时期氮营养指数(nitrogen nutrition index,NNI)与相对产量的关系确定NNI临界值,并利用归一化红边植被指数(normalized difference red edge,NDRE)与NNI的定量关系确定临界NDRE值,进而以累积生长度日为时间驱动因子,利用双Logistic函数构建临界NDRE时序模型并用于诊断,且对诊断结果进行了验证。结果表明,NNI与冬小麦相对产量在不同生育时期均呈现明显的线性加平台关系(R²在0.76以上),在开花—灌浆期表现最好;NNI与NDRE呈显著的幂函数关系(R2在0.76以上),在孕穗—开花期表现最好;临界NDRE时序诊断模型在拔节后期、孕穗期、开花期的诊断精度较高;适期播种时冬小麦在180 kg·hm^-2施氮水平下整个生育期均处于轻微氮亏缺或氮适宜状态,为较优施氮量。适期播种时冬小麦氮素营养状况主要受施氮水平的制约;过晚播时受播期的影响,不同施氮水平下冬小麦全生育期均处于氮亏缺状态。综上,依据氮营养指数与相对产量所构建的临界NDRE时序模型能够较准确地实时诊断冬小麦不同生育时期的氮素营养状况,并为作物氮肥精确管理提供技术方法。     

无人机载多光谱遥感监测冬油菜氮素营养研究

为探索无人机搭载的多光谱相机对冬油菜冠层氮素营养状况监测的可行性,设置9种施氮水平的油菜试验小区,获取八叶期、十叶期、十二叶期和蕾臺期的多光谱影像,同步采样分析获取地上部生物量、叶片氮浓度和氮素积累量等氮营养指标。以宽波段植被指数和氮营养指标的相关性为基础,通过敏感性分析确定最佳指数,建立预测模型并进行精度验证。结果显示,宽波段植被指数与氮营养指标有极显著的相关性,不同生育期差异明显。其中,红光标准值和蓝光标准值在蕾臺期均与各氮营养指标相关关系最好,且敏感性因子的值小而稳定。进一步研究表明,三种指标均可用红光标准值和蓝光标准值建立的二次模型进行估计,决定系数R2均大于0.85,模型精度较高,说明无人机多光谱遥感能有效辅助冬油菜氮素营养监测。     

Impact of tree species on nutrient stocks in the forest floors of a temperate forest ecosystem

To investigate the effect of silvicultural methods on forest floor C, N and elements stocks an experiment was carried out by sampling the forest floors of a 100-120-years-old species including beech, Norway spruce and mixed beech-spruce at the Solling forest, Germany. While the stocks of carbon and nitrogen in the forest floors of pure beech and spruce were significantly influenced by species specific differences of litter quality (p < 0.001), no significant differences were detected between pure and mixed species stands. Forest floor mass, some elements concentrations and C/nutrient ratios were significantly affected by tree species differences, while no clear dependency between pH and site specific effects was found among pure stands. Acid element concentrations in the forest floors of pure spruce were remarkably higher than the values obtained at beech stand, while the stocks were to some extent modified in mixed silviculture. The base-pump effect of beech significantly controlled variation between mono cultures on calcium stocks, while the acidifying effect of spruce in mixtures resulted in modification of Ca stocks of forest floors. The status of other nutrient elements at mixed species cultures due to variation in nutritional properties and composition of litter compared to pure species were between the range of values observed in mono cultures.     

Critical Nitrogen Curve and Nitrogen Nutrition Index for Potato in Eastern Canada

Plant diagnostic methods of N deficiency should be based on the definition of a critical N concentration, that is the minimal N concentration required to achieve maximum growth. The critical N concentration (N_c) of potato was determined from six on-farm field trials in which two cultivars (Russet Burbank and Shepody) were grown under three or four N rates with and without irrigation. Dry matter yield and N concentration of shoots and tubers were determined approximately weekly during the growing season. The N_c was determined by selecting data points for which the highest total biomass comprised of shoots and tubers was obtained, and by expressing N concentration (N) as a function of total biomass (W). The N nutrition index (NNI), calculated as the ratio between measured N concentration and predicted N_c during the growing season, was then related to the relative yield measured at harvest. Under non-limiting water conditions, the allometric relationship between N_c and total biomass for Russet Burbank (N_c = 4.57W^-0.42) was different from that of Shepody (N_c = 5.04W^-0.42), indicating that Shepody had a greater N concentration than Russet Burbank. The N concentration of Shepody was also greater than that of Russet Burbank under limiting water conditions. These results suggest that there is intra-specific variability in potato for the relationship between N concentration and biomass. The NNI ranged from 0.50 to 1.4. The relationship between relative yield and NNI expressed by a quadratic function accounted for a greater proportion of the variability with irrigation (71% for Russet Burbank and 82% for Shepody) than without irrigation (65% for Russet Burbank and 32% for Shepody). Our results suggest that the NNI could be a reliable indicator of the level of N stress during the growing season, particularly under non-deficient water conditions.     

Optically assessed contents of leaf polyphenolics and chlorophyll as indicators of nitrogen deficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

There is an increasing need for diagnostic tools that can assess the crop nitrogen (N) nutrition status during the growth cycle. In addition to the leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content, we proposed here the use of the leaf content of polyphenolics (Phen) as a potential indicator of crop N status. Because of their absorption features in the visible and in the UV part of the spectrum, both Chl and Phen can be measured by rapid and non-destructive optical methods. Therefore, we used two leaf-clip devices, the Minolta SPAD-502 for Chl, and the Dualex for Phen. The latter is a prototype (patent pending) that measures the UV absorbance of the leaf epidermis, which is related to the leaf Phen content. Dynamics of Phen and Chl were measured on the last fully developed leaves of two winter wheat cultivars subjected to different levels of N availability, from tillering to flowering, in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Both Phen and Chl contents were found to increase along the leaf, starting from the ligula, regardless of the stage of development. Both variables were highly correlated with the N concentration of leaves. The average Chl content of the leaf increased, and the average Phen content decreased, with the increased application of N to the field, irrespective of the growth stage, the cultivar and the year of experiment. Therefore, both Phen and Chl can be considered as probes of the crop N nutrition status. Still, the relationship between Chl and the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), used as a reference indicator of N deficiency, was influenced by the growth stage, whereas the year of experiment affected the relationship between Phen and the NNI. We also propose the use of the simple Chl/Phen ratio as an indicator of leaf N content at the canopy level, for future application in precision agriculture. This ratio would alleviate, at least partially, the problem of gradients along leaves, and would even accentuate the differences among levels of crop N deficiencies because of the Chl and Phen inverse dependence on the crop N nutrition status.     

Temperate grasslands and global atmospheric change: a review

Recent reviews confirm and extend previous observations that elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations stimulate photosynthesis, leading to increased plant productivity. Elevated CO₂ concentrations tend to reduce the sensitivity of grassland ecosystems to low levels of precipitation but induce progressive nitrogen (N) limitations on plant growth which can be alleviated by supplying a significant external input of N in the form of mineral fertilizer or through the increased use of N-fixing legumes. Other nutrients, such as phosphorus, can act as the main limiting factor restricting the growth response in legumes to atmospheric CO₂ concentration. The botanical composition of temperate grasslands is affected by the rise in atmospheric CO₂ concentration, possibly through a decline in the relative abundance of grasses. Elevated CO₂ concentration will also alter the feeding value of herbage to grazers both in terms of fine-scale (for example, crude protein concentration and C:N ratio) and coarse-scale (legumes vs. grasses and C₃- vs. C₄-species) changes. The management guidelines of grasslands will need to be adapted to global atmospheric and climatic changes and to increased variability in climate.     

Partitioning of dry matter and nitrogen to the spike throughout the spike growth period in wheat crops subjected to nitrogen deficiency

Experiments were conducted over four seasons, in the field, with five cultivars. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer was applied to crops at various dates and rates to achieve various N deficiencies. Crop N status and the accumulation of dry matter (DM) and N in the vegetative parts and in the spike was assessed regularly throughout the spike growth period. Changes in partitioning during the spike growth period were studied using cv. Soissons. For crops subjected to continuous N deficiencies starting on various dates, the proportion of aerial DM in the spike was lower and the proportion of aerial N in the spike was higher than in well-fertilized crops. The earlier the deficiency, the larger were the differences in partitioning. Some crops were subjected to temporary nitrogen deficiencies. In these cases, a nitrogen deficiency starting on a particular date was brought to an end by applying N fertilizer. Crops exposed to temporary N deficiencies displayed a higher proportion of aerial DM and a lower proportion of aerial N in the spike than did crops subjected to continuous deficiencies. Differences in DM and N partitioning became significant at the beginning of the spike growth period if crop N status had been affected by deficiency as early as 800 or 700 degree days before anthesis. At anthesis, the relative proportion of aerial N in the spike (proportion of aerial N in the spike of a crop divided by the proportion of aerial N in the spike of its well-fertilized control) was linearly related to nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), an indicator of crop N status. This relationship was determined for Soissons and four other cultivars. It did not differ significantly between cultivars or between crops subjected to temporary or continuous deficiency. Relative aerial N content and relative spike N content were also related to NNI at anthesis.     

Yield and nitrogen concentration of above- and below-ground biomasses of red clover cultivars in pure stands and in mixtures with three grass species in northern Europe

Three red clover (Trifolium pratense) varieties differing in productivity and winter hardiness, Jokioinen, Betty and Ilte, were sown in a 2‐year (2003–2004) pot experiment in pure stands and mixtures with the grasses, timothy (Phleum pratense), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis). Grass growth dominated until fertilizer‐N, applied when the stands were sown, was depleted. Timothy was the least competitive of the grass species. Red clover variety Ilte produced the highest dry‐matter (DM) yields. Variety Betty yielded less, but allocated as much biomass to the root and stubble (soil‐bound) fraction as variety Ilte. Variety Jokioinen allocated least to the soil‐bound fraction. While the root structure and the starch concentration of the crown‐root area were similar in all varieties, the high ratio of soil‐bound: harvested fractions could be a key to the higher winter survival and higher DM yields of Betty under field conditions. At the end of the experiment, 3–5 g N pot^?1 (49–81 g m^?2) had been harvested and 0·7–1·5 g N pot^?1 (11–24 g m^?2) was left in the soil‐bound fraction, amounts depending on the red clover variety and grass mixture, with pure clover stands containing the highest N amounts. Because of the high N concentrations in the biomass of red clover, the proportion of red clover and conditions prevailing during canopy and root death in mixed stands are crucial for N mineralization and incorporation into new growth.     

Contribution of Medicago sativa to the productivity and nutritive value of forage in semi‐arid grassland pastures

The inclusion of legumes in semi‐arid native grasslands may promote the productivity and nutritive value of forage. This study was designed to assess the effect of legumes (the introduced legume Medicago sativa or the native legume Dalea purpurea) and soil P fertility (addition of 0, 50, or 200 P₂O₅ kg/ha at seeding) on the dry matter and nutrient content of native grasses mixtures, compared with the commonly used introduced forage grass Bromus biebersteinii grown with M. sativa. Plant harvests were performed in September 2008, July 2009 and September 2009. Plants nutrient content, δ¹⁵N value and dry matter were analysed. Results show that the M. sativa enhanced the N and P concentrations of native grass mixtures early in the summer, as well as the N concentration in Bouteloua gracilis in late summer of the driest year, 2009. The higher AM fungal diversity promoted by M. sativa was positively correlated with the dry matter and nitrogen uptake of M. sativa and with the P concentration of native grasses, in early summer. Overall, this study shows that M. sativa promoted beneficial AM fungal taxa and improved forage production in the semi‐arid prairies.     

Effects of including bioactive legumes in grass silage on digestion parameters,nitrogen balance and methane emissions in sheep

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of feeding sheep with silage mixtures containing bioactive legumes on intake and digestive parameters. The bioactive legumes used were sainfoin (SF, Onobrychis viciifolia) and red clover (RC, Trifolium pratense), which contain condensed tannins (CT) and polyphenol oxidase respectively. Five treatments were assigned to two groups of sheep according to a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design. The five types of silages tested were, on a dry matter (DM) basis: pure timothy grass silage (Phleum pratense, control, T), three binary mixtures of T‐SF, T‐RC and RC‐SF (500 g/kg each) and a ternary mixture of T‐RC‐SF (500, 250 and 250 g/kg respectively). The daily voluntary DM intake of silage mixtures containing both SF and RC was greater than for pure T silage, while the presence of SF resulted in lower organic matter digestibility compared to pure T. The rumen disappearance rate measured in situ increased linearly with the presence of SF and RC in silage. The nitrogen (N) digestibility was greater for pure T and T‐RC than for T‐SF, and the amount of N retained daily by the animals was greater for RC‐containing silages than for T and T‐SF. The methane (CH₄) yield was greater for pure T than for the silage mixtures containing SF. We conclude that the presence of RC in silage could boost performances through intake and N retention, while SF‐based mixtures appear to have reduced negative environmental impacts through the reduction of CH₄ emissions.     

Effect of species and proportion of legume on herbage yield and nitrogen concentration of legume-grass mixtures

This study evaluated the relationships between legume proportion and dry matter (DM) yield, N yield, and herbage N concentration for three binary legume-grass mixtures In Uruguay. Two identical trials were established, one in 1983 (Trial 1) and another in 1984 (Trial 2) and were evaluated for 2 years. Treatments were white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) (WC), red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) (RC), and birds-foot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.) (BT), each grown with tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb. ) (TF) at four legume proportions, plus pure stands of TF. In Trial 1, annual DM yields of RC-TF were greater than yields of WC-TF or BT-TF and in Trial 2 RC-TF and BT-TF yielded more than WC-TF. The N concentration of either the legume or TF components usually was greater for WC-TF than other mixtures in both trials. Annual DM yields in Trial 1 were optimized by legume proportions of 47 to 59% for WC, 62 to 67% for RC-TF, and 57 to 100% for BT-TF; and N yields were optimized by 70% of WC or RC, and by 100% BT. In Trial 2, which had greater soil-N availability than Trial 1, optimum DM or N yields were achieved at lower WC proportions than in Trial 1. Changes in legume proportion did not affect legume N concentrations, but N concentration of TF in mixture was always positively and linearly related with legume proportion. It is concluded that DM yields for the first 2 years after seeding were greater for RC-TF and BT-TF than for WC-based mixtures. Herbage DM and N yields of WC-TF were optimized by lower legume proportions than for RC-TF and BT-TF. The N concentration of TF increased linearly with increasing proportions of any of the three legumes.     

High Ca and P homeostasis ensure stable forage Ca:P following historical nitrogen inputs in a temperate steppe

Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are essential nutrients for plant growth, with consequences on ruminant diet and health. Their balance in forage, as indicated by Ca:P ratio, is important for the absorption and utilisation of both elements by livestock. While nitrogen (N) deposition has been globally observed, it is declining or is projected to decline due to controls on N emissions in many countries. It is an open question whether N inputs would have legacy effects on forage Ca and P nutrition in grasslands. Here, we examine the changes of Ca and P concentrations and Ca:P ratio in plants and soils in a temperate steppe for three continuous years (2016 ~ 2018) following historically 6 years N inputs (2008 ~ 2013) with a gradient ranging from 0 to 20 g N m⁻² year⁻¹. Soil extractable Ca concentrations significantly decreased with increasing N addition rates in all the 3 years, but soil available P concentrations increased and Ca:P ratio decreased only in 2016. Ca and P nutrition varied greatly amongst the four plant functional types, but they were generally conservative across the historical N addition rates, due to the high stoichiometric homeostasis. Furthermore, plant Ca and P concentrations and Ca:P ratios at the community level showed no significant variation along the N addition gradient. Our results highlighted the role of plant Ca and P homeostasis in ensuring stable Ca and P nutrition in forage following historical N inputs in temperate grasslands.     

基于临界氮浓度稀释曲线的小麦氮肥需求量估测研究

为探究基于临界氮浓度稀释曲线估测小麦氮素需求量的可行性,基于不同生态区开展的不同品种及氮肥水平的小麦试验,结合小麦临界氮浓度曲线(N_c=4.16W~(-0.41)),构建了拔节期、孕穗期、抽穗期和开花期四个关键生育时期下,小麦氮营养指数(NNI)、氮素需求量(NR)及相对产量(RY)三者间的关系模型,并进行了验证。结果表明,在江苏地区,当总施氮量在120～180kg·hm~(-2)时,小麦的氮素需求量最接近于0,氮营养指数最接近于1,为最优的氮素施用量。氮营养指数与氮素需求量(NNI-NR)在小麦生长的各关键阶段存在极强的线性关系(R~2=0.93～0.97);相对产量与氮营养指数(RY-NNI)在各生育时期呈现线性加平台关系,在开花期表现最好,R~2=0.86;相对产量与氮素需求量(RY-NR)的拟合关系在抽穗期表现最好,R~2值为0.72。NNI-NR验证结果与建模结果一致,即在各时期均表现良好,其中拔节期相关关系最强;但RY-NNI和RY-NR验证结果显示两模型分别在开花期和抽穗期预测效果表现最佳。综上,所构建的NNI-NR、RY-NNI和RY-NR三种模型均具有良好的拟合优度和稳定性,运用基于临界氮浓度曲线的小麦氮营养指数和确立的相对产量水平,可以较好地估测当季的小麦氮素需求量,并进行小麦田间氮素精确管理。     

三种氮素营养快速诊断方法在油菜上的适宜性分析

通过大田试验研究了SPAD仪法、硝酸盐反射仪法和光谱仪法在油菜氮素营养快速诊断上的适宜性。试验设施氮0、60、120、180、240、300和400kg/hm2处理,在八叶期、十叶期和蕾薹期对各处理SPAD值、冠层归一化植被指数（NDVI值）和硝酸盐含量进行检测,并测定各时期油菜生物量和收获期籽粒产量。对不同施氮量下的油菜产量进行显著性检验及方程拟合,并对三种诊断方法各测定指标与氮肥用量、籽粒产量进行相关分析。结果表明,油菜施氮量与籽粒产量具有较好的相关关系,满足氮素营养快速诊断要求。三种诊断方法中,硝酸盐反射仪法能在一定程度上反映油菜氮素营养状况,但受油菜生理特性（苗期生物量小、蕾薹期氮素奢侈性吸收等）影响,诊断结果的可信度和稳定性不高。光谱仪法比较适宜于油菜蕾薹期氮素营养诊断,但存在追肥时期过晚、操作不方便等缺点。综合分析认为,SPAD仪法诊断结果稳定,并且具有快速、简便、低耗等优点,适合于油菜氮素营养快速诊断。     

SPAD Values and Nitrogen Nutrition Index for the Evaluation of Rice Nitrogen Status

Abstract

Plant-based diagnosis is one of the most important methods to determine nitrogen (N) content of crops. Our objective was to establish the relationship between soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) values and N nutrition index (NNI) during the three developmental stages of rice and apply the SPAD meter as diagnostic tools for predicting grain yield response to N fertilization. We determined the SPAD values of four uppermost fully expanded leaves of two rice cultivars at six N fertilization levels at three growth stages and examined the relationship between SPAD values and NNI. The critical N concentration (N_c) was 5.31 W^–0.5 in Xiushui63, and 5.38 W^–0.49 in Hang43, where W is the total shoot biomass. The correlation between SPAD value and NNI varied with the leaf position, developmental stage, and variety. The lower leaf appeared to be more sensitive to the N level than the upper leaf in the response of biomass, and could be more suitable as a test sample for N status diagnosis, especially in the booting and heading stage. The dependence of grain yield on SPAD values of the fourth fully expanded leaf (L4) was significant at booting stage (R²_L4 = 0.82** in 2011, R²_L4 = 0.72** in 2012). Ratio of SPAD values of L4 to that in the N-saturated plot (RSPAD) (R²_L4 = 0.92** in 2011, R²_L4 = 0.77** in 2012) and NNI (R² = 0.96** in 2011, R² = 0.86** in 2012) at booting stage demonstrated a closer relationship with grain yield.     

Critical petiole nitrate concentration of two processing potato cultivars in Eastern Canada

Plant-based diagnostic methods of nitrogen (N) nutrition such as petiole nitrate (NO₃-N) concentration can be used to improve the efficiency of N utilization, and hence decrease the risks of N losses to the environment. Our first objective was to determine the effect of N fertilization and supplemental irrigation on the petiole NO₃-N concentration during tuber growth of two potato cultivars, Russet Burbank and Shepody, widely grown for processing in Eastern Canada. Our second objective was to establish the critical petiole NO₃-N concentration using the relationship between petiole NO₃-N concentration and the N nutrition index (NNI), an index based on the N concentration of shoots and tubers. This on-farm study was conducted at two sites in each of three years, 1995 to 1997. The N fertilization rates ranged from 0 to 250 kg N ha^?1 with three rates in 1995, six rates in 1996, and four rates in 1997. The NO₃-N concentration of petioles from the most recently mature leaves was measured on three sampling dates in 1995 and four sampling dates in 1996 and 1997. The petiole NO₃-N concentration generally decreased with time. At all sites and on all sampling dates, the petiole NO₃-N concentration increased with increasing N fertilization and was significantly greater for Shepody than for Russet Burbank. Irrigation had no consistent effect on petiole NO₃-N concentration. Petiole NO₃-N concentration was related to NNI (0.29<R²<0.62). Critical petiole NO₃-N concentrations required to reach a NNI of 1.0, indicating a situation where N is not limiting growth, were greater for Shepody than for Russet Burbank, and they decreased with time. Critical petiole NO₃-N concentrations (Y) expressed as a function of the number of days after planting (X) are Y = 4.80 - 0.055X for Russet Burbank and Y = 5.03 - 0.054X for Shepody.     

Influence of competition,irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilization on protein content and protein yield of three spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Protein content and protein yield of three spring wheat cultivars differing in morphological and physiological growth characters were found to be influenced by intercultivar competition, irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilization. The protein content of the tall cultivar C 306 and the protein yield of the dwarf cultivar HD 2160 were more than the other cultivars. Binary mixed stands were not superior to the better component cultivar. Intercultivar competition increased the protein content of dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars, but decreased the protein content of tall cultivar. On the other hand, protein yield of the dwarf cultivar decreased and that of tall cultivar increased when grown in mixed stands. Protein yield of semi-dwarf cultivar increased when grown with dwarf cultivar, but decreased when grown with tall cultivar. Two or three irrigations increased the protein content and protein yield of all the three cultivars and their mixed stands over one irrigation. Protein content and protein yield of the cultivars and their mixed stands were higher when 150 kg N/ha was applied than when 80 kg N/ha was applied.