NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN UPLAND RICE GENOTYPES

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most yield-limiting nutrients in upland rice growing regions word wide. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate nineteen upland rice (Oryza sativa. L.) genotypes for N use efficiency. The soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol and two N levels used were without N application (low level) and an application of 400 mg N kg^?1 of soil (high level). Grain yield and yield components and N uptake parameters were significantly affected by N and genotype treatments. Regression analysis showed that plant height, shoot dry weight, number of panicles per pot, number of grains per panicle, grain harvest index, N uptake in shoot and grain were having significant positive relation with grain yield. Nitrogen concentration of 6.4 g kg^?1 in the shoot is established as deficient level and 9.5 g kg^?1 as sufficient level at harvest. Agronomic efficiency of N (grain yield/unit of N applied) and N utilization efficiency (physiological efficiency X apparent recovery efficiency) were significantly different among genotypes. These two N use efficiencies were having significant quadratic relationship with grain yield. Soil pH, exchangeable soil Ca and base saturation were having significantly positive association with grain yield. However, soil extractable phosphorus (P), potassium (K), hydrogen (H⁺), aluminum (Al) and cation exchange capacity were having significantly negative association with grain yield.     

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.     

小麦氮素利用效率的基因型差异研究

研究了植株生长和产量性状差异很大的58个小麦基因型的氮素营养和利用效率。结果表明,开花期和成熟期植株各器官的含氮量和氮积累量,基因型之间差异显著;开花期剑叶含氮量与子粒含氮量呈显著正相关;每生产100公斤子粒需氦量,供试基因型变动于2.15～4.09公斤;氮收获指数的变幅为59.35％～82.89％,显示出小麦基因型在氮利用效率上的遗传差异。相关分析表明,每穗粒数、单蘖干物重、收获指数与氮效率比、氮利用效率呈显著正相关。     

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.     

Variation in Yield,Phosphorus Uptake,and Physiological Efficiency of Wheat Genotypes at Adequate and Stress Phosphorus Levels in Soil

Genetic differences among crop genotypes can be exploited for identification of genotypes more suited to a low‐input agricultural system. Twenty wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were evaluated for their differential yield response, phosphorus (P) uptake in grain and straw, and P‐use efficiency at the zero‐P control and 52 kg P ha^?1 rates. Substantial and significant differences were obvious among genotypes for both grain and straw yields at stress (8 mg P kg^?1 soil, native soil P, no P addition) and adequate (52 kg P ha^?1) P levels. Genotype 5039 produced maximum grain yield at both P levels. Relative reduction in grain yield due to P‐deficiency stress [i.e., P stress factor (PSF)] ranged between none and 32.4%, indicating differential P requirement of these genotypes. Pasban 90, Pitic 62, Rohtas 90, Punjab 85, and line 4943 did not respond to P application and exhibited high relative yield compared to those at adequate P level. FSD 83 exhibited the best response to P with maximum value for PSF (32.4%). Genotypes were distributed into nine groups on the basis of relationship between grain yield and total P uptake. Rohtas 90 and lines 4072 and 5039 exhibited high grain yield and medium P uptake (HGY‐MP). However, line 5039 with high total index score utilized less P (12.2 kg P ha^?1) than line 4072 and Rohtas 90 (13.5 and 13.6 kg P ha^?1, respectively). Moreover, this genotype also had greater P harvest index (PHI, %) and P physiological efficiency index (PPEI) at stress P level. Pasban 90, Pitic 62, and Pak 81 had the greatest total index score (21), mainly due to high total P uptake, but yielded less grain than lines 5039 and 4072 under low available P conditions. Line 6142 had minimum total index score (15) and also produced minimum grain yield. A wide range of significant differences in PPEI (211 to 365 kg grain kg^?1 P absorbed at stress and 206 to 325 kg grain kg^?1 P absorbed by aboveground plant material at adequate P) indicated differential utilization of absorbed P by these genotypes for grain production at both P levels. It is concluded from the results that wheat genotypes differed considerably in terms of their P requirements for growth and response to P application. The findings suggest that PSF, PHI, and PPEI parameters could be useful to determine P‐deficiency stress tolerance in wheat.     

Effects of tied-ridge,nitrogen fertilizer and cultivar on the yield and nitrogen use efficiency of sorghum in semi-arid Ethiopia

Moisture deficit, poor soil fertility and lack of improved varieties constrained sorghum production in north-eastern Ethiopia. An experiment was conducted in 2002 at Kobo and Sirinka in north-eastern Ethiopia to study the possible effects of seedbed, nitrogen fertilizer and cultivar on the yield and N use efficiency (NUE) of sorghum. The experiment was carried out in a split–split plot design with seedbed (tied-ridge vs. flatbed planting) as main plots, N fertilizer (0, 40 and 80 kg N ha^?1) as subplots and sorghum cultivars (Jigurti, ICSV111 and 76T1#23) as sub-sub plots, with three replications. At Kobo, the seedbed by cultivar interaction affected all parameters. Nitrogen fertilization increased biomass yield and NUE at both locations and grain yield at Sirinka. Cultivars showed different performance where ICSV111 and 76T1#23 were superior in grain yield, N uptake and concentration, N harvest index and NUE of grain (NUEg) compared with Jigurti. Thus, planting ICSV111 and 76T1#23 in tied-ridging and with N fertilization at Kobo and in flatbed and with N fertilization at Sirinka is recommended. This study revealed that tied-ridging is not a solution in all areas where moisture deficiency is a problem. Its effectiveness is affected by rainfall amount and soil type.     

Influence of Nitrogen on Growth,Yield, and Yield Components and Nitrogen Uptake and Use Efficiency in Dry Bean Genotypes

Dry bean is an important legume and nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most yield-limiting factors in most of the bean-growing regions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to determine influence of N on growth, yield, and yield components and N uptake and use efficiency of 23 dry bean genotypes. Straw yield, grain yield, yield components, maximum root length, and root dry weight were significantly increased with the addition of N but varied with genotypes. The N × genotype interactions were also significant for most of these traits, indicating variation in responses of genotypes with the variation in N levels. There was significant difference in N uptake and use efficiency among genotypes. Most of growth and yield components were significantly and positively associated with grain yield. Based on grain yield efficiency index (GYEI), genotypes were classified into efficient, moderately efficient, or inefficient group in N-use efficiency. Nitrogen concentration was greater in grain compared to straw, indicating greater N requirement of dry bean genotypes.     

Internal and External Phosphorus Requirements for Optimum Grain Yield are Associated with P-utilization Efficiency of Wheat Cultivars

ABSTRACT

Considerable variation exists among wheat cultivars for phosphorus (P) acquisition and utilization to produce higher yields. We investigated critical P requirements for optimum grain yield of two wheat cultivars contrasting in P-use efficiency, i.e., NIA-Sunder (P-efficient) and NIA-Saarang (P-inefficient). Grain yield, P accumulation, and other P-efficiency relations of both cultivars increased with progressive addition of P, but at variable rates. NIA-Sunder exhibited higher grain yield, grain P concentration, harvest index, and P-use efficiency at all P levels as compared to NIA-Saarang. Internal P requirement for achieving 95% relative grain yield in NIA-Sunder and NIA-Saarang was obtained when P concentration in their grains was 4.07 and 3.48 mg g^?1 recorded at external P levels of 57.2 and 78.1 mg kg^?1 soil, respectively. Overall, NIA-Sunder accumulated 15% more grain P and required 27% less external P for attaining 95% relative yield than P-inefficient cultivar. Results suggested that internal and external P requirements aiming at optimum grain yield are associated with genotypic variations in wheat cultivars for P-utilization efficiency.     

Nitrogen Leaching Of Spring Wheat Genotypes (Triticum Aestivum L.) Varying In Nitrogen-Related Traits

Efficient use of nitrogen (N) by wheat crop and hence prevention of possible contamination of ground and surface waters by nitrates has aroused environmental concerns. The present study was conducted in drainage lysimeters for three years (1998–2000) to identify whether spring wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) that differ in N-related traits differ in N leaching and to relate parameters of N use efficiency (NUE) with parameters of N leaching. For this reason two spring wheat cultivars (‘Albis’ and ‘Toronit’) and an experimental line (‘L94491’) were grown under low (20 kg N ha^?1) and ample N supply (270 kg N ha^?1). The genotypes varied in parameters of NUE but not in N leaching. Grain yield of the high-protein line (‘L94491’) was, on average, 11% lower than that of ‘Toronit’ but among genotypes had significantly higher N in the grain (%), grain N yield, and N harvest index. Nitrogen lost through leaching was considerably low (0.42–0.52 g m^?2) mainly due to low volume of percolating water or the ability of the genotypes to efficiently exploit soil mineral N. There were no clear relationships between N-related genotype traits and N leaching, but across all treatments significantly negative correlations between volume of leachate and the amount of N in the total biomass and grain N yield existed.     

Comparison of nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen utilization efficiency between elite inbred lines and the landraces of maize

Abstract

Inadequate supply of nitrogen (N) fertilizers results in lower N use efficiency (NUE) and higher N losses which cause environmental deterioration, such as nitrate pollution of groundwater and emission of nitrous greenhouse gases. One way to increase NUE is to use N-efficient cultivars, which grow better under reduced N supplies. Both elite inbred lines and landraces are the basis for hybrid breeding in maize. While inbred lines are mostly selected from high N input conditions, landraces are historically distributed in poor soils with low N availability. Therefore, some potential NUE-related traits conserved in the landraces may have been lost during modern breeding processes. In the present study, the N accumulation and utilization efficiency of 15 elite inbred lines and four landraces of maize were compared at low (LN) and high N (HN) input conditions. In general, the grain yields of the inbred lines and the landraces were similar at both N rates. However, nitrogen accumulation ability in landraces was much higher than that of the inbred lines. The high N accumulation of landraces was closely related to their higher biomass, indicating that growth potential is the main driving force for N accumulation. Nevertheless, N utilization efficiency (grain produced per unit N absorbed) of the landraces was significantly lower than that in inbred lines. Correspondingly, assimilation allocation for grain formation, as indicated by the harvest index, was much lower in landraces than in inbred lines. The higher growth potential, and hence, the ability of N accumulation in landraces may be a valuable trait in breeding programs aiming to further improve N use efficiency.     

Nitrogen Application in Winter Wheat Grown in Mediterranean Conditions: Effects on Nitrogen Uptake,Utilization Efficiency,and Soil Nitrogen Deficit

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most growth restricting nutrients in cereal grain and represents one of the highest input costs in agricultural systems; therefore, environmental and economic considerations require the effective use of N fertilizer in plant production. This study was conducted for three years to better understand wheat plant response to optimize N fertilizer and how to reduce the risk of ground water pollution.

Two of the most important durum wheat cultivars in Southern Italy and four N fertilization levels (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha^{? 1}, indicated as N0, N60, N120, and N180, respectively) were compared in this experiment. During plant growth, fresh and dry matter, plant nutritional state (SPAD readings and stem nitrate content), and N uptake were determined. At harvest, plant N content, N uptake, grain yield, yield components and quality were determined, allowing the calculation of the pre- and postanthesis N uptake and the N utilization efficiency indices. Furthermore, at the beginning and at the end of each year, soil mineral N was measured to calculate mineral N deficit in the soil.

The results indicated that the treatment with 120 kg N ha^{? 1} of fertilizer ensures a good balance between yield and N utilization. In fact, N180 and N120 showed similar yield (3.01 and 3.07 t ha^{? 1}, respectively) and protein content (13.7 and 13.5 %). Meanwhile, throughout the three-year experiment, N180 presented the highest final mineral N content in the soil at the end of the cropping cycles, increasing the amount of N available for leaching. The N120 treatment showed the same values of N utilization indices as compared to N180, indicating that further doses of N fertilizer did not increase wheat N utilization. Plant N status shows that it is possible to modify the N fertilization to reach its optimum level during plant growth, in accordance with variable weather conditions, and consequently the plants requirements. The mean treatments of the preanthesis N uptake were about 67.5% of the total N uptake, and it was significantly and positively correlated with wheat yield. On the contrary, the postanthesis N uptake showed positive correlation with grain protein content, confirming the importance of late N supply in grains quality. The variation of weather conditions affected winter wheat yield, quality, N utilization and plant N status, but any difference throughout years was found between N180 and N120, confirming that higher N rate did not influence wheat growth, yield, and N uptake.     

Nitrogen Application in Irrigated Rice Grown in Mediterranean Conditions: Effects on Grain Yield,Dry Matter Production,Nitrogen Uptake,and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT

Field experiments were conducted in the major rice growing area of Chile to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and site on grain yield and some yield components, dry matter production, N uptake, and N use efficiency in rice cultivar ‘Diamante’. Two sites (indicated as sites 1 and 2) and six N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 kg N ha^?1) were compared. Nitrogen fertilization increased yield, panicle density, spikelet sterility, dry matter production, and N uptake at maturity. 90% of maximum yield was obtained with 200 kg N ha^?1 in site 1 (12,810 kg ha^?1) and with 100 kg N ha^?1 in site 2 (8,000 kg ha^?1). These differences were explained by lower panicle density, and the resulting lower dry matter production and N uptake in site 2. Nitrogen use efficiency for biomass and grain production, and grain yield per unit of grain N decreased with N fertilization. While, agronomic N use efficiency and N harvest index were not affected. All N use efficiency indices were significantly higher in site 1, except grain yield per unit of grain N. The observed variation in N use efficiency indices between sites would reflect site-specific differences in temperature and solar radiation, which in turn, determined yield potentials of each site. On the basis of these results, cultivar ‘Diamante’ would correspond to a high-N use efficiency genotype for grain yield.     

Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Rice Under Cadmium Contamination:Influence of Rice Cultivar Versus Soil Type

There is a need for rice cultivars with high yields and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), but with low cadmium (Cd) accumulation in Cd-contaminated paddy soils. To determine the relative effects of rice genotype, soil type, and Cd addition on rice grain yield and NUE, a pot experiment consisting of nine rice cultivars was conducted in two types of paddy soils, red soil (RS) and yellow soil (YS), without or with Cd spiked at 0.6 mg kg^-1. The N supply was from both soil organic N pools and N fertilizers; thus, NUE was defined as the grain yield per unit of total crop-available N in the soil. Cd addition decreased grain yield and NUE in most rice cultivars, which was mainly related to reduced N uptake efficiency (NpUE, defined as the percentage of N taken up by the crop per unit of soil available N). However, Cd addition enhanced N assimilation efficiency (NtUE, defined as the grain yield per unit of N taken up by the crop) by 21.9% on average in all rice cultivars. The NpUE was mainly affected by soil type, whereas NtUE was affected by rice cultivar. Hybrid cultivars had higher NUEs than the japonica and indica cultivars because of their greater biomass and higher tolerance to Cd contamination. Reduction of NUE after Cd addition was stronger in RS than in YS, which was related to the lower absorption capacity for Cd in RS. Canonical correspondence analysis-based variation partitioning showed that cultivar type had the largest effect (34.4%) on NUE, followed by Cd addition (15.2%) and soil type (10.0%).     

不同产量水平旱地冬小麦品种的氮磷利用差异分析

以9个旱地冬小麦品种为材料,通过田间试验研究不同产量水平旱地冬小麦品种氮、磷效率的差异。结果表明,不同冬小麦品种的籽粒和地上部吸氮量、吸磷量、氮磷收获指数、氮磷效率均存在明显差异。随养分投入水平的提高,不同产量水平品种的籽粒和地上部吸氮量、吸磷量均提高,高产品种随养分投入增加而提高的敏感程度高于中产和低产品种。氮磷收获指数随养分投入水平的提高没有明显的变化规律。低养分投入水平下,高产品种的氮肥回收率和偏生产力分别较低产品种高222%和49%;磷肥回收率和偏生产力分别较低产品种高766% 和49%,高投入降低了各产量水平品种的偏生产力。     

夏玉米氮效率基因型差异研究

利用田间小区试验,通过测定作物产量、收获指数、氮效率和氮响应度等指标,研究了陕西关中农业生产中常用的10个夏玉米杂交种的氮效率基因型差异。结果表明,无论施氮与否,10个夏玉米品种的子粒产量和生物学产量均表现出显著的基因型差异;其收获指数、氮效率和氮响应度,也存在显著的基因型差异。根据氮效率和氮响应度可将10个不同基因型分为四种类型:H-H型包括户单4号、陕资1号、掖单19;L-L型包括中单2号、豫玉22;H-L型包括陕单16、陕单902和户单2000;L-H型包括陕单9号和农大108。综合考虑氮效率类型和响应度,选择有代表性的基因型(户单4号、豫玉22和户单2000)测定氮累积量,计算氮利用效率和氮收获指数,结果表明,氮累积量不能反映氮效率类型,氮利用效率对氮效率的贡献与施氮水平有关;不论施氮与否,氮收获指数均能较好地反映氮效率类型。     

Evaluation of the yield,nitrogen use efficiency and adaptation in pakchoi cultivars under organic and conventional management systems during two successive seasons

Two tunnel experiments with 16 pakchoi cultivars were conducted under organic (ORG) and conventional management systems (CON) in fall and winter to investigate the yield, total N uptake, N uptake efficiency (plant aboveground N uptake at harvest per unit plant available N; NUpE), utilization efficiency (plant dry weight per unit plant aboveground N uptake at harvest; NUtE) and specific adaptation of cultivars. Yields under ORG were significantly lower than those under CON, whereas the NUpE in organic pakchoi were significantly higher than those in conventional pakchoi. In winter, a significant interaction between the management system and cultivar for NUtE was observed. In addition, all the traits determined were significantly influenced by the cultivar. Among cultivars, the yield was closely correlated with the NUpE under ORG and CON, except under ORG in fall. The cultivar ranking analysis showed a rank correlation for yield, NUpE and NUtE in winter, while no rank correlation was observed in fall. The rankings of cultivars showed major changes between ORG and CON in fall. In conclusion, the selection of cultivars with high NUpE and direct selection of cultivars under organic agriculture, particularly in fall, will be helpful to improve the yield.     

Enhanced nutrient and rainwater use efficiency in maize and soybean with secondary and micronutrient amendments in the rainfed semi-arid tropics

In view of widespread deficiencies, a long-term experiment was started at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India in 2007 to identify economically efficient application strategy (full or 50% dose every or every second year) of sulphur (S) (30 kg ha^?1), boron (B) (0.5 kg ha^?1) and zinc (Zn) (10 kg ha^?1). During the fourth year in 2010, balanced fertilization through adding S, B and Zn increased maize grain yield by 13–52% and soybean yield by 16–28% compared to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization alone. Balanced nutrition increased N and P uptake, utilization and use efficiency for grain yield and harvest index indicating improved grain nutritional quality. The N, P plus 50% of S, B and Zn application every year recorded highest crop yields and N and P efficiencies indices and increased rainwater use efficiency with a benefit:cost ratio of 11.9 for maize and 4.14 for soybean. This study showed the importance of a deficient secondary nutrient S and micronutrients B, Zn in improving N and P use efficiency while enhancing economic food production.     

Differential response of short‐ and long‐duration cassava cultivars to applied mineral nitrogen

The differential response of two contrasting cassava cultivars to different rates of soil‐applied nitrogen (N) on the number of tuberous roots, harvest index, yield, nitrogen uptake, and fertilizer‐nitrogen‐use efficiency was studied over a period of 2 years on a typic Plinthustults in Kerala state in Southern India. The experiment was laid out in a split‐plot design with two popular cultivars of cassava, namely Sree Vijaya (6 months) and M‐4 (10 months) in the main plots, and eight urea‐N rates (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha^–1) in subplots. Half of the N was applied at the time of planting and the other half 60 d later. The study revealed significant differences between the two cultivars regarding their response to fertilizer‐N application. The tuberous‐root yield of the short‐duration cultivar Sree Vijaya increased significantly up to 100 kg N ha^–1 whereas the yield of the long‐duration cultivar M‐4 increased significantly only up to 50 kg N ha^–1 rate. Also the N‐use‐efficiency parameters (i.e., agronomic, recovery, and physiological efficiencies) were higher in Sree Vijaya than in M‐4 but declined at N rates beyond 100 kg ha^–1. The more efficient N use in the short‐duration cultivar was associated with a higher N uptake and a more efficient internal use.     

两种产量水平下减量施氮对杂交中稻产量和氮肥利用率的影响

为探究不同产量水平下减量施氮对杂交中稻产量和氮肥利用率的影响,以杂交中稻蓉优1015为试验材料,于2016-2017年在四川泸州和德阳进行大田试验,研究不同产量水平下减量施氮[常规施氮量(195 kg·hm^-2,N_CK)、减量23%(N_-23%)、减量46%(N_-46%)、不施氮(N₀)]对杂交中稻产量、吸氮量、氮素收获指数、氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,不同地点间杂交中稻产量差异显著,泸州点平均产量为8.54 t·hm^-2(中产点),德阳点平均产量为11.60 t·hm^-2(高产点)。杂交中稻产量和氮肥利用率对减量施氮的响应随产量水平的变化而变化。中产点:N_-46%处理杂交中稻产量与N_CK相当,但N_-46%处理氮肥农学利用率、氮肥偏生产力、氮肥生理利用率、氮收获指数较N_CK平均分别增加了93.4%、87.5%、123.4%、6.8个百分点;稻草吸氮...     

Modern wheat cultivars have greater root nitrogen uptake efficiency than old cultivars

The availability of nitrogen (N) contained in crop residues for a following crop may vary with cultivar, depending on root traits and the interaction between roots and soil. We used a pot experiment to investigate the effects of six spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (three old varieties introduced before mid last century and three modern varieties) and N fertilization on the ability of wheat to acquire N from maize (Zea mays L.) straw added to soil. Wheat was grown in a soil where ¹⁵N‐labeled maize straw had been incorporated with or without N fertilization. Higher grain yield in three modern and one old cultivar was ascribed to preferred allocation of photosynthate to aboveground plant parts and from vegetative organs to grains. Root biomass, root length density and root surface area were all smaller in modern than in old cultivars at both anthesis and maturity. Root mean diameter was generally similar between modern and old cultivars at anthesis but was greater in modern than in old cultivars at maturity. There were cultivar differences in N uptake from incorporated maize straw and the other N sources (soil and fertilizer). However, these differences were not related to variation in the measured root parameters among the six cultivars. At anthesis, total N uptake efficiencies by roots (total N uptake per root weight or root length) were greater in modern than in old cultivars within each fertilization level. At maturity, averaged over fertilization levels, the total N uptake efficiencies by roots were 292?336 mg N g^?1 roots or 3.2?4.0 mg N m^?1 roots for three modern cultivars, in contrast to 132?213 mg N g^?1 roots or 0.93?1.6 mg N m^?1 roots for three old cultivars. Fertilization enhanced the utilization of N from maize straw by all cultivars, but root N uptake efficiencies were less affected. We concluded that modern spring wheat cultivars had higher root N uptake efficiency than old cultivars.