Forage production, N uptake, N2 fixation, and N recovery of berseem clover grown in pure stand and in mixture with annual ryegrass under different managements

AbstractCombined application of biochar with fertilizers has been used to increase soil fertility and crop yield. However, the coupling mechanisms through which biochar improves crop yield at field scale and the time span over which biochar affects carbon and nitrogen transformation and crop yield are still little known. In this study, a long-term field trial (2013–2019) was performed in brown soil planting maize. Six treatments were designed: CK—control; NPK—application of chemical fertilizers; C1PK—low biochar without nitrogen fertilizer; C1NPK, C2NPK and C3NPK—biochar at 1.5, 3 and 6 t ha−1, respectively, combined with chemical fertilizers. Results showed that the δ15N value in the topsoil of 0–20 cm layer in the C3NPK treatment reached a peak of 291 ‰ at the third year (2018), and demonstrated a peak of 402 ‰ in the NPK treatment in the initial isotope trial in 2016. Synchronously, SOC was not affected until the third to fourth year after biochar addition, and resulted in a significant increase in total N of 2.4 kg N ha−1 in 2019 in C3NPK treatment. During the entire experiment, the 15N recovery rates of 74–80% were observed highest in the C2NPK and C3NPK treatments, resulting in an annual increase in yields significantly. The lowest subsoil δ15N values ranged from 66‰ to 107‰, and the 15N residual rate would take 70 years for a complete decay to 0.001% in the C3NPK. Our findings suggest that biochar compound fertilizers can increase C stability and N retention in soil and improve N uptake by maize, while the loss of N was minimized. Biochars, therefore, may have an important potential for improving the agroecosystem and ecological balance. Graphic abstract

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Nitrogen Leaching and Nitrogen Balance under Differing Nitrogen Fertilization for Sugarcane Cultivation on a Subtropical Island

Water ◽

10.3390/w13050740 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 740

Author(s):

Ken Okamoto ◽

Shinkichi Goto ◽

Toshihiko Anzai ◽

Shotaro Ando

Keyword(s):

N Uptake ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Application Rate ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

N Leaching ◽

N Recovery ◽

N Application ◽

Fertilizer Application Rate ◽

Sugarcane Yield ◽

Cropping Seasons

Fertilizer application during sugarcane cultivation is a main source of nitrogen (N) loads to groundwater on small islands in southwestern Japan. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of reducing the N fertilizer application rate on sugarcane yield, N leaching, and N balance. We conducted a sugarcane cultivation experiment with drainage lysimeters and different N application rates in three cropping seasons (three years). N loads were reduced by reducing the first N application rate in all cropping seasons. The sugarcane yields of the treatment to which the first N application was halved (T2 = 195 kg ha−1 N) were slightly lower than those of the conventional application (T1 = 230 kg ha−1 N) in the first and third seasons (T1 = 91 or 93 tons ha−1, T2 = 89 or 87 tons ha−1). N uptake in T1 and T2 was almost the same in seasons 1 (186–188 kg ha−1) and 3 (147–151 kg ha−1). Based on the responses of sugarcane yield and N uptake to fertilizer reduction in two of the three years, T2 is considered to represent a feasible fertilization practice for farmers. The reduction of the first N fertilizer application reduced the underground amounts of N loads (0–19 kg ha−1). However, application of 0 N in the first fertilization would lead to a substantial reduction in yield in all seasons. Reducing the amount of N in the first application (i.e., replacing T1 with T2) improved N recovery by 9.7–11.9% and reduced N leaching by 13 kg ha−1. These results suggest that halving the amount of N used in the first application can improve N fertilizer use efficiency and reduce N loss to groundwater.

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Nutrients Use Efficiency and Uptake Characteristics of Panicum virgatum for Fodder Production

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v9n3p233 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 233

Author(s):

Kyriakos Giannoulis ◽

Dimitrios Bartzialis ◽

Elpiniki Skoufogianni ◽

Nicholaos Danalatos

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Panicum Virgatum ◽

Biomass Yield ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Fertilization ◽

N Recovery ◽

Supplemental Irrigation ◽

Recovery Fraction ◽

Fodder Production ◽

Use Efficiency

Panicum virgatum could produce cattle feed with lower costs due to the low input requirements and its perennial nature. Dry biomass yield vs. N-P-K nutrient uptake relations as well as the N-mineralization and the N-fertilization recovery fraction for Panicum virgatum (cv. Alamo) were determined under field conditions for four N-fertilization (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha-1) and two irrigation levels (0 and 250 mm), οn two soils in central Greece with rather different moisture status. It was found that the dry fodder yield on the aquic soil may reach 14 t ha-1 using supplemental irrigation; while on the xeric soil a lower yield of 9-10 t ha-1 may be produced only under supplemental irrigation. Moreover, the average N, P and K concentration was 1.3%, 0.14% and 1.3% in leaves, and 0.5%, 0.85%, and 1.5% in stems, respectively, showing the very low crop requirements. Furthermore, linear biomass yield-nutrient uptake relationships were found with high R2, pointing to nutrient use efficiency of 132 and 75 kg kg-1, for N and K respectively. The base N-uptake ranged from 71-74 kg ha-1 on the aquic to 60 kg ha-1 or less on the xeric soil. Finally, it was found that N-recovery fraction was 20% on the aquic soil and lower on the xeric. Therefore, it could be conclude that Panicum virgatum seems to be a very promising crop for fodder production and its introduction in land use systems (especially οn aquic soils of similar environments) should be taken into consideration.

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An analysis of some pilot fertilizer experiments on paddy.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v5i4.17730 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 284-289

Author(s):

C.T. De Wit

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Recovery ◽

P Placement

Data from 25 experiments in Burma in 1954-55 are discussed. The soils contain 5-15% clay, 10-30% silt and 0.5-1.5% organic matter and pH (dry samples) ranges from 5.0 to 7.5. Yields increase only 11.7 kg per kg of N applied. Placement in rows below the aerobic mud layer would probably double N recovery at rates of 20 kg/ha N. The estimated response to P placement (5.4 kg per kg applied P) is uneconomic. With applications of 22.4 kg/ha N, but not with 44.8 kg/ha, N uptake was increased by applying P. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Residual effects of nitrogen fertiliser on the yield and N composition of succeeding cereal crops and on soil chemical properties of an Ethiopian highland Vertisol

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s99-008 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 63-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Selamyihun Kidanu ◽

D. G. Tanner ◽

Tekalign Mamo

Keyword(s):

N Uptake ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Residual Effect ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Cereal Crops ◽

N Recovery ◽

N Application ◽

Total N ◽

Current Season ◽

The Mean

A trial was conducted on an Ethiopian Vertisol from 1990 to 1995 to determine the residual effects of fertiliser N applied to tef [Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter] on the grain and straw yield, N content, and total N uptake of succeeding crops of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) and tef. The mean agronomic efficiency of 60 kg fertiliser N ha−1 was 13.1 kg grain kg−1 fertiliser N applied in the current year and 5.4 kg grain kg−1 fertiliser N applied in the previous year. Thus, the residual fertiliser N benefit was equivalent to 41.2% of the response to current season N application for the two cereal crops. The mean rates of apparent recovery of fertiliser N were 65.8% for current season N application and 31.0% for previous season N application. Soil organic matter and nitrate levels increased linearly in response to both previous and current season N application rates. The current study demonstrates that the residual effect of fertiliser N enhanced the yields and N contents of the grain and straw of both wheat and tef, resulting in a significant increase in total N uptake. Any analysis of the profitability of fertiliser N response should reflect the multi-year benefit period. Key words: N recovery, N residue, N uptake, tef, wheat

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Quantifying N response and N use efficiency in rice–wheat (RW) cropping systems under different water management

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859609008466 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 147 (3) ◽

pp. 303-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Q. JING ◽

H. VAN KEULEN ◽

H. HENGSDIJK ◽

W. CAO ◽

P. S. BINDRABAN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

N Uptake ◽

Production Costs ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

N Recovery ◽

Soil Nitrate ◽

Soil N ◽

N Use

SUMMARYAbout 0·10 of the food supply in China is produced in rice–wheat (RW) cropping systems. In recent decades, nitrogen (N) input associated with intensification has increased much more rapidly than N use in these systems. The resulting nitrogen surplus increases the risk of environmental pollution as well as production costs. Limited information on N dynamics in RW systems in relation to water management hampers development of management practices leading to more efficient use of nitrogen and water. The present work studied the effects of N and water management on yields of rice and wheat, and nitrogen use efficiencies (NUEs) in RW systems. A RW field experiment with nitrogen rates from 0 to 300 kg N/ha with continuously flooded and intermittently irrigated rice crops was carried out at the Jiangpu experimental station of Nanjing Agricultural University of China from 2002 to 2004 to identify improved nitrogen management practices in terms of land productivity and NUE.Nitrogen uptake by rice and wheat increased with increasing N rates, while agronomic NUE (kg grain/kg N applied) declined at rates exceeding 150 kg N/ha. The highest combined grain yields of rice and wheat were obtained at 150 and 300 kg N/ha per season in rice and wheat, respectively. Carry-over of residual N from rice to the subsequent wheat crop was limited, consistent with low soil nitrate after rice harvest. Total soil N hardly changed during the experiment, while soil nitrate was much lower after wheat than after rice harvest. Water management did not affect yield and N uptake by rice, but apparent N recovery was higher under intermittent irrigation (II). In one season, II management in rice resulted in higher yield and N uptake in the subsequent wheat season. Uptake of indigenous soil N was much higher in rice than in wheat, while in rice it was much higher than values reported in the literature, which may have consequences for nitrogen fertilizer recommendations based on indigenous N supply.

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Timing of 15N fertiliser application, partitioning to reproductive and vegetative tissue, and nutrient removal by field-grown low-chill peaches in the subtropics

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/a98092 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 211 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

D. O. Huett ◽

G. R. Stewart

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Removal ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

N Uptake ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Winter Period ◽

N Recovery ◽

N Application ◽

Vegetative Tissues ◽

Reproductive Tissues

The effect of timing of nitrogen (N) application as 15N-enriched ammonium sulfate (50 kg N/ha) on the growth response and N uptake by vegetative and reproductive tissues was investigated in the low-chill peach cv. Flordagem growing on a krasnozem soil at Alstonville. Nitrogen was applied in late August, late September, late October, mid February, and early May. Tree parts were sampled for 15N at 4 and 8 weeks after application and after fruit harvest in December the following season. After fruit yield was measured, trees were excavated and divided into parts for dry weight and nutrient concentration determinations, and fertiliser N recovery and to estimate tree nutrient removal. Nitrogen enrichment was detected in all plant parts within 4 weeks of N application, irrespective of timing, and was greatest in rapidly growing tissues such as laterals, leaves, and fruit. The most rapid (P < 0.05) 15N enrichment in vegetative tissues resulted from September, October, and February N applications and for fruit from a September application. The level of enrichment 4 weeks after fertiliser N application was similar for vegetative and reproductive tissues. The timing of N application in the first season had no effect on fruit yield and vegetative growth the following season. At tree removal, the recovery of fertiliser N in most tree parts increased (P < 0.05) as fertiliser N application was delayed from October to May the previous season. Maximum contribution of absorbed N to whole tree N was 10–11% for laterals, leaf, and fruit. Data from this study indicate that vegetative and reproductive growth have similar demand for absorbed N, and that uptake of fertiliser N is most rapid when an application precedes a period of rapid growth. Over 2 seasons, recovery of applied fertiliser N was 14.9–18.0% in the tree, confirming that stored N and the soil N pool are the dominant sources of tree N. The recovery of fertiliser N from the May application was 18% even though uptake in all tree parts including roots at 4 weeks after application was very low, indicating that tree fertiliser N uptake occurred when growth resumed after the dormant winter period. The low proportion and recovery of fertiliser N in the tree confirm the lack of immediate influence of applied N to vegetative growth and yield. Annual crop nutrient removal is a sound basis for fertiliser recommendations, and for the Flordagem orchard (1000 trees/ha), it consisted of fruit plus 70% of laterals (removed at pruning) plus 20% of leaf. Removal in vegetative tissues was relatively low at (kg/ha) 14 N, 1 P, 12 K, 13 Ca, and 2 Mg. The addition of fruit at a yield of 25 t/ha increased total nutrient removal to (kg/ha) 46 N, 5 P, 54 K, 14 Ca, and 5 Mg.

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Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) reduces the uptake and utilisation of fertiliser-nitrogen by wheat

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar00085 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 52 (5) ◽

pp. 573 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. A. Palta ◽

S. Peltzer

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Field Trial ◽

N Uptake ◽

Wheat Plant ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Grain Protein ◽

Annual Ryegrass ◽

Lolium Rigidum ◽

Plant Densities ◽

Rates Of Growth

The effect of timing of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) emergence on the uptake and utilisation of N by wheat was investigated in a field trial on a duplex soil at Katanning, Western Australia, and in a glasshouse study in which 15N-fertiliser was applied. Three treatments were used to investigate the effect of timing of annual ryegrass emergence on the uptake and utilisation of N by wheat: simultaneous sowing of wheat and annual ryegrass, sowing of annual ryegrass 1 week before wheat, and sowing of the annual ryegrass 1 week after wheat. A control treatment, consisting of wheat sown alone, was also included. Plant densities during the field trial were 105 and 140 plants/m2 for wheat and annual ryegrass, respectively, whereas in the glasshouse they were 105 plants/m2 for wheat and 155 plants/m2 for annual ryegrass. Fertiliser-N was applied at seeding of wheat at 50 kg N/ha in the field trial and 60 kg N/ha in the glasshouse. The introduction of annual ryegrass into the wheat system reduced the production of biomass and the grain yield of wheat. The earlier the annual ryegrass was introduced into the system, the greater the reduction in the biomass and grain yield of wheat. Poor tillering and slow rates of growth were accountable for the reduction in biomass, whilst the reduction in wheat grain yield was caused by the reductions in ear number, kernels per ear, and kernel size. Grain N content and hence grain protein was also reduced by the introduction of annual ryegrass into the wheat system. Irrespective of the timing of introduction of annual ryegrass, the low N uptake of wheat resulted from a reduction in the uptake of both soil and fertiliser-N. This indicates that annual ryegrass competed with wheat not only for the fertiliser-N that was applied at seeding of wheat, but also for mineralised soil N. The competition for N reduced the total recoveries of fertiliser-N in the wheat plant. Total recoveries of fertiliser-N in the wheat plant suggest that 59% of the fertiliser-N was not taken up by wheat when annual ryegrass was sown 1 week earlier than wheat or at the same time as wheat, whereas only 32% was not taken up by the wheat when annual ryegrass was sown 1 week later than wheat. More competitive wheat genotypes would be those with better efficiency in the uptake of N and its utilisation in maintaining yield and grain protein under infestations of annual ryegrass.

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Performance of nitrate compared with urea fertilizer in a semiarid climate of the northern Great Plains

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.1139/cjss-2019-0047 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 99 (3) ◽

pp. 345-355

Author(s):

Richard E. Engel ◽

Carlos M. Romero ◽

Patrick Carr ◽

Jessica A. Torrion

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Great Plains ◽

N Uptake ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Field Trials ◽

Northern Great Plains ◽

N Recovery ◽

Fertilizer N ◽

Total N ◽

Semiarid Regions

Fertilizer NO3-N may represent a benefit over NH4-N containing sources in semiarid regions where rainfall is often not sufficient to leach fertilizer-N out of crop rooting zones, denitrification concerns are not great, and when NH3 volatilization concerns exist. The objective of our study was to contrast plant-N derived from fertilizer-15N (15Ndff), fertilizer-15N recovery (F15NR), total N uptake, grain yield, and protein of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from spring-applied NaNO3 relative to urea and urea augmented with urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). We established six fertilizer-N field trials widespread within the state of Montana between 2012 and 2017. The trials incorporated different experimental designs and 15N-labeled fertilizer-N sources, including NaNO3, NH4NO3, urea, and urea + NBPT. Overall, F15NR and 15Ndff in mature crop biomass were significantly greater for NaNO3 than urea or urea + NBPT (P < 0.05). Crop 15Ndff averaged 53.8%, 43.9%, and 44.7% across locations for NaNO3, urea, and urea + NBPT, respectively. Likewise, crop F15NR averaged 52.2%, 35.8%, and 38.6% for NaNO3, urea, and urea + NBPT, respectively. Soil 15N recovered in the surface layer (0–15 cm) was lower for NaNO3 compared with urea and urea + NBPT. Wheat grain yield and protein were generally not sensitive to improvements in 15Ndff, F15NR, or total N uptake. Our study hypothesis that NaNO3 would result in similar or better performance than urea or urea + NBPT was confirmed. Use of NO3-N fertilizer might be an alternative strategy to mitigate fertilizer-N induced soil acidity in semiarid regions of the northern Great Plains.

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Rate of Nitrogen Rather Than Timing of Application Influence Yield and NUE of Canola in South Australian Mediterranean Environments

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10101505 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1505

Author(s):

Amritbir Riar ◽

Gurjeet Gill ◽

Glenn K. McDonald

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

N Uptake ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Yield Response ◽

N Recovery ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Supplementary Irrigation ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Management ◽

The Impact

Canola has a high nitrogen requirement and optimal nitrogen (N) management in environments with variable rainfall is a challenge. This study investigated the impact of timing of N as a single or split application at different growth stages on seed yield, N uptake and water-use efficiency in canola. Nitrogen rates of 100 and 200 kg ha−1 were applied after sowing when two leaves were unfolded or equally split between the rosette, green bud and first flower stages. The experiments were conducted at two sites with contrasting rainfall and a supplementary irrigation treatment at the low rainfall site, generating a third environment. Nitrogen application increased seed yield by up to 20% at a high rainfall site and by up to 77% at a medium rainfall site, but the timing of N did not significantly affect the yield response to N. Seed yield was closely associated with total dry matter production and seed m−2. N-use efficiency was influenced more by N recovery and uptake efficiency, rather than physiological efficiency, which highlights the importance of soil moisture availability and the ability of the crop to exploit soil water and N reserves. The results suggest that better use of subsoil moisture by overcoming some of the subsoil constraints may be an avenue for further improvements in yield and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of canola in this environment.

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