Agronomic and physiological aspects of nitrogen use efficiency in conventional and organic cereal-based production systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 443-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Kubota ◽  
Muhammad Iqbal ◽  
Sylvie Quideau ◽  
Miles Dyck ◽  
Dean Spaner
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitors ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Available N ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Conventional Systems

AbstractBetter management of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers in conventional agricultural systems laid the foundation for feeding the increasing world's population since the Green Revolution. However, excessive reliance on inorganic fertilizer has resulted in environmental degradation issues. Difficulties in soil nutrition management in organic cropping systems often results in lower and variable yields, also raising questions of sustainability. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is thus of key importance to overcome environmental concerns in conventional systems and production limitations in organic systems. The differences in the two farming systems have impacts on crop traits and N cycles, making it difficult to enhance NUE with a single strategy. Different approaches need to be adopted to improve NUE in each system. Extensive efforts have been made to better understand mechanisms to potentially improve NUE in cereal crops under both systems. This review suggests that NUE may be improved through a combination of management practices and breeding strategies specific to the management system. Diversified crop rotations with legumes are effective practices to optimize the N cycle in both conventional and organic systems. Best Management Practices coupled with nitrification inhibitors, controlled release products and split-application practices can reduce N loss in conventional systems. In organic systems, we need to take advantage of available N sources and adapt practices such as no-tillage, cover crops, and catch crops. Utilization of beneficial soil microorganisms is fundamental to optimizing availability of soil N. Estimation of soil organic matter mineralization using prediction models may be useful to enhance NUE if models are calibrated for target environments. Cereal crops are often bred under optimum N conditions and may not perform well under low N conditions. Thus, breeders can integrate genetic and phenotypic information to develop cultivars adapted to specific environments and cultivation practices. The proper choice and integration of strategies can synchronize N demand and supply within a system, resulting in reduced risk of N loss while improving NUE in both conventional and organic systems.

scholarly journals Synthesis of Climate, Soil Factors, and Nitrogen Management Practices Affecting the Responses of Wheat Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency to Nitrogen Fertilizer in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunqi Wang ◽  
Jiapeng Yang ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Zhikuan Jia
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
N Application ◽  
Average Annual Temperature ◽  
Coated Urea ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Management

The reported effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) vary greatly, due to differences in climate, soil factors, and N management practices in different regions of China. We collected literature published during 1950–2017 that reported the yield and NUE for wheat in China, under N application and control treatments, and analyzed the data therein. A significant increase in yield was observed with N application, and varied with climate, soil factors, and N management practices in different regions. A larger increase in yield was observed under an average annual temperature of 13–15 °C, an average annual precipitation of >800 mm, respectively. Greater yield-increasing effects were observed in soil with a coarse soil texture, lower soil total N, available N, and a soil pH of ≤7 and >8, respectively. In Northwest China, the yield increase was greater under multiple coated urea applications after anthesis, while the higher NUE was observed under single coated urea application before anthesis. In North China, the yield and NUE were greater under multiple coated urea applications before anthesis. In South China, the yield and NUE were greater under multiple N applications. Consequently, to improve wheat yield and NUE, site-specific N management practices should be adopted.

scholarly journals Review of Active Optical Sensors for Improving Winter Wheat Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1157
Author(s):  
Lawrence Aula ◽  
Peter Omara ◽  
Eva Nambi ◽  
Fikayo B. Oyebiyi ◽  
William R. Raun
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Optical Sensor ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Management

Improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) via active optical sensors has gained attention in recent decades, with the focus of optimizing nitrogen (N) input while simultaneously sustaining crop yields. To the authors’ knowledge, a comprehensive review of the literature on how optical sensors have impacted winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) NUE and grain yield has not yet been performed. This work reviewed and documented the extent to which the use of optical sensors has impacted winter wheat NUE and yield. Two N management approaches were evaluated; optical sensor and conventional methods. The study included 26 peer-reviewed articles with data on NUE and grain yield. In articles without NUE values but in which grain N was included, the difference method was employed to compute NUE based on grain N uptake. Using optical sensors resulted in an average NUE of 42% (±2.8% standard error). This approach improved NUE by approximately 10.4% (±2.3%) when compared to the conventional method. Grain yield was similar for both approaches of N management. Optical sensors could save as much as 53 (±16) kg N ha−1. This gain alone may not be adequate for increased adoption, and further refinement of the optical sensor robustness, possibly by including weather variables alongside sound agronomic management practices, may be necessary.

scholarly journals Assessment of Fertilizer Management Strategies Aiming to Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Wheat Grown Under Conservation Agriculture

Agronomy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Santillano-Cázares ◽  
Fidel Núñez-Ramírez ◽  
Cristina Ruíz-Alvarado ◽  
María Cárdenas-Castañeda ◽  
Iván Ortiz-Monasterio
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Agronomic Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Management

Sustainable crop production systems can be attained by using inputs efficiently and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) parameters are indirect measurements of sustainability of production systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of selected nitrogen (N) management treatments on wheat yields, grain and straw N concentration, and NUE parameters, under conservation agriculture (CA). The present study was conducted at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), in northwest, Mexico. Seventeen treatments were tested which included urea sources, timing, and methods of fertilizer application. Orthogonal contrasts were used to compare groups of treatments and correlation and regression analyses were used to look at the relationships between wheat yields and NUE parameters. Contrasts run to compare wheat yields or agronomic efficiency of N (AEN) performed similarly. Sources of urea or timing of fertilizer application had a significant effect on yields or AEN (p > 0.050). However, methods of application resulted in a highly significant (p < 0.0001) difference on wheat yields and agronomic efficiency of N. NUE parameters recorded in this study were average but the productivity associated to NUE levels was high. Results in this study indicate that wheat grew under non-critically limiting N supply levels, suggesting that N mineralization and reduced N losses from the soil under CA contributed to this favorable nutritional condition, thus minimizing the importance of N management practices under stable, mature CA systems.

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