How Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability Change Water Use Efficiency in a Mediterranean Savanna Ecosystem

Abstract Soybean yield within the Southern Africa falls below its potential despite similar climatic conditions across some agroecologies, replicable agronomic management practices and introduced improved varieties. Understanding physiological processes and water-use efficiency (WUE) of soybean offer information on bridging this yield gap. A field study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 seasons in two agroecologies (Angonia and Ruace) in Mozambique to evaluate the effects of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens strain USDA110 formerly known as Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant, nitrogen and phosphorus on nodulation, physiology and yield of non-promiscuous (Safari) and promiscuous (TGx 1740-2F) soybean varieties. Data on transpiration, photosynthesis, leaf area index, radiation interception and WUE from the beginning of flowering to maturity were collected. Transpiration rate varied considerably with interaction between locations, growth stages, varieties and treatments. At podding, phosphorus-treated soybean at Angonia transpired less (6.3 mmol/m2/s) than check plants (6.6 mmol/m2/s). Photosynthesis rate and WUE were distinct with variety, growth stages and inputs within agroecologies. For instance, in Angonia 2018 season, phosphorus fertilized TGx 1740-2F photosynthesized more at flowering (25.3 μmol/m2/s) while the lowest was phosphorus-treated Safari at podding with 17.2 μmol/m2/s. At the same site in 2017, inoculated soybean photosynthesized more at 22.8 μmol/m2/s leading to better WUE of 3.6 that corresponded to 2894 kg/ha yield. Overall, soybean WUE was higher when inoculated than N-treated, while P application yielded better. Results from this study will complement breeders’ effort in developing phosphorus efficient varieties suited for a wide range of changing climatical conditions.

Download Full-text

Interactive effects of water, nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth, biomass partitioning and water-use efficiency of Bauhinia faberi seedlings

Journal of Arid Environments ◽

10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.02.003 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 74 (9) ◽

pp. 1003-1012 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

C.-J. Song ◽

K.-M. Ma ◽

L.-Y. Qu ◽

Y. Liu ◽

X.-L. Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Biomass Partitioning ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Use Efficiency

Download Full-text

Effect of mulches and transpiration suppressants on yield, water use efficiency and uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by sorghum under dryland conditions of north-western India

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600041162 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 98 (1) ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

P. Raghavulu ◽

S. P. Singh

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Marked Effect ◽

Mercuric Acetate ◽

Western India ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

North Western

SUMMARYField experiments consisting of three mulch treatments (no mulch, straw mulch and dust mulch) and six transpiration suppressants (no suppressant, kaolin, phenyl mercuric acetate, atrazine, mobileaf or alachlor and 2-chloro ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) were conducted under dryland conditions during the summer rainy seasons (July–November) of 1976, 1977 and 1978. Compared with no mulch, straw mulch increased yield in all 3 years, water use efficiency in 1977 and 1978, and uptake of N and of P in 1977 and 1978. Dust mulch had only a marginal advantage. Amongst transpiration suppressants, only kaolin and atrazine had a marked effect. Both these chemicals increased grain yield, water use efficiency and uptake of N and P, compared with no suppressant.

Download Full-text

Carbon discrimination, water-use efficiency, nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition of the host / mistletoe pair Eucalyptus behriana F. Muell and Amyema miquelii (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. at permanently low plant water status in the field

Trees ◽

10.1007/bf00225226 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Manfred K�ppers

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Status ◽

Plant Water Status ◽

Phosphorus Nutrition ◽

Plant Water ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Carbon Discrimination

Download Full-text

Improving yield and water use efficiency of apple trees through intercrop-mulch of crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) combined with different fertilizer treatments in the Loess Plateau

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2016144-9575 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. e1207 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wei Zheng ◽

Yonggang Li ◽

Qingli Gong ◽

Haoqing Zhang ◽

Zhiyuan Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Soil Water Storage ◽

Potassium Fertilizer ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Apple Trees ◽

Coronilla Varia ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Apple Production

Improving water use efficiency (WUE) and soil fertility is relevant for apple production in drylands. The effects of intercrop-mulch (IM) of crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) combined with different fertilizer treatments on WUE of apple trees and soil fertility of apple orchards were assessed over three years (2011, 2013 and 2014). A split-plot design was adopted, in which the main treatments were IM and no intercrop-mulch (NIM). Five sub-treatments were established: no fertilization (CK); nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (NP); manure (M); N, P and potassium fertilizer (NPK); and NPK fertilizer combined with manure (NPKM). Due to mowing and mulching each month during July–September, the evapotranspiration for IM was 17.3% lower than that of NIM in the dry year of 2013. Additionally, the soil water storage of NPKM treatment was higher than that of CK during the experimental period. Thus, single fruit weight and fruit number per tree increased with IM and NPKM application. Moreover, applying NPKM with IM resulted in the highest yield (on average of three years), which was 73.25% and 130.51% greater than that of CK in IM and NIM, respectively. The WUE of NPKM combined with IM was also the highest in 2013 and 2014 (47.69 and 56.95% greater than applying IM alone). In addition, due to application of IM combined with NPKM, soil organic matter was increased by 25.8% compared with that of CK (in NIM). Additionally, application of IM combined with NPKM obtained more economic net return, compared to other combinations. Therefore, applying NPKM with IM is recommended for improving apple production in this rain-fed agricultural area.

Download Full-text

SEASONAL PRECIPITATION, EVAPORATION, SOIL MOISTURE, AND YIELD OF FERTILIZED RANGE VEGETATION

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps69-023 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 123-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Johnston ◽

S. Smoliak ◽

A. D. Smith ◽

L. E. Lutwick

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Seasonal Precipitation ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Phosphorus Fertilizers ◽

Average Water ◽

Use Efficiency

Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were applied to range vegetation at five locations at rates ranging from 475 to 705 kg/ha N with or without from 380 to 545 kg/ha P. The addition of fertilizers increased average water-use efficiency at all locations. Average magnitude of the increase in relation to unfertilized controls was: control, 33.3 kg/ha dry matter produced per cm of water; P, 37.0 kg/ha/cm; N, 52.3 kg/ha/cm; and, N+P, 73.4 kg/ha/cm. Fall soil moisture had the greatest influence on yield of control and P-treated range vegetation, whereas June precipitation had the greatest influence on yield of N- and N+P-treated range vegetation.

Download Full-text

Nitrogen and phosphorus effects on water use efficiency of spring wheat grown in a semi-arid region of the Canadian prairies

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss2011-055 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 573-587 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

R. Kröbel ◽

C. A. Campbell ◽

R. P. Zentner ◽

R. Lemke ◽

H. Steppuhn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Arid Region ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Canadian Prairies ◽

P Fertilizer ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

Kröbel, R., Campbell, C. A., Zentner, R. P., Lemke, R., Steppuhn, H., Desjardins, R. L. and De Jong, R. 2012. Nitrogen and phosphorus effects on water use efficiency of spring wheat grown in a semi-arid region of the Canadian prairies. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 573–587. Water use efficiency (WUE) has often been analyzed for semiarid environments, but fallow-containing cropping systems were assessed inappropriately. Further, these short-term studies are unlikely to correctly assess weather variability impacts in such environments. We assessed the impact of fertilizer N and P on water use efficiency (WUE) and precipitation use efficiency (PUE) of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from a 39-yr long-term crop rotation study in semi-arid southwestern Saskatchewan. In the rotation experiment, continuous wheat (Cont W) with N+P or P fertilizer only, and fallow-wheat-wheat (F-W-W) with N+P, P only, or N only were studied. We calculated WUE using: (i) Yield (Y)/[water use (WU)/potential water use (PET)]; (ii) Y/WU; (iii) Y/WU with a fallow phase element added; and (iv) Y/harvest-to-harvest precipitation (PUE). The WUEs in the rotation experiment were generally greater for treatments with N+P fertilizer, and greatest after an increase of N application coupled with favourable soil water conditions in the final decades of this study. In cases (i) and (ii), WUE for F-W-W was greater than for the Cont W-treatment. In case (iii), the WUEs were 5.7, 4.5, 3.9, 3.6, and 3.6 kg ha−1 mm−1 water for Cont W (N+P), Cont W (P), F-W-W (N+P), F-W-W (P), and F-W-W (N), respectively. For PUE [case (iv)] the values were 4.0, 3.1, 3.4, 3.0, and 2.9, respectively. We concluded that case (ii) was most appropriate for continuous cropping and case (iii) for systems including fallow, while case (iv) was usable in general.

Download Full-text