The effects of straw mulching combined with nitrogen applications on the root distributions and nitrogen utilization efficiency of summer maize

AbstractTo provide an appropriate tillage fertilization model for improving N utilization efficiency and increasing production, the field experiments were conducted to study the effects on root distributions and N utilization efficiency of summer maize involving different straw mulching modes combined with N fertilization. No (N0), low (N1), medium (N2), and high (N3) levels of N fertilization were incorporated into soil combined with the surface coverage straw (Treatment B) and the deeply buried straw (Treatment S). The traditional cultivation was used as control treatment. The results shown that treatments S had significantly promoted deep root growth, and the root length density (RLD) increased with increases in N application rate. SN2 and SN3 treatments’ average RLD were significantly increased by 67.5% and 68.1% in the greater than 40 cm soil layers. While the Treatment B had significantly increased the RLD in 0 –30 cm soil layers only. With increases in N application rate, the effect on summer maize yields increase under Treatment B were not significantly, and only BN3 increased by 0.4%, while under Treatments S were found to first increase, and then decrease. The apparent recovery efficiency of applied N, N uptake and summer maize yield of SN2 had increased by 66.8%, 20.4%, and 9.3%. Therefore the rational tillage fertilization model was deeply buried straw combined with medium N fertilizer in Hetao Irrigation District.

Download Full-text

Effect of nitrogen application on concentration of cadmium and nutrient ions in soil solution and in durum wheat

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s98-085 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 107-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

L. G. Mitchell ◽

C. A. Grant ◽

G. J. Racz

Keyword(s):

Ionic Strength ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Soil Solution ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Application Rate ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Cd Uptake ◽

N Application ◽

N Application Rate

A growth chamber experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the chemical composition of the soil solution over time, and to determine Cd uptake as a function of rates of nitrogen fertilizer application and transpiration. Sceptre durum wheat was grown in a fine sandy loam soil, in pots with treatments of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 µg N g−1 as urea. The soil solution was removed by water displacement and analyzed for Cd and other nutrient ions at time of seeding, 10, 20, 30, and 40 d after seeding, and at the time of crop maturity. Soil samples were analyzed at each sampling time, and aboveground plant material was also harvested at these times and analyzed for Cd and other nutrient ions. Behaviour of Cd was compared to that of the nutrient ions to gain a better understanding of patterns of ion behaviour. Conductivity measurements were taken as estimators of ionic strength. Both solution Cd concentration and DTPA-extractable soil Cd increased significantly with increasing nitrogen rate. The increases in Cd concentration with N fertilization were greatest immediately after fertilization and appeared to be related to an increase in soil and solution conductivity, with pH also having an influence on DTPA-extractable Cd. The soil solution concentration of all nutrients, with the exception of phosphate, increased with N rate. The effects of N fertilization on the amounts of extractable nutrients in the soil were more variable. Plant Cd concentrations increased with increasing N application rate to 800 µg g−1, but dry matter yield and transpiration only increased with N rate to 200 µg g−1. Cadmium was the element most affected by increasing the N rate, and there were minor changes in uptake of other elements such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Cu with N application rate and time. This study clearly illustrated the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the concentration of Cd in the soil solution and its uptake by durum wheat. Key words: Cadmium, nitrogen, urea, soil solution, ionic strength, durum, uptake

Download Full-text

Greenhouse gas emissions and reactive nitrogen releases from rice production with simultaneous incorporation of wheat straw and nitrogen fertilizer

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-13-4569-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 4569-4579 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Longlong Xia ◽

Yongqiu Xia ◽

Shutan Ma ◽

Jinyang Wang ◽

Shuwei Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wheat Straw ◽

Rice Yield ◽

Application Rate ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Rice Production ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Ch4 Emission ◽

Nh3 Volatilization ◽

N Application ◽

N Application Rate

Abstract. Impacts of simultaneous inputs of crop straw and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and N losses from rice production are not well understood. A 2-year field experiment was established in a rice–wheat cropping system in the Taihu Lake region (TLR) of China to evaluate the GHG intensity (GHGI) as well as reactive N intensity (NrI) of rice production with inputs of wheat straw and N fertilizer. The field experiment included five treatments of different N fertilization rates for rice production: 0 (RN0), 120 (RN120), 180 (RN180), 240 (RN240), and 300 kg N ha−1 (RN300, traditional N application rate in the TLR). Wheat straws were fully incorporated into soil before rice transplantation. The meta-analytic technique was employed to evaluate various Nr losses. Results showed that the response of rice yield to N rate successfully fitted a quadratic model, while N fertilization promoted Nr discharges exponentially (nitrous oxide emission, N leaching, and runoff) or linearly (ammonia volatilization). The GHGI of rice production ranged from 1.20 (RN240) to 1.61 kg CO2 equivalent (CO2 eq) kg−1 (RN0), while NrI varied from 2.14 (RN0) to 10.92 g N kg−1 (RN300). Methane (CH4) emission dominated the GHGI with a proportion of 70.2–88.6 % due to direct straw incorporation, while ammonia (NH3) volatilization dominated the NrI with proportion of 53.5–57.4 %. Damage costs to environment incurred by GHG and Nr releases from current rice production (RN300) accounted for 8.8 and 4.9 % of farmers' incomes, respectively. Cutting N application rate from 300 (traditional N rate) to 240 kg N ha−1 could improve rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency by 2.14 and 10.30 %, respectively, while simultaneously reducing GHGI by 13 %, NrI by 23 %, and total environmental costs by 16 %. Moreover, the reduction of 60 kg N ha−1 improved farmers' income by CNY 639 ha−1, which would provide them with an incentive to change the current N application rate. Our study suggests that GHG and Nr releases, especially for CH4 emission and NH3 volatilization, from rice production in the TLR could be further reduced, considering the current incorporation pattern of wheat straw and N fertilizer.

Download Full-text

349 Determining Nitrogen Requirements of Lettuce through Presidedress Soil Nitrate Testing (PSNT)

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.452c ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 452C-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T.K. Hartz ◽

S. Breschini

Keyword(s):

Application Rate ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Fertilizer Efficiency ◽

Test Technique ◽

N Application ◽

Central California ◽

Iceberg Lettuce ◽

N Concentration ◽

N Application Rate ◽

Salinas Valley

High rates of N fertilization of cool-season vegetables has contributed to NO3-N pollution of groundwater in the Salinas Valley of central California. Ten field demonstrations were conducted in 1999 to document the utility of presidedress soil NO3-N testing in maximizing N fertilizer efficiency in iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). In each demonstration, a plot 36 beds wide × the entire field length was established in a commercial lettuce field. The cooperating growers applied 1 to 3 N sidedressings in these fields. Before each sidedressing the soil NO3-N concentration in the top 30 cm of the plot was determined by an on-farm quick test technique. If NO3-N was >20 mg·kg-1, no N was applied at that sidedressing; for NO3-N <20 mg·kg-1, ≈4 kg N/ha was applied for each milligram per kilogram below the 20 mg·kg-1 threshold. Plot yields, harvested by commercial crews, were compared to the yield of adjacent areas of the field that received the growers' full sidedress N regime. Across fields, seasonal sidedress N application in the PSNT plots averaged N only at 86 kg·ha-1, almost 60% less than the average N (212 kg·ha-1) applied by the growers. Yields in the PSNT plots averaged 1824 boxes/ha, compared with 1829 boxes/ha in the companion field plots. Whole leaf N concentration at heading was above published sufficiency standards in all PSNT plots. Evaluation of heads after 10 days of storage at 5 °C showed that sidedress N application rate did not affect visual quality, decay, or midrib discoloration. We conclude that PSNT can reliably be used to minimize wasteful sidedress N applications in lettuce.

Download Full-text

Greenhouse gas emissions and reactive nitrogen releases from rice production with simultaneous incorporation of wheat straw and nitrogen fertilizer

10.5194/bg-2015-620 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Longlong Xia ◽

Yongqiu Xia ◽

Shutan Ma ◽

Jinyang Wang ◽

Shuwei Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wheat Straw ◽

Rice Yield ◽

Application Rate ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Rice Production ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Environmental Costs ◽

N Application ◽

Fertilization Rates ◽

N Application Rate

Abstract. The impacts of simultaneous inputs of crop straw and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reactive nitrogen (Nr) releases from rice production in intensive agricultural regions are not well understood. A field experiment was established in a rice–wheat cropping system in the Taihu Lake region (TLR) of China since 2013 to evaluate the GHG intensity (GHGI), Nr intensity (NrI) and environmental costs of concurrent inputs of wheat straw and N fertilizer to rice paddies. The field experiment included five treatments of different N fertilization rates for rice production: 0 (RN0), 120 (RN120), 180 (RN180), 240 (RN240) and 300 kg N ha–1 (RN300, traditional N applied rate in the TLR). Wheat straws were fully incorporated into soil before rice transplantation in all treatments. The results showed that the response of rice yield to N application rate successfully fitted a quadratic model. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were increased exponentially as N fertilization rates increased, while methane (CH4) emissions increased slightly with wheat straw rates increased. The estimated soil organic carbon sequestration rate varied from 129.58 (RN0) to 196.87 kg C ha−1 yr−1 (RN300). Seasonal average GHGI of rice production ranged from 1.20 (RN240) to 1.61 kg CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq) kg–1 (RN0), while NrI varied from 2.14 (RN0) to 10.92 g N kg−1 (RN300). CH4 emissions dominated GHGI with proportion of 70.2-88.6%, while ammonia (NH3) volatilization dominated NrI with proportion of 53.5-57.4% in all fertilization treatments. The damage costs to environment incurred by GHG and Nr releases from current rice production (RN300) accounted for 8.8% and 4.9% of farmer’s incomes, respectively. Cutting the traditional application rate of N fertilizer from 300 to 240 kg N ha−1 improved rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency by 2.14% and 10.30%, respectively, whilst simultaneously reduced GHGI by 13%, NrI by 23% and total environmental costs by 16%. Moreover, the reduction of 60 kg N ha−1 improved farmer’s income by 639 ¥ ha–1, which would provide them with an incentive to change their traditional N application rate. Our study suggests that GHG and Nr releases, especially the CH4 emission and NH3 volatilization, from rice production in the TLR could be further curbed, considering the current incorporation pattern of straw and N fertilizer.

Download Full-text

Comparison of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium utilization efficiency in maize/mungbean intercropping

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600087360 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 122 (2) ◽

pp. 193-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

M. K. Chowdhury ◽

E. L. Rosario

Keyword(s):

Application Rate ◽

Absorption Efficiency ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Application ◽

Land Equivalent Ratio ◽

Equivalent Ratio ◽

Rhizobial Inoculation ◽

N Application Rate ◽

Phosphorus And Potassium ◽

P Absorption

SUMMARYEffects of rhizobial inoculation and applied nitrogen on the utilization efficiency of N, P and K were studied in relation to the yield advantage in additive maize/mungbean intercrops at Los Baños, Philippines in 1988. Inoculation increased grain yield of both maize (Zea mays L.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Yield of maize increased by 60% in the sole crop and 71% in the intercrop as the N application rate was increased from 0 to 90 kg/ha, with a corresponding decrease of 29–35% in the yield of the associated mungbean. Intercropping reduced mungbean yield by 35–57%; maize was less affected. Inoculation also improved the land equivalent ratio (LER). The highest LER (1·49) was obtained at 30 kg N/ha with inoculation.Nutrient absorption by both maize and mungbean was reduced due to intercropping, mungbean being more affected than maize. The reductions in the N absorption efficiency of maize ranged from 4 to 37% and those of mungbean from 37 to 58%. Increases in N rate increased N absorption of maize but caused greater reductions in N absorption of mungbean. Reductions in P absorption by intercropped maize declined with increases in applied N and with inoculation. Inoculation, however, had a lesser effect on K absorption efficiency.Land equivalent ratio analysis in terms of N, P and K utilization efficiency showed that the increase in LER over unity was due largely to a higher total uptake of nutrients by the component crops in the mixture than by the sole crops. The greater efficiency of intercrops than of the sole crops in converting absorbed nutrients to grains also contributed to the yield advantage.

Download Full-text

Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application System to Improve Nitrogen use Efficiency and Ensure Sustainable Yield of Summer Maize (Zea mays L.)

10.21203/rs.3.rs-223117/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiangfei Han ◽

Lina Dong ◽

Peng Liu ◽

Shuting Dong ◽

Jiwang Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ammonia Volatilization ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Application Rate ◽

Sustainable Yield ◽

Nitrogen Application ◽

Summer Maize ◽

N Application ◽

Application System ◽

N Application Rate ◽

Use Efficiency

Abstract Exploring the optimal method of water and fertilizer application and N application rate for summer maize is important for achieving the high water and N efficiency in the North China Plain. We tested that the hypothesis that optimizing water and nitrogen application system could improve nitrogen (N) use efficiency and water productivity, and ensure sustainable yield of summer maize. The results showed that: the 216 kg N ha-1 of drip irrigation (DI) and micro-sprinkling irrigation (SI) could obtain the high grain yield compared with 270 kg N ha-1 of flooding irrigation (FI), which was achieved by maintaining a high 1000-grain weight and kernel number. However, the grain yield of 162 kg N ha-1 would be decreased significantly. Irrigation methods and N application rates had significant effects on the ammonia volatilization rate and ammonia volatilization accumulation of soil, N harvest index (NHI), N partial productivity and water productivity. Compared with FI, DI and SI could reduce the ammonia volatilization rate through applying little fertilizer-N by times, and reduce the ammonia volatilization accumulation of 19.5%-54.9%. In addition, under the same irrigation method, the NHI reached the maximum when the N application rate was 216 kg ha−1. Considering comprehensively, under the condition of this experiment, 216 kg N ha−1 is the best N application rate under DI or SI for maize.

Download Full-text

Turnover of carbon and nitrogen in coniferous forest soils of different N-status and under different 15NH4–N application rate

Nitrogen, the Confer-N-s ◽

10.1016/b978-0-08-043201-4.50056-3 ◽

1998 ◽

pp. 385-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Michael Sjöberg ◽

Tryggve Persson

Keyword(s):

Forest Soils ◽

Coniferous Forest ◽

Application Rate ◽

N Application ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

N Application Rate ◽

N Status

Download Full-text

Foliar Zn Spraying Simultaneously Improved Concentrations and Bioavailability of Zn and Fe in Maize Grains Irrespective of Foliar Sucrose Supply

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9070386 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 386 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haiyong Xia ◽

Weilin Kong ◽

Lan Wang ◽

Yanhui Xue ◽

Wenlong Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Agronomic Traits ◽

Application Rate ◽

Deionized Water ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Agricultural Practice ◽

N Application ◽

Application Rates ◽

N Application Rate ◽

Maize Grain ◽

Sucrose Supply

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global nutritional problem that is reduced through agronomic biofortification. In the current study, the effects of foliar spraying of exogenous ZnSO4·7H2O (0.2% in Quzhou and 0.3% in Licheng, w/v) and/or sucrose (10.0%, w/v) on maize (Zea mays L.) agronomic traits; concentrations of Zn, iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), total phosphorus (P), phytic acid (PA) P, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N); C/N ratios; and Zn and Fe bioavailability (as evaluated by molar ratios of PA/Zn, PA × Ca/Zn, PA/Fe and PA × Ca/Fe) in maize grains were studied under field conditions for two years at two experimental locations. The results confirmed that there were no significant differences in maize agronomic traits following the various foliar treatments. Compared with the control treatment of foliar spraying with deionized water, foliar applications of Zn alone or combined with sucrose significantly increased maize grain Zn concentrations by 29.2–58.3% in Quzhou (from 18.4–19.9 to 25.2–29.6 mg/kg) and by 39.8–47.8% in Licheng (from 24.9 to 34.8–36.8 mg/kg), as well as its bioavailability. No significant differences were found between the foliar spraying of deionized water and sucrose, and between Zn-only and “sucrose + Zn” at each N application rate and across different N application rates and experimental sites. Similar results were observed for maize grain Fe concentrations and bioavailability, but the Fe concentration increased to a smaller extent than Zn. Foliar Zn spraying alone or with sucrose increased maize grain Fe concentrations by 4.7–28.4% in Quzhou (from 13.4–17.1 to 15.2–18.5 mg/kg) and by 15.4–25.0% in Licheng (from 24.0 to 27.7–30.0 mg/kg). Iron concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with Zn at each N application rate and across different N application rates and experimental locations, indicating that foliar Zn spraying facilitated the transport of endogenous Fe to maize grains. Therefore, foliar Zn spraying increased the Zn concentration and bioavailability in maize grains irrespective of foliar sucrose supply while also improving Fe concentrations and bioavailability to some extent. This is a promising agricultural practice for simultaneous Zn and Fe biofortification in maize grains, i.e., “killing two birds with one stone”.

Download Full-text