Improving wheat grain yield via promotion of water and nitrogen utilization in arid areas

AbstractCrop yield is limited by water and nitrogen (N) availability. However, in Hexi Corridor of northwestern China, water scarcity and excessive fertilizer N in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production causes serious conflicts between water and N supply and crop demand. A field experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2018 to evaluate whether reducing of irrigation and fertilizer N will reduce grain yield of wheat. There were two irrigation quotas (192 and 240 mm) and three fertilizer N rates (135, 180, and 225 kg N ha−1). The results showed that reducing irrigation to 192 mm and N rate to 180 kg N ha−1 reduced water uptake, water uptake efficiency, and N uptake of spring wheat as compared to local practice (i.e., 240 mm irrigation and 225 kg N ha−1 fertilizer). Whereas, it improved water and N utilization efficiency, and water and N productivity. Consequently, the irrigation and N rate reduced treatment achieved the same quantity of grain yield as local practice. The path analysis showed that interaction effect between irrigation and N fertilization may attributable to the improvement of grain yield with lower irrigation and N rate. The enhanced water and N utilization allows us to conclude that irrigation quota at 192 mm coupled with fertilizer N rate at 180 kg N ha−1 can be used as an efficient practice for wheat production in arid irrigation areas.

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Genetic control of grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in tropical maize

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2008001100010 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (11) ◽

pp. 1517-1523 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Leandro Vagno de Souza ◽

Glauco Vieira Miranda ◽

João Carlos Cardoso Galvão ◽

Fernando Roberto Eckert ◽

Éder Eduardo Mantovani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Genetic Control ◽

Combining Ability ◽

N Uptake ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Availability ◽

Maize Genotypes ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Rates ◽

Additive Genetic Effects

The objectives of this work were to study the genetic control of grain yield (GY) and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE, grain yield/N applied) and its primary components, N uptake efficiency (NUpE, N uptake/N applied) and N utilization efficiency (NUtE, grain yield/N uptake), in maize grown in environments with high and low N availability. Experiments with 31 maize genotypes (28 hybrid crosses and three controls) were carried out in soils with high and low N rates, in the southeast of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. There was a reduction of 23.2% in average GY for maize grown in soil with low N, in comparison to that obtained with high N. There were 26.5, 199 and 400% increases in NUtE, NUpE, and NUE, respectively, for maize grown with low N. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant for GY, NUE and NUpE for maize grown in high N soil. Only GCA was significant for NUpE for maize grown in low N soil. The GCA and SCA for NUtE were not significant in either environment. Additive and non-additive genetic effects are responsible for the genetic control of NUE and GY for maize grown in soils with high N availability, although additive effects are more important.

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Agronomic Strategies to Improve N Efficiency Indices in Organic Durum Wheat Grown in Mediterranean Area

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10112444 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2444

Author(s):

Federica Carucci ◽

Giuseppe Gatta ◽

Anna Gagliardi ◽

Pasquale De Vita ◽

Simone Bregaglio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Foliar Application ◽

N Uptake ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Organic N ◽

Sodium Selenate ◽

N Availability ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Yield Increase

Organic farming systems are often constrained by limited soil nitrogen (N) availability. Here we evaluated the effect of foliar organic N and sulphur (S), and selenium (Se) application on durum wheat, considering N uptake, utilization efficiency (NUtE), grain yield, and protein concentration as target variables. Field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 on two old (Cappelli and old Saragolla) and two modern (Marco Aurelio and Nadif) Italian durum wheat varieties. Four organic fertilization strategies were evaluated, i.e., the control (CTR, dry blood meal at sowing), the application of foliar N (CTR + N) and S (CTR + S), and their joint use (CTR + NS). Furthermore, a foliar application of sodium selenate was evaluated. Three factors—variety, fertilization strategies and selenium application—were arranged in a split-split-plot design and tested in two growing seasons. The modern variety Marco Aurelio led to the highest NUtE and grain yield in both seasons. S and N applications had a positive synergic effect, especially under drought conditions, on pre-anthesis N uptake, N translocation, NUtE, and grain yield. Se treatment improved post-anthesis N uptake and NUtE, leading to 17% yield increase in the old variety Cappelli, and to 13% and 14% yield increase in Marco Aurelio and Nadif, mainly attributed to NUtE increase. This study demonstrated that the synergistic effect of foliar applications could improve organic durum wheat yields in Mediterranean environments, especially on modern varieties.

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Soil N2O Emissions under Different N Rates in an Oil Palm Plantation on Tropical Peatland

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture9100213 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 213 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Auldry Chaddy ◽

Lulie Melling ◽

Kiwamu Ishikura ◽

Ryusuke Hatano

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

N Uptake ◽

N2o Emission ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

N Availability ◽

Tropical Peatland ◽

Oil Palm Plantation ◽

N Rates

(1) Background: Nitrogen (N) fertilization on drained tropical peatland will likely stimulate peat decomposition and mineralization, enhancing N2O emission from the peat soil. (2) Methods: A field experiment was conducted to quantify the N2O emissions from soil in an oil palm plantation (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) located in a tropical peatland in Sarawak, Malaysia, under different rates of N fertilizers. The study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2013 and resumed from January 2016 to December 2017. Nitrous oxide (N2O) flux was measured every month using a closed chamber method for four different N rates; control—without N (T1), 31.1 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (T2), 62.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (T3), and 124.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (T4); (3) Results: Application of the N fertilizer significantly increased annual cumulative N2O emissions for T4 only in the years 2010 (p = 0.017), 2011 (p = 0.012), 2012 (p = 0.007), and 2016 (p = 0.048). The highest average annual cumulative N2O emissions were recorded for T4 (41.5 ± 28.7 kg N ha−1 yr−1), followed by T3 (35.1 ± 25.7 kg N ha−1 yr−1), T1 (25.2 ± 17.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1), and T2 (25.1 ± 15.4 kg N ha−1 yr−1), indicating that the N rates of 62.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 124.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 increased the average annual cumulative N2O emissions by 39% and 65%, respectively, as compared to the control. The N fertilization had no significant effect on annual oil palm yield (p = 0.994). Alternating between low (deeper than −60 cm) and high groundwater level (GWL) (shallower than −60 cm) enhanced nitrification during low GWL, further supplying NO3− for denitrification in the high GWL, and contributing to higher N2O emissions in high GWL. The emissions of N2O ranged from 17 µg N m−2 hr−1 to 2447 µg N m−2 hr−1 and decreased when the water-filled pore space (WFPS) was between 70% and 96%, suggesting the occurrence of complete denitrification. A positive correlation between N2O emissions and NO3− at 70–96% WFPS indicated that denitrification increased with increased NO3− availability. Based on their standardized regression coefficients, the effect of GWL on N2O emissions increased with increased N rate (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was found that annual oil palm yields negatively correlated with annual N2O emission and NO3− for all treatments. Both nitrification and denitrification increased with increased N availability, making both processes important sources of N2O in oil palm cultivation on tropical peatland.; and (4) Conclusions: To improve understanding of N2O mitigation strategies, further studies should consider plant N uptake on N2O emissions, at least until the completion of the planting.

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Rice NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 1 Rapidly Responds to Nitrogen Deficiency and Improves Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

10.1101/2020.02.22.961193 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alamin Alfatih ◽

Jie Wu ◽

Zi-Sheng Zhang ◽

Jing-Qiu Xia ◽

Sami Ullah Jan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

N Uptake ◽

Nitrogen Deficiency ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

High Yield ◽

N Availability ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

N Utilization ◽

Use Efficiency

ABSTRACTNitrogen (N) is indispensable for crop growth and yield, but excessive agricultural application of nitrogenous fertilizers has generated severe environmental problems. A desirable and economical solution to cope with these issues is to improve crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Plant NUE has been a focal point of intensive research worldwide, yet much more has to be learned about its genetic determinants and regulation. Here, we show that rice NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 1 (OsNLP1) plays a fundamental role in N utilization. OsNLP1 protein localizes in nucleus and its transcript level is rapidly induced by N starvation. Overexpression of OsNLP1 improves plant growth, grain yield and NUE under different N conditions while knockout of OsNLP1 impairs grain yield and NUE under N limiting conditions. OsNLP1 regulates nitrate and ammonium utilization by cooperatively orchestrating multiple N uptake and assimilation genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and yeast-one-hybrid assays show that OsNLP1 can directly bind to the promoter of these genes to activate their expression. Therefore, our results demonstrate that OsNLP1 is a key regulator of N utilization and represents a potential target for improving NUE and yield in rice.One-sentence summaryOsNLP1 rapidly responds to N availability, enhances N uptake and assimilation, and holds great potential in promoting high yield in rice.

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Response of low-N pool maize population to nitrogen uptake and use efficiency after three cycles of full-sib recurrent selection

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859607007198 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 145 (5) ◽

pp. 481-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

L. O. OMOIGUI ◽

S. O. ALABI ◽

A. Y. KAMARA

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Recurrent Selection ◽

N Uptake ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Content ◽

Total N ◽

Maize Population ◽

N Utilization ◽

Use Efficiency

SUMMARYIdentification of plant cultivars efficient for nitrogen (N) uptake and utilization may contribute to the improvement of crop yield potential in areas of low-N (LN) availability. Three cycles of full-sib recurrent selection were applied on a LN pool-yellow (LNP-Y) maize population to improve its level of tolerance to low soil N in the savannah ecosystem. The progress after three cycles of selection was evaluated for two years (2000 and 2001). The objectives of the study were to classify the cycles in relation to response to N levels under field conditions and to investigate the progress in selection for improved grain yield and other agronomic traits at two N levels, LN (30 kg N/ha) and high-N (HN, 90 kg N/ha). The experiment was conducted under field conditions at the LN screening site of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, in the northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria. The experimental design consisted of randomized complete blocks with three replications. The aboveground biomass and grain at harvest were analysed for total N content. The results indicated differences in plant population response to N levels. Mean grain yield ranged from 2·5 t/ha in cycle 1 to 2·7 t/ha in cycle 3 under LN and from 4·2 t/ha in cycle 1 to 4·3 t/ha in cycle 3 under HN. The observed gains were 4·8% per cycle under LN and 1·4% per cycle under HN. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) traits, viz. N uptake efficiency and N utilization efficiency were positively affected by selection. Gains for N utilization efficiency were 6·3% per cycle at LN and 9·1% per cycle at HN, while observed gains for NUE were 3·9% at LN and 1·4% per cycle at HN. However, N utilization efficiency was identified as the most important component of NUE for selecting cycles of selection in population development. Total N content and N utilization efficiency were significantly correlated with each other at LN, and had a significant, positive, direct effect on grain yield. Grain yield was positively correlated with N content and N utilization efficiency at both N levels. Also, a significant positive correlation was observed at LN between 300 kernel weight and N utilization efficiency. N utilization efficiency was correlated with ears/plant at HN and negatively correlated with anthesis-silking interval (ASI). The present study revealed that selection for improved productivity under LN stress conditions could be further enhanced by simultaneously selecting for high grain yield performance based on N utilization efficiency and on secondary traits, such as ears/plant, 300 kernel weight, and reduced ASI.

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RELIABILITY OF NDVI DERIVED BY HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE AND UAV COMPARED TO IN-FIELD METHODS FOR THE EVALUATION OF EARLY CROP N STATUS AND GRAIN YIELD IN WHEAT

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479717000278 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 604-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

PAOLO BENINCASA ◽

SARA ANTOGNELLI ◽

LUCA BRUNETTI ◽

CARLO ALBERTO FABBRI ◽

ANTONIO NATALE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Availability ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Field Methods ◽

Crop N Uptake ◽

N Rates ◽

N Status

SUMMARYThis study was aimed at comparing in-field parameters and remote sensing NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) by both satellite (SAT) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the assessment of early nitrogen (N) status and prediction of yield in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Six increasing N rates, i.e., 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 kg N ha−1 were applied, half at tillering and half at shooting. Thus, when the crop N status was monitored between the two N applications, consecutive N treatments differentiated from each other by just 20 kg N ha−1. The following in-field and remote sensed parameters were compared as indicators of crop vegetative and N status: plant N% (w:w) concentration; crop N uptake (Nupt); ratio between transmitted and incident photosynthetically active radiation (PARt/PARi); leaf SPAD values, an indirect index for chlorophyll content; SAT and UAV derived NDVI. As reliable indicators of wheat N availability, in-field parameters were ranked as follows: PARt/PARi ≅ Nupt > SPAD ≅ N%. The PARt/PARi, Nupt and SPAD resulted quite strongly correlated to each other. At all crop stages, the NDVI was strongly correlated with PARt/PARi and Nupt. It is of relevance that NDVI correlated quite strongly to in-field parameters and grain yield at shooting, i.e., before the second N application, when the N rate can still be adjusted. The SAT and UAV NDVIs were strongly correlated to each other, which means they can be used alternatively depending on the context.

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PLANT DENSITY AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON COMMON BEAN NUTRITION AND YIELD

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252017v30n315rc ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 670-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

ROGÉRIO PERES SORATTO ◽

TIAGO ARANDA CATUCHI ◽

EMERSON DE FREITAS CORDOVA DE SOUZA ◽

JADER LUIS NANTES GARCIA

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Common Bean ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Plant Density ◽

N Fertilization ◽

N Concentration ◽

Plant Densities ◽

N Rates ◽

Lower Plant

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of plant densities and sidedressed nitrogen (N) rates on nutrition and productive performance of the common bean cultivars IPR 139 and Pérola. For each cultivar, a randomized complete block experimental design was used in a split-plot arrangement, with three replicates. Plots consisted of three plant densities (5, 7, and 9 plants ha-1) and subplots of five N rates (0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha-1). Aboveground dry matter, leaf macro- and micronutrient concentrations, yield components, grain yield, and protein concentration in grains were evaluated. Lower plant densities (5 and 7 plants m-1) increased aboveground dry matter production and the number of pods per plant and did not reduce grain yield. In the absence of N fertilization, reduction of plant density decreased N concentration in common bean leaves. Nitrogen fertilization linearly increased dry matter and leaf N concentration, mainly at lower plant densities. Regardless of plant density, the N supply linearly increased grain yield of cultivars IPR 139 and Pérola by 17.3 and 52.2%, respectively.

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Ethephon Reduces Maize Nitrogen Uptake but Improves Nitrogen Utilization in Zea mays L.

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.762736 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yushi Zhang ◽

Yubin Wang ◽

Churong Liu ◽

Delian Ye ◽

Danyang Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Plant Density ◽

N Uptake ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Application ◽

Total N ◽

N Concentration ◽

High Plant Density ◽

Ethephon Treatment ◽

N Use

Increasing use of plant density or/and nitrogen (N) application has been introduced to maize production in the past few decades. However, excessive planting density or/and use of fertilizer may cause reduced N use efficiency (NUE) and increased lodging risks. Ethephon application improves maize lodging resistance and has been an essential measure in maize intensive production systems associated with high plant density and N input in China. Limited information is available about the effect of ethephon on maize N use and the response to plant density under different N rates in the field. A three-year field study was conducted with two ethephon applications (0 and 90 g ha−1), four N application rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg N ha−1), and two plant densities (6.75 plants m−2 and 7.5 plants m−2) to evaluate the effects of ethephon on maize NUE indices (N agronomic efficiency, NAE; N recovery efficiency, NRE; N uptake efficiency, NUpE; N utilization efficiency, NUtE; partial factor productivity of N, PFPN), biomass, N concentration, grain yield and N uptake, and translocation properties. The results suggest that the application of ethephon decreased the grain yield by 1.83–5.74% due to the decrease of grain numbers and grain weight during the three experimental seasons. Meanwhile, lower biomass, NO3- and NH4+ fluxes in xylem bleeding sap, and total N uptake were observed under ethephon treatments. These resulted in lower NAE and NUpE under the ethephon treatment at a corresponding N application rate and plant density. The ethephon treatment had no significant effects on the N concentration in grains, and it decreased the N concentration in stover at the harvesting stage, while increasing the plant N concentration at the silking stage. Consequently, post-silking N remobilization was significantly increased by 14.10–32.64% under the ethephon treatment during the experimental periods. Meanwhile, NUtE significantly increased by ethephon.

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Carbohydrate Dynamics in Maize Leaves and Developing Ears in Response to Nitrogen Application

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8120302 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 302 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Peng Ning ◽

Yunfeng Peng ◽

Felix Fritschi

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Grain Filling ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Starch Accumulation ◽

N Availability ◽

Maize Grain Yield ◽

Filling Phase ◽

Maize Grain ◽

Carbohydrate Dynamics ◽

Maize Ear

Maize grain yield is considered to be highly associated with ear and leaf carbohydrate dynamics during the critical period bracketing silking and during the fast grain filling phase. However, a full understanding of how differences in N availability/plant N status influence carbohydrate dynamics and processes underlying yield formation remains elusive. Two field experiments were conducted to examine maize ear development, grain yield and the dynamics of carbohydrates in maize ear leaves and developing ears in response to differences in N availability. Increasing N availability stimulated ear growth during the critical two weeks bracketing silking and during the fast grain-filling phase, consequently resulting in greater maize grain yield. In ear leaves, sucrose and starch concentrations exhibited an obvious diurnal pattern at both silking and 20 days after silking, and N fertilization led to more carbon flux to sucrose biosynthesis than to starch accumulation. The elevated transcript abundance of key genes involved in starch biosynthesis and maltose export, as well as the sugar transporters (SWEETs) important for phloem loading, indicated greater starch turnover and sucrose export from leaves under N-fertilized conditions. In developing ears, N fertilization likely enhanced the cleavage of sucrose to glucose and fructose in the cob prior to and at silking and the synthesis from glucose and fructose to sucrose in the kernels after silking, and thus increasing kernel setting and filling. At the end, we propose a source-sink carbon partitioning framework to illustrates how N application influences carbon assimilation in leaves, transport, and conversions in developing reproductive tissues, ultimately leading to greater yield.

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MYB61 is regulated by GRF4 and promotes nitrogen utilization and biomass production in rice

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-19019-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yihong Gao ◽

Zuopeng Xu ◽

Lanjun Zhang ◽

Shance Li ◽

Shaogan Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

N Uptake ◽

Biomass Accumulation ◽

Nitrogen Utilization ◽

Cellulosic Biomass ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Cellulose Synthesis ◽

N Utilization ◽

C Metabolism ◽

N Use

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient that boosts carbon (C) metabolism and plant growth leading to biomass accumulation. The molecular connection between nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and biomass production remains unclear. Here, via quantitative trait loci analysis and map-based cloning, we reveal that natural variation at the MYB61 locus leads to differences in N use and cellulose biogenesis between indica and japonica subspecies of rice. MYB61, a transcriptional factor that regulates cellulose synthesis, is directly regulated by a known NUE regulator GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR4 (GRF4), which coordinates cellulosic biomass production and N utilization. The variation at MYB61 has been selected during indica and japonica domestication. The indica allele of MYB61 displays robust transcription resulting in higher NUE and increased grain yield at reduced N supply than that of japonica. Our study hence unravels how C metabolism is linked to N uptake and may provide an opportunity to reduce N use for sustainable agriculture.

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