Nitrogen fixation and soil nitrate interactions in field-grown chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and fababean (Vicia faba)

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Turpin ◽  
D. F. Herridge ◽  
M. J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Cicer Arietinum ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
N Rates

Soil in which nodulated legumes are growing often contains more nitrate nitrogen (N) than soil in which unnodulated legumes or non-legumes are growing. There is conjecture, however, as to whether the extra or ‘spared’ N is due to reduced use of soil N by the legume or to net mineralisation of legume root and nodular N. We report results of a field experiment to quantify and compare, at different levels of soil-N supply, N2 fixation, and soil-N use by chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and fababean (Vicia faba). Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was included as a non-N2-fixing control. Plants of the 3 species were grown on a low-nitrate Vertosol with fertiliser N rates of 0, 50, and 100 kg/ha (0N, 50N, and 100N), applied 6 weeks before sowing. Samples were collected at sowing and at 64, 100, 135, and 162 days after sowing (DAS) for analysis of soil nitrate, root, and grain dry matter (DM) and N and shoot DM, N, and 15N. The latter was used to estimate the percentage (%Ndfa) and total N fixed by the 2 legumes. Soil nitrate levels to a depth of 1.8 m at sowing were 11–17 kg N/ha (0N), 41–55 kg N/ha (50N), and 71–86 kg N/ha (100N). Grain yields of the 2 legumes were unaffected by soil-N supply (fertiliser N treatment), being 2.0–2.4 t/ha for chickpea and 3.7–4.6 t/ha for fababean. Wheat grain yields varied from 1.6 t/ha (0N) to 4.8 t/ha (100N). Fababean fixed more N than chickpea. Values (total plant including roots) were 209–275 kg/ha for fababean and 146–214 kg/ha for chickpea. Corresponding %Ndfa values were 69–88% (fababean) and 64–85% (chickpea). Early in crop growth, when soil N supply was high in the 100N treatment, fababean maintained a higher dependence on N2 fixation than chickpea (Ndfa of 45% v. 12%), fixed greater amounts of N (57 v. 16 kg/ha), and used substantially less soil N (69 v. 118 kg/ha). In this situation, soil N sparing was observed, with soil nitrate levels significantly higher in the fababean plots (P < 0.05) than under chickpea or wheat. At the end of growth season, however, there were no crop effects on soil nitrate levels. Soil N balances, which combined crop N fixed as inputs and grain N as outputs, were positive for the legumes, with ranges 80–135 kg N/ha for chickpea and 79–157 kg N/ha for fababean, and negative for wheat (–20 to –66 kg N/ha). We concluded that under the starting soil nitrate levels in this experiment, levels typical of many cropping soils in the region, high-biomass fababean and chickpea crops will not spare significant amounts of soil N. In situations of higher soil nitrate and/or smaller biomass crops with less N demand, nitrate sparing may occur, particularly with fababean.

Sowing time and tillage practice affect chickpea yield and nitrogen fixation. 2. Nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen fixation and soil nitrogen balance

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 701 ◽  
Author(s):  
CP Horn ◽  
RC Dalal ◽  
CJ Birch ◽  
JA Doughton
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
N Balance ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Tillage Practice ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
N Accumulation

Following long-term studies at Warra, on the western Darling Downs, chckpea (Cicer anetinum) was selected as a useful grain legume cash crop with potential for improvement of its nitrogen (N) fixing ability through management. This 2-year study examined the effect of sowing time and tillage practice on dry matter yield, grain yield (Horn et al. 1996), N accumulation, N2 fixation, and the subsequent soil N balance. Generally, greater N accumulation resulted from sowing in late autumn-early winter (89-117 kg N/ha) than sowing in late winter (76-90 kg N/ha). The amount of N2 fixed was low in both years (15-32 kg N/ha), and was not significantly affected by sowing time or tillage. The potential for N2 fixation was reduced in both years due to high initial soil nitrate levels and low total biomass of chickpea because of low rainfall. Nitrogen accumulation by grain was higher under zero tillage (ZT) than conventional tillage (CT) for all sowing times, and this affected the level of grain N export. The consequence of low N2 fixation and high N export in chickpea grain was a net loss of total soil N, (2-48 kg N/ha under CT and 22-59 kg N/ha under ZT). Management practices to ensure larger biomass production and lower soil nitrate-N levels may result in increased N2 fixation by chickpea and thus a positive soil N balance.

Validation of NBudget for estimating soil N supply in Australia's northern grains region in the absence of soil test data

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 590 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Herridge
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Available N ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Winter Crop

Effective management of fertiliser nitrogen (N) inputs by farmers will generally have beneficial productivity, economic and environmental consequences. The reality is that farmers may be unsure of plant-available N levels in cropping soils at sowing and make decisions about how much fertiliser N to apply with limited information about existing soil N supply. NBudget is a Microsoft (Armonk, NY, USA) Excel-based decision support tool developed primarily to assist farmers and/or advisors in Australia’s northern grains region manage N. NBudget estimates plant-available (nitrate) N at sowing; it also estimates sowing soil water, grain yields, fertiliser N requirements for cereals and oilseed crops and N2 fixation by legumes. NBudget does not rely on soil testing for nitrate-N, organic carbon or soil water content. Rather, the tool relies on precrop (fallow) rainfall data plus basic descriptions of soil texture and fertility, tillage practice and information about paddock use in the previous 2 years. Use is made of rule-of-thumb values and stand-alone or linked algorithms describing, among other things, rates of mineralisation of background soil organic N and fresh residue N. Winter and summer versions of NBudget cover the 10 major crops of the region: bread wheat, durum, barley, canola, chickpea and faba bean in the winter crop version; sorghum, sunflower, soybean and mung bean in the summer crop version. Validating the winter crop version of NBudget estimates of sowing soil nitrate-N against three independent datasets (n=65) indicated generally close agreement between measured and predicted values (y=0.91x+16.8; r2=0.78). A limitation of the tool is that it does not account for losses of N from waterlogged or flooded soils. Although NBudget also predicts grain yields and fertiliser N requirements for the coming season, potential users may simply factor predicted soil N supply into their fertiliser decisions, rather than rely on the output of the tool. Decisions about fertiliser N inputs are often complex and are based on several criteria, including attitudes to risk, history of fertiliser use and costs. The usefulness and likely longevity of NBudget would be enhanced by transforming the current Excel-based tool, currently available on request from the author, to a stand-alone app or web-based tool.

scholarly journals Evaluation of In-Season Nitrogen Management for Summer Maize in North Central China

ISRN Agronomy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-C. Zhao ◽  
P. He ◽  
Z.-M. Sha ◽  
S.-L. Xing ◽  
K.-J. Li
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Central China ◽  
Summer Maize ◽  
North Central ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Maize Growth ◽  
N Supply ◽  
N Management ◽  
N Rates

We conducted field experiments in which nitrogen (N) was applied to summer maize at different rates and different basal/topdressing ratios. The experiments were carried out in 2009 in Hengshui and Xinji, Hebei province, China. The results showed that basal application of N was necessary for maize growth in early summer and for high grain yields. For the Hengshui and Xinji sites, 30 and 57 kg N ha−1, respectively, would meet the N demands of maize before 7-leaf stage. The total rates of 120 and 180 kg N ha−1, respectively, would maximize grain yields, and in-season N management based on crop N demands and soil N supply could reduce N inputs by more than 50% in Hengshui and 25% in Xinji, respectively, in one maize growth season, compared with farmers' practice, but the sustainability of the optimum N rates for maximum grain yield of next seasons crop needs to be further studied. Optimum N management should take into account the existing nutrient conditions at each site, soil fertility and texture, and crop demands.

scholarly journals Improving Soil Quality and Potato Productivity with Manure and High-Residue Cover Crops in Eastern Canada

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1436
Author(s):  
Judith Nyiraneza ◽  
Dahu Chen ◽  
Tandra Fraser ◽  
Louis-Pierre Comeau
Keyword(s):  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Supply Capacity

Under intensive low residue agricultural systems, such as those involving potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)-based systems, stagnant crop yields and declining soil health and environmental quality are common issues. This study evaluated the effects of pen-pack cow (Bos Taurus) manure application (20 Mg·ha−1) and cover crops on nitrate dynamics and soil N supply capacity, subsequent potato yield, selected soil properties, and soil-borne disease. Eight cover crops were tested and included grasses, legumes, or a mixture of legumes and grasses, with red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) used as a control. Forage pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) was associated with highest dry matter. On average, red clover had 88% higher total N accumulation than the treatments mixing grasses and legumes, and the former was associated with higher soil nitrate in fall before residue incorporation and overwinter, but this was not translated into increased potato yields. Pearl millet and sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × sorghum bicolor var. Sudanese) were associated with lower soil nitrate in comparison to red clover while being associated with higher total potato yield and lower numerical value of root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans), although this was not statistically significant at 5% probability level. Manure incorporation increased total and marketable yield by 28% and 26%, respectively, and increased soil N supply capacity by an average of 44%. Carbon dioxide released after a short incubation as a proxy of soil microbial respiration increased by an average of 27% with manure application. Our study quantified the positive effect of manure application and high-residue cover crops on soil quality and potato yield for the province of Prince Edward Island.

B value and isotopic fractionation in N2 fixation by chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

2010 ◽  
Vol 337 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 425-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. López-Bellido ◽  
Rafael J. López-Bellido ◽  
Ramón Redondo ◽  
Luis López-Bellido
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Cicer Arietinum ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
B Value ◽  
Cicer Arietinum L ◽  
Vicia Faba L

Assessment of the nitrogen status of onions (Allium cepa L.) cv. Cream Gold by plant analysis

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 853 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Maier ◽  
AP Dahlenburg ◽  
TK Twigden
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Total N ◽  
Scale Thickness ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Allium Cepa L ◽  
N Rates

Three field experiments were carried out during 1987-88 (1 site) and 1988-89 (2 sites) with Cream Gold onions grown on siliceous sands, to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N), at rates up to 475 kg N/ha on total-N, nitrate-N, potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in youngest fully expanded blades (YFEB), bulked blades, necks and developing bulbs. The plant samples were collected when the largest bulbs were 25-30 mm in diameter. Nitrate-N concentrations were in the order WEB> bulked blades>necks = developing bulbs. For total-N the order was YFEB = bulked blades>necks> developing bulbs. Nitrate-N was more sensitive to variations in N supply than total-N in all tissues sampled. Potassium concentrations were in the order bulked blades > YFEB > necks > bulbs. At N rates <75 kg N/ha, P concentrations were in the order YFEB = bulked blades > bulbs > necks. Coefficients of determination (r2) for the relationships between nitrate-N and total-N concentrations and relative marketable yield of bulbs were in the range 0.73-0.98. At sites 1 and 3, the relationships between total-N and relative marketable yield were 'C-shaped' or showed the Piper-Steenbjerg effect. Critical concentrations (values at 90% relative marketable yield) for nitrate-N varied between plant parts (375-590 mg/kg) and sites (590-940 mg/kg for YFEB). Critical total-N concentrations also varied between the different plant parts (1.2-2.9%) but less so between sites (2.4-2.9% for YFEB) compared with nitrate-N. Based on sensitivity (as indicated by the range in tissue concentrations in response to variations in N supply) and on the correlations between nitrate-N and total-N concentrations and per cent relative marketable yield, we concluded that nitrate-N and total-N concentrations in YFEB were suitable indicators of the N status of onion plants. The YFEB is easily identified, and compared with bulked blades, necks or bulbs, samples of 50-100 can be collected without destroying plants and will also not result in excessive plant material to dry. Based on the variation in critical values between sites (reproducibility), total-N is preferred to nitrate-N. Correlations between nitrate-N and total-N concentrations in YFEB and bulb quality attributes (scale thickness, glucose concentration, fructose concentration, soluble solids and dry matter) were poor (72 values 10.48) and of little predictive value.

Effect of soil nitrate on the growth and nodulation of lupins (Lupinus angustifolius and L. albus)

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 655
Author(s):  
AL Cowie ◽  
RS Jessop ◽  
DA MacLeod ◽  
GJ Davis
Keyword(s):  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Lupinus Albus ◽  
Lupinus Angustifolius ◽  
Sand Culture ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Similar Extent ◽  
Selection Of

The effect of increasing external nitrate (NO-3) concentration on the nodulation of Lupinus albus and L. angustifolius lines was examined in 2 sand culture experiments. In the first experiment 4 lines, 3 L. albus and 1 L. angustifolius, were grown at NO-3 concentrations of 0, 2, 8, 16, and 30 mmol/L for 49 days. Increasing the NOT concentration reduced nodule weight in all varieties to a similar extent. In a second experiment, 18 L. angustifolius lines were grown at NO-3 concentrations of 2 and 8 mmol/L for 49 days. The ratio of nodule weights at the 8 and 2 mmol/L NO-3 treatments varied widely, from 23 to 71%, between the lines. There appears to be potential for selection of L. angustifolius varieties able to maintain N2 fixation at increased levels of soil N.

scholarly journals Corn agronomic traits and recovery of nitrogen from fertilizer during crop season and off-season

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1158-1166
Author(s):  
Luis Felipe Garcia Fuentes ◽  
Luiz Carlos Ferreira de Souza ◽  
Ademar Pereira Serra ◽  
Jerusa Rech ◽  
Antonio Carlos Tadeu Vitorino
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Soil N ◽  
N Supply ◽  
N Rates

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate corn agronomic traits in a cultivation subjected to different N rates, during the fall-winter (off-season) and spring-summer crop seasons, and N recovery from fertilizer. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with four replicates, in a 5x2 factorial arrangement, with the following treatments: five N topdressing rates - 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1 -, using urea as source; and two crop seasons, fall-winter and spring-summer. The following variables were determined: plant height, height of the first ear insertion, number of grains per ear, diameter and length of ear, 1,000-grain weight, N concentration in the leaves and grains, grain-protein concentration, grain yield, N recovery from fertilizer, and soil-N supply. Nitrogen rates in the fertilizer in the fall-winter season had no effect on grain yield, although corn agronomic traits showed a greater reliance on fertilizer-N rates in that season than in the spring-summer, which is a season associated to a greater capacity of soil-N supply to plants. The quantification of soil-N supply enabled knowing the nutrient dynamics during the fall-winter and the spring-summer seasons, which may be useful to guide N fertilization of corn.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF COVER CROP AND N RATE ON SOIL N AND YIELD OF NO-TILL SWEETCORN AND STRIP-TILL TOMATO

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 663d-663
Author(s):  
Greg D. Hoyt
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Residue Decomposition ◽  
No Till ◽  
N Rates ◽  
Total Soil N

A no-till sweetcorn strip-till tomato rotation was established to determine whether a grass or legume winter cover crop would provide greater summer mulch and more soil inorganic nitrogen from residue decomposition. Sweetcorn yields improved as N rate increased in rye residue and bare soil, but only increased at the 50 kg N/ha rate in vetch residue. Strip-till tomato yields improved with all N rates for all covers. Total soil N and C were greater in both the vetch and rye residue treatments than the bare soil. Fertilizer N addition did not affect changes in total N or C percentages. Greater soil nitrate was measured beneath vetch residue at spring planting than in the rye residue or bare soil surface.

N2 fixation and its value to soil N increase in lupin, field pea and other legumes in south-eastern Australia

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 791 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Evans ◽  
GE O'Connor ◽  
GL Turner ◽  
DR Coventry ◽  
N Fettell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Eastern Australia

N2 fixation and its potential contribution to increasing soil total N were estimated in field-grown crops of lupin and pea in 21 trials at 10 locations in New South Wales and Victoria, during 1984 to 1987. Chickpea, faba bean and annual medic were included at some sites. Across experiments there were differences in annual rainfall (267 to 646 mm), soil N (0.02 to 0.20%), soil pH (CaCl2,4.3 to 8.0) and sowing date (24 April to 16 June). Most experiments were conducted on acidic (pH < 4.8) red-earth, the others on grey-cracking clay or sandy soil, both of higher pH The differing sites, seasons, and sowing time contributed to variation in legume biomass (2.02 to 14.33 t/ha) and total N (45 to 297 kg N/ha), and the amount of N harvested with grain (8 to 153 kg N/ha), which were related.Lupin fixed an average of 65% of total crop N, and pea 61%, but there was considerable variation about these averages (20 to 97%). Significant differences in % N2 fixation between legumes within sites were few. The amount of N2 fixed averaged 98.5 kg N/ha by lupin and 80.5 kg N/ha by pea, varying 26 to 288 kg N/ha and 16 to 177 kg N/ha, respectively. Variation in proportional and total N2 fixation was associated with biomass, soil mineral N, and sowing date. N2 fixation increased with more biomass and declined with higher soil mineral N, and later sowing (lupin). Each additional tonne of dry matter increased fixed N by c. 20 kg N/ha. Differences in amounts of fixed N between legumes within sites were due primarily to biomass differences.N2fixed by lupin contributed an average of 38.2 kg N/ha to soil N, and by pea, 17.9 kg N/ha. The contribution was variable, -41 to 135 kg N/ha (lupin) and -32 to 96 kg N/ha (pea), and correlated with proportional and total N2 fixation. Positive increase to soil total N occurred when lupin fixed at least 50% of its crop N, and pea 65%. This occurred in most crops. Legumes frequently used less of the available soil N than cereals.

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