USE OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO INCREASE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN A BROCCOLI-CORN ROTATION OF CENTRAL MEXICO

Narrow rows and optimum nitrogen applications are effective best management practices (BMPs) to enhance crop yield in an economically viable way. In a set of four studies, we aimed to compare the traditional method of planting (TMP) in wider rows (76.2 cm) with a lower plant population (84,600 seeds ha−1) against a new BMP of planting in narrow rows (38.1 cm) with a higher plant population (158,000 seeds ha−1). Implementation of the BMP resulted in 29.9 Mg ha−1 of dry matter (DM) silage, which was 42.5% higher than the 21.0 Mg ha−1 observed with the TMP. The p-values for the BMP versus TMP silage comparisons were p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 for studies 2, 3, and 4, respectively, showing the significantly higher production with the BMP. Silage production water use efficiency (WUE) and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AE) were also higher with the BMP in studies 2, 3 and 4. The average harvested grain DM of the three BMP studies (9.9 Mg ha−1) was 9.5% higher than the 9.0 Mg ha−1 harvested grain DM with the TMP. The BMP of narrow rows with higher plant populations increases silage and grain production in sprinkler-irrigated systems.

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Stretching water – Queensland's water use efficiency cotton and grains adoption program

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2003.0440 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 191-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P.J. Goyne ◽

G.T. McIntyre

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Public Image ◽

Best Management ◽

Irrigation Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

On Farm

The Cotton and Grains Adoption Program of the Queensland Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative is targeting five major irrigation regions in the state with the objective to develop better irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) through the adoption of best management practices in irrigation. The major beneficiaries of the program will be industries, irrigators and local communities. The benefits will flow via two avenues: increased production and profit resulting from improved WUE and improved environmental health as a consequence of greatly reduced runoff of irrigation tailwater into rivers and streams. This in turn will reduce the risk of nutrient and pesticide contamination of waterways. As a side effect, the work is likely to contribute to an improved public image of the cotton and grain industries. In each of the five regions, WUE officers have established grower groups to assist in providing local input into the specific objectives of extension and demonstration activities. The groups also assist in developing growersÕ perceptions of ownership of the work. Activities are based around four on-farm demonstration sites in each region where irrigation management techniques and hardware are showcased. A key theme of the program is monitoring water use. This is applied both to on-farm storage and distribution as well as to application methods and in-field management. This paper describes the project, its activities and successes.

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

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10103533 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 3533 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10081157 ◽

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.

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

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8120304 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 304 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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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Assessment of productivity and resource use efficiency of rice under different establishment methods and nutrient management in Chitwan condition, Nepal

Journal of Agriculture and Environment ◽

10.3126/aej.v18i0.19888 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 41-50

Author(s):

Chandika Lama ◽

Santosh Marahatta

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Humid Climate ◽

Best Management ◽

Transplanted Rice ◽

Direct Seeded ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Management

A field experiment was conducted in sub humid climate of inner terai of Nepal to determine the productivity and economics of rice under direct seeded and transplanted methods under different nutrient management in strip plot design with three replications in 2013, rainy season. The treatment consisted of three tillage methods, conventional tillage direct seeded rice, unpuddled transplanted rice and Puddled transplanted rice and five nutrient management practices Recommended Nitrogen(N), Phosphorous(P) and Potassium(K), 100:30:30 Kg NPK ha-1; Leaf color chart based N + Recommended PK; Farmers’ Practice, 48.30:34.50:0.00 Kg NPK ha-1; 0N + Recommended PK and 150% of Recommended NPK. The result revealed that grain and straw yield were not significant due to crop establishment methods. LCC based N application yield was comparable with 150% of Rec. NPK and Rec. NPK. Saving N on LCC based N management with 41.56 Kg ha-1 and 9.44 Kg N ha-1 over 150% of recommended NPK recommended NPK respectively. Adoption of CT-DSR reduced the total cost of cultivation by 30.13% and B:C ratio by 45.95% over P-TPR. The lower cost, higher benefit and the same production, revealed that LCC based N management under CT-DSR was the best management practices over the conventional P-TPR.

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Nitrogen use efficiency and manure management practices in contrasting dairy production systems

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2011.05.011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 147 ◽

pp. 73-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Cameron J.P. Gourley ◽

Sharon R. Aarons ◽

J. Mark Powell

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Management Practices ◽

Production Systems ◽

Manure Management ◽

Dairy Production ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Use Efficiency

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Biochemical and Genetic Approaches Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Cereal Crops: A Review

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.657629 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Nitika Sandhu ◽

Mehak Sethi ◽

Aman Kumar ◽

Devpriya Dang ◽

Jasneet Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Crop Production ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Plant Nitrogen ◽

Crop Genetics ◽

Challenging Environment ◽

Essential Nutrient ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Agricultural Areas

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient required in large quantities for the proper growth and development of plants. Nitrogen is the most limiting macronutrient for crop production in most of the world’s agricultural areas. The dynamic nature of nitrogen and its tendency to lose soil and environment systems create a unique and challenging environment for its proper management. Exploiting genetic diversity, developing nutrient efficient novel varieties with better agronomy and crop management practices combined with improved crop genetics have been significant factors behind increased crop production. In this review, we highlight the various biochemical, genetic factors and the regulatory mechanisms controlling the plant nitrogen economy necessary for reducing fertilizer cost and improving nitrogen use efficiency while maintaining an acceptable grain yield.

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Economic Impacts of Adoption of Best Management Practices by Crawfish Producers: The Role of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Agricultural and Resource Economics Review ◽

10.1017/s1068280500003385 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 247-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Narayan P. Nyaupane ◽

Jeffrey M. Gillespie ◽

Krishna P. Paudel

Keyword(s):

Environmental Quality ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Economic Impacts ◽

Economic Incentives ◽

Best Management ◽

Long Run ◽

Land Tenancy ◽

Using Data ◽

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

This study investigates reasons for adoption of best management practices (BMP), crawfish farmers' participation in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and economic impacts of BMP adoption using data from a 2008 survey of crawfish producers. Most-cited reasons for BMP adoption are farmers' perceptions of increases in profit and long-run productivity. Land tenancy, education, double-cropping or crop rotation, and proximity to a stream influence EQIP participation. Perceptions of economic profits depend on the practices used. Participation in EQIP negatively impacts farmers' perceptions of profitability from adopting BMPs. The results underscore the importance of economic incentives in promoting BMP adoption.

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Advances in Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Genetic Improvement for Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Barley

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10050662 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 662 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sakura D. Karunarathne ◽

Yong Han ◽

Xiao-Qi Zhang ◽

Chengdao Li

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Crop Production ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Management Practices ◽

N Uptake ◽

Production Costs ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Impact

Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays an important role in crop production; however, excessive and inefficient use of N fertilizer is a global issue that incurs high production costs, pollutes the environment and increases the emission of greenhouse gases. To overcome these negative consequences, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) would be a key factor for profitable crop production either by increasing yield or reducing fertilizer cost. In contrast to soil and crop management practices, understanding the molecular mechanisms in NUE and developing new varieties with improved NUE is more environmentally and economically friendly. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in understanding and improving nitrogen use efficiency in barley, with perspectives on the impact of N on plant morphology and agronomic performance, NUE and its components such as N uptake and utilization, QTLs and candidate genes controlling NUE, and new strategies for NUE improvement.

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