scholarly journals 385 Feed efficiency of beef cattle in low-protein diets is driven by nitrogen use efficiency

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 158-158
Author(s):  
Diogo Fleury Azevedo Costa ◽  
Peter Carmona ◽  
Lais Lima ◽  
Brandon Fraser ◽  
Luis Silva

Abstract Performance of cattle in rangeland systems is driven by the ability to efficiently use nutrients during periods of restricted availability. Thirty Bos indicus steers (398 ± 24 kg BW) were used to evaluate the relationship between feed efficiency (FE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The hypothesis was that FE would be related to NUE in protein restricted diets, but not in high-protein diets. Steers used in a completely randomized block design were classified by residual gain in low (LFE), medium (MFE) and highly feed efficient (HFE), after being fed for periods of 70 days with diets supplying either 70% (LP) or 100% (HP) of their rumen degradable protein requirements. After each 70-day period, animals were adapted to metabolism crates for two days, and NUE was measured for five days. About 10% of daily faecal and urine output of each animal was collected for N analysis. Results of N intake from LFE, MFE and HFE in the LP diet were 21.6, 21.2 and 22.2 g N/100 kg BW (P = 0.63), while the total N excretion was 20.3, 18.0 and 19.0 g N/100 kg BW (P = 0.45) for LFE, MFE and HFE, respectively. NUE values were 11.1, 26.9 and 28.0 g retained N/100 g of digested N (P = 0.04). In the HP diet, N intake was 31.6, 30.8 and 26.8 g/100 kg BW (P = 0.12) for LFE, MFE, and HFE, respectively. Total N excretion was 26.9, 28.8 and 27.5 g N/100 kg BW (P = 0.83), respectively. NUE in the HP diet was 21.0, 5.2 and -6.3 g retained N/100 g of digested N (P = 0.04). These results support the hypothesis that FE is dependent on NUE in protein restricted diets; whereas when evaluated in protein abundant diets, FE is not related to NUE.

Agric ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
Wilda Lumban Tobing ◽  
Chairani Hanum ◽  
Edy Sigit Sutarta

Oil palm plantation expansion in Indonesia continue to increase year by year. Several varieties of oil palm have been produced but not much information about the growth characteristics. Urea as nitrogen fertilizer has become a staple for the cultivation cycle of oil palm. The determination of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) on palm oil varieties can be used to find out N requirement of each plant according to their needs. This research was aimed to analyze the growth response and NUE of palm oil varieties to fertilizer N at pre nursery. It was conducted in nursery area at Yos Sudarso Binjai Street and Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit, Medan from November 2016 until March 2017 using Completely Randomized Block Design followed by Scott Knott test at α = 5%. There were 35 treatment combinations that used seven varieties of Dura x Pisifera Medan Palm Oil Research Center (AVROS, Simalungun, PPKS 540, Yangambi, PPKS 718, PPKS 239, and Langkat) with N consisting of 5 levels (0 ; 0,5 g ; 1 g; 1.5 g and 2 g). The results showed that the application of N fertilizer influence significant effect on the growth of stem circumference and the number of leaves. The highest of nitrogen use efficiency is found in Simalungun varieties with N application of 1,5 g/plant.


Bragantia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Henrique Todeschini ◽  
Anderson Simionato Milioli ◽  
Diego Maciel Trevizan ◽  
Elesandro Bornhofen ◽  
Taciane Finatto ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is defined as the capacity of a given genotype in take advantage of the applied nitrogen (N) and transform it in biomass and grains. The objective of this study was to evaluate 12 wheat cultivars as to the NUE and its components. The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment, in a randomized block design with three replications. Twelve wheat cultivars were submitted to four N supply levels (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg of N∙ha–1). The data were submitted to analysis of variance, means multiple comparison, polynomial regression, and path analysis. The nitrogen remobilization efficiency (NRE) was the main NUE component of the evaluated cultivars, in both low and high conditions of nitrogen fertilization. In the cultivars average, the nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) presented reduction tendency as the N supply was increased, tending to stabilization at the dose of 231 kg of N∙ha–1. The wheat cultivars Mirante, TBIO Itaipu, BRS Parrudo, and TBIO Iguaçu were the most efficient on the N use, and the first two were also efficient in remobilizing the N from the phytomass to the grains.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 168-169
Author(s):  
Peter Carmona ◽  
Luis Silva ◽  
Diogo Fleury Azevedo Costa ◽  
Lais Lima

Abstract Nutrition for a positive growth path represents the major cost of any beef cattle enterprise. Improvements on feed efficiency (FE) can lead to significant economic benefits and reduce the environmental footprint. Usually, animals selected for FE on high-protein (HP) diets are expected to perform as efficiently on low-protein (LP) diets. This experiment used 30 Bos indicus steers (398 ± 24 kg BW) to determine the agreement between FE rankings of beef cattle fed a LP or a HP diet. As hypothesis, it was suggested that the agreement would be high. A completely randomized block design was used, where each steer represented an experimental unit. Steers were fed in individual pens for two periods of 70 days, including an adaptation of 10 days, with diets supplying either 70% or 100% of their rumen degradable protein requirements. Average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI) were measured, while residual feed intake (RFI) and residual gain (RG) were calculated. Kappa analysis was used to determine the agreement between FE of both diets. In the LP diet, ADG was 0.93 kg/d (0.38 to 1.47), DMI averaged 9.67 kg/d (7.9 to 12.1), RFI varied between -1.55 and 1.84, and RG from -0.61 to 0.53. In the HP diet, ADG was 1.16 kg/d (0.77 to 1.57) and DMI averaged 9.87 kg/d (4.79 to 11.87). RFI varied between -2.53 and 1.61 and RG from -0.34 to 0.33. Chance-corrected analysis of the ranking between diets showed no agreement for RFI (Kappa=5.6%, P = 0.68) nor for RG (Kappa=9.1%, P = 0.44). These results suggest that different physiological mechanisms are responsible for FE regulation in both diets; thus, appropriate diets targeting each scenario must be used when selecting animals for feed efficiency.


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Anderson Zanine ◽  
Lorraine Farias ◽  
Daniele Ferreira ◽  
Lorran Farias ◽  
Marinaldo Ribeiro ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the agronomic traits in the pre- and post-grazing and the nitrogen use efficiency of Piatã grass that was subjected to nitrogen fertilization throughout the seasons of the year. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 150, 300, and 450 kg ha−1 N). Grazing was performed with sheep when the forage canopy reached 95% light interception up to 20 cm height of post-grazing. The pre-grazing forage mass of the Piatã grass showed a behavior (p < 0.05) linear to nitrogen fertilization, with higher and lower values in spring and winter, respectively. The post-grazing forage mass responded linearly (p < 0.05) to nitrogen fertilization, with an increase of 43.12% for the dose of 450 kg ha−1 N in relation to pastures without nitrogen fertilization. When the non-fertilized pasture was compared with the highest nitrogen dose, a reduction of 21.79% dead tissue was observed in the post-grazing forage mass. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was obtained with the dose of 450 kg ha−1 N. The forage mass production of the Piatã grass in the pre- and post-grazing conditions are positively influenced by nitrogen fertilization and the seasons of the year, with lower values in winter.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhigang Wang ◽  
Bao-Luo Ma ◽  
Xiaofang Yu ◽  
Julin Gao ◽  
Jiying Sun ◽  
...  

AbstractEfficient use of nitrogen inputs for concurrent improvements in grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has been recognized as a viable strategy for sustainable agriculture development. Yet, there is little research on the possible physiological basis of maize hybrid heterosis for NUE and measurable traits that are corresponding to the NUE heterosis. A field study was conducted for two years to evaluate the heterosis for NUE and determine the relationship between NUE and its physiological components. Two commercial hybrids, ‘Xianyu335’ and ‘Zhengdan958’, and their parental inbred lines, were grown at 0 (0 N) and 150 kg N ha−1 (150 N), in a randomized complete block design with four replications each year. Compared to their parental lines, both hybrids displayed a significant heterosis, up to 466%, for NUE. N internal efficiency (NIE) accounted for 52% of the variation in heterosis for NUE, while there was generally negligible heterosis for nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE). Heterosis for NIE and thereby for NUE in maize was ascribed to (i) an earlier establishment of pre-anthesis source for N accumulation, which phenotypically exhibited as a faster leaf appearance rate with higher maximum LAI and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency; (ii) a larger amount of N being remobilized from the vegetative tissues, especially from leaves, during the grain filling. Phenotypically, there was notably a rapid reduction in post-anthesis specific weights of leaf and stalk, but with maintained functionally stay-green ear leaves; and (iii) a higher productive efficiency per unit grain N, which was characterized by a reduced grain N concentration and enhanced sink strength.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladapo Adeyemi ◽  
Reza Keshavarz-Afshar ◽  
Emad Jahanzad ◽  
Martin Leonardo Battaglia ◽  
Yuan Luo ◽  
...  

Corn (Zea mays L.) grain is a major commodity crop in Illinois and its production largely relies on timely application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Currently, growers in Illinois and other neighboring states in the U.S. Midwest use the maximum return to N (MRTN) decision support system to predict corn N requirements. However, the current tool does not factor in implications of integrating cover crops into the rotation, which has recently gained attention among growers due to several ecosystem services associated with cover cropping. A two-year field trail was conducted at the Agronomy Research Center in Carbondale, IL in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate whether split N application affects nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of corn with and without a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements and four replicates was used. Main plots were cover crop treatments (no cover crop (control) compared to a wheat cover crop) and subplots were N timing applications to the corn: (1) 168 kg N ha−1 at planting; (2) 56 kg N ha−1 at planting + 112 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; (3) 112 kg N ha−1 at planting + 56 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; and (4) 168 kg N ha−1 at sidedress along with a zero-N control as check plot. Corn yield was higher in 2018 than 2019 reflecting more timely precipitation in that year. In 2018, grain yield declined by 12.6% following the wheat cover crop compared to no cover crop control, indicating a yield penalty when corn was preceded with a wheat cover crop. In 2018, a year with timely and sufficient rainfall, there were no yield differences among N treatments and N balances were near zero. In 2019, delaying the N application improved NUE and corn grain yield due to excessive rainfall early in the season reflecting on N losses which was confirmed by lower N balances in sidedressed treatments. Overall, our findings suggest including N credit for cereals in MRTN prediction model could help with improved N management in the Midwestern United States.


Author(s):  
A.K. Dhaka ◽  
Satish Kumar ◽  
Bhagat Singh ◽  
Karmal Singh ◽  
Amit Kumar ◽  
...  

An experiment was conducted to study nitrogen use efficiency in pigeonpea at Research farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India having three nipping treatments (no nipping, nipping at just start of branching and nipping at flower initiation) and five fertility levels (control, 20 kg N + 40 kg P2O5/ha, 30 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 /ha, 40 kg N + 40 kg P2O5/ha and 20 kg N + 40 kg P2O5/ha + foliar spray of 2% N immediately after nipping) replicated thrice in split plot design during growing seasons of 2016 and 2017. Nipping at start of branching reduced the plant height, while increased primary and secondary branches, pods/plant and yield over no nipping. Significantly higher total N uptake, protein content, net return, B: C, agronomical NUE, physiologic NUE, agro-physiologic NUE, apparent recovery efficiency, utilization efficiency of N and partial N balance were improved with nipping at start of branching. Among fertility levels, 40 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 / ha recorded significantly higher yield attributes with 39.7 per cent higher seed yield over control. Significantly higher agronomic NUE, physiologic NUE, agro-physiological NUE, apparent recovery efficiency, utilization efficiency of N, partial N balance and NER were recorded with 20 kg/ha as compared to higher nitrogen doses.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Zistl-Schlingmann ◽  
Steve Kwatcho-Kengdo ◽  
Mirella Schreiber ◽  
Bernd Berauer ◽  
Anke Jentsch ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Grasslands of the alpine and pre-alpine region do not only sustain economic soil functions such as fodder production for local dairy and cattle farming but also important ecological soil functions such as water and nutrient retention, erosion and flood protection and habitat provision for extraordinarily high plant and animal biodiversity. The current management in the more intensively used grasslands in this region is based on fertilization with liquid cattle slurry, which is assumed to be prone to high N leaching and gaseous N emissions with their undesired consequences for soil, air and water quality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In order to assess the nitrogen use efficiency and trade-offs such as greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching of liquid slurry surface application under the auspices of climate change, we set up a &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N cattle slurry labeling experiment, combined with a space for time climate change experiment using plant-soil mesocosms and lysimeters. The &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N signal was traced in the plant-soil-microbe system for an entire year to assess productivity, plant nitrogen use efficiency, soil nitrogen retention and nitrogen losses. We found surprisingly low plant nitrogen use efficiency (recovery of less than &amp;#188; of the applied &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N in harvested plant biomass), soil N retention (ca &amp;#188; &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N recovery) and high environmental N losses (ca &amp;#189; of the &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N tracer remained unrecovered). The estimates of N losses based on unrecovered &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N were in good agreement with independent measurements of gaseous and hydrological N losses. Due to very high productivity and associated N exports with grass harvests, total N exports exceeded total N inputs. Such soil nitrogen mining was especially pronounced in the climate change treatments and was supported by increased soil nitrogen mineralization.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We also tested alternative slurry management (slurry injection into the soil, slurry acidification) that is supposed to increase nitrogen use efficiency. Slurry acidification but not slurry injection slightly increased plant nitrogen use efficiency and reduced nitrogen losses, however could overall not prevent significant soil nitrogen mining.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Consequently, both surface application and the more modern techniques of liquid cattle slurry fertilization showed low nitrogen use efficiency and promoted soil nitrogen mining. This is asking for a re-consideration of traditional fertilization regimes based on solid manure mixed with straw, a management that over historical timescales likely contributed to the build up of the large nitrogen stocks in pre-alpine grassland soils.&lt;/p&gt;


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 1225
Author(s):  
Aline Barros da Silva ◽  
Carlos Augusto Brandão de Carvalho ◽  
Danilo Antonio Morenz ◽  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Alex Junio dos Santos ◽  
...  

Under the hypothesis that modifying nitrogen sources and doses could increase nitrogen fertilization efficiency and productivity and improve forage quality, this study aimed to evaluate the morphological composition, structural characteristics and chemical composition of Panicum maximum cv. Massai forage cultivated under different urea sources (common and coated with Policote®) and nitrogen doses (200, 400 and 600 kg ha-1 year-1) during the autumn, winter and spring of 2014 and the summer and autumn of 2015. The experiment was carried out in Seropédica, RJ, under a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement (3x2) + 1 with four replications. High nitrogen rates promoted higher percentages of leaf blade dry mass and lower percentages of dead material dry mass in the forage mass and provided higher tiller population density and forage accumulation rate of Massai grass during the studied seasons. The use of coated urea promoted higher levels of crude protein in the forage than did the use of common urea in all seasons. The intensification of nitrogen fertilization reduced the nitrogen use efficiency but benefitted the structural characteristics, forage accumulation and chemical composition of Massai grass forage. The use of coated urea promoted greater of nitrogen use efficiency during all seasons of the year.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
VIJAY POONIYA ◽  
YASHBIR SINGH SHIVAY ◽  
MADAN PAL ◽  
RADHIKA BANSAL

SUMMARYDeficiencies of micro (Zn, B) and secondary (S) nutrients are well-documented in soil as well as in cereal crops, leading to decreased crop yields and low nutritional quality of food. We evaluated the effects of coated urea on maize yield, N and Zn uptake, and input cost relationships. Field experiments were conducted on maize to test boron-coated (BCU), sulphur-coated (SCU) and zinc-coated urea (ZnCU) during 2013 and 2014. On the basis of 2 years’ average data, the highest grain yield was achieved with 0.5% BCU, 5% SCU and 2.5% ZnCU as zinc sulphate hepta hydrate. These treatments increased yields by 5.4, 12.8 and 9.9% over prilled urea (PU), respectively. Application of 0.5% BCU (supplying 1.4 kg B ha−1), 5% SCU (supplying 14.1 kg S ha−1) and 2.5% ZnCU (supplying 7.05 kg Zn ha−1) registered the highest N concentrations and uptake in grain and stover. Total N uptake (grain + stover) was increased by 7.6, 16.7 and 17.1% with BCU, SCU and ZnCU treatments over PU. As compared to PU, Zn concentration in maize grain was significantly higher and total Zn uptake (grain + stover) increased by 32.4% with 2.5% ZnCU. Coated urea materials also enhanced the partial factor productivity (PFPN), agronomic efficiency (AEN), recovery efficiency (REN) and harvest index (HIN) over those of PU. From the economic viewpoint this study suggests that coating of urea with 0.3% boron, 5% sulphur or 2% zinc gives maximum net returns and benefit-cost ratio. Our data indicate that coating of B, Zn and S onto urea increases maize yield, profitability and nitrogen use efficiency in the western Indo-Gangetic plains of India.


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