scholarly journals Evaluation of Fertigation Applied to Furrow and Overhead Irrigated Cotton Grown in a Black Vertosol in Southern Queensland, Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogenes L. Antille

Abstract.Field trials were conducted at gated pipe surface and overhead irrigation sites established to cotton ( L.) to evaluate irrigation and fertigation management using a model-based control system. The control strategies determined the timing and volume of irrigation, and the rate of fertilizer-N to apply through fertigation. For this, nitrogen (N) was applied in-crop season using urea ammonium nitrate (UAN, 30% N solution) at a rate of 40 kg ha-1 N. At the furrows site, the uniformity of distribution of fertilizer-N applied through fertigation was satisfactory, which was achieved both at distance (600 m) and depth (0-600 mm). Applying fertilizer-N through fertigation, at the rate used in this study, showed relatively small (=8%) improvements in cotton yield, which was explained by relatively high N rates (180 kg ha-1 N) applied before planting. Given current price ratios (fertilizer-to-cotton), application of N through fertigation appears to be economical in both systems, but relative agronomic efficiencies and economic return from the fertilizer applied were lower in furrow compared with overhead (P<0.05). Fertigation may be recommended when pre-season N application rates are low (e.g., <100 kg ha-1 N), particularly in overhead irrigation as significantly higher efficiencies both in terms of water and N use can be achieved with this system. This would enable some of the operational constraints associated with application of N in-crop season to be overcome; thereby, reducing the need for high rates of N applied up-front. For the overhead system, there were also advantages compared with the furrow system in terms of reduced potential for N2O emissions after irrigation or fertigation. Overall, short-term (30-day period) soil emissions of N2O were approximately eight times higher in furrow compared with overhead. Emissions from non-fertigated crops were approximately two times higher in furrow compared with overhead. Emissions from the fertigated crop under the overhead system were comparable to the non-fertigated crop of the furrow system (P>0.05). In both systems, fluxes were highest within five days of irrigation or fertigation, but they decreased significantly after that time as soil moisture content (water-filled pore space) and soil nitrate levels decreased due to crop uptake. Nitrous oxide fluxes were similar in furrow and overhead 15 days after the irrigation or fertigation event. Areas that warrant further investigation are presented and discussed, including the need for improved timing of fertilizer delivery during the irrigation cycle to ensure that N losses through leaching or gaseous evolution (e.g., N2O, N2) are not economically or environmentally significant. Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions, Irrigated cotton, Nitrogen use efficiency, Urea ammonium nitrate, Water-run urea.

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Angus ◽  
RA Fischer

Dryland wheat was fertilized with ammonium nitrate or liquid urea-ammonium nitrate at the time of sowing or about 3 months later (generally at the terminal-spikelet stage) on a well-drained site near Harden on the south-west slopes of New South Wales. The experiments continued from the second to the fifth year (1981-1984) of the cropping phase of a crop-pasture rotation. The maximum agronomic efficiencies for yield in the four consecutive years were 19, 4, 23 and 25 kg grain per kg of applied nitrogen (N). The three large responses were obtained in wetter than average seasons and the small response was obtained during drought. In the last three years of the study the yield response to nitrogen at the terminal-spikelet stage was found to be close to but slightly less than that for N applied at sowing. In those years the agronomic efficiencies for the late-applied N were 0, 22 and 22. The apparent recovery of fertilizer N in the above-ground parts of the crop at maturity was up to 70% of the fertilizer applied in the year of sowing, and, after the drought during which there was little uptake of fertilizer N, up to 62% by the subsequent crop. The fertilizer efficiencies in the non-drought years were higher than generally reported in south-eastern Australia, and indicate potential for profitable delayed application of N fertilizer to wheat. Grain-protein responses were variable from year to year and are discussed against a simple theoretical background of the amount of N applied and grain-yield response.


1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 620-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Clifford Gerwick ◽  
Lisa D. Tanguay ◽  
Frank G. Burroughs

The effect of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) on the antagonism of sethoxydim, haloxyfop, or the methyl ester of haloxyfop activity by bentazon was evaluated in greenhouse and field trials on yellow and giant foxtail. Including UAN in the spray solution in the absence of bentazon did not enhance the activity of any of the three grass herbicides. However, adding UAN to sethoxydim or haloxyfop in the presence of bentazon decreased the bentazon antagonism of grass activity. Conversely, UAN increased bentazon antagonism of the activity of haloxyfop methyl ester. The differential effect of UAN was not linked to effects on spray solution pH.


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 907-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Lafond ◽  
S. A. Brandt ◽  
B. Irvine ◽  
W. E. May ◽  
C. B. Holzapfel

Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in crop production on the Canadian prairies. There is great interest in managing it more effectively for environmental and economic reasons. Our objective was to study the effectiveness of using different proportions of recommended nitrogen rates at seeding with the balance at different crop growth stages to minimize the risks of potential yield losses from in-crop nitrogen applications in spring wheat and canola. The field trials with wheat were conducted at three locations from 2003 to 2006 and at two locations for canola from 2004 to 2006. The treatments consisted of applying 100, 67, 50, 33 or 0% of the targeted N rate at seeding using urea in mid-row bands and the balance in-crop at the 1.5, 3.5 or 5.5 leaf stages in spring wheat and at the 5-6 leaf stage, bolting or start of flowering stage in canola using surface dribble band of liquid urea-ammonium nitrate. With spring wheat, applying 33% of the recommended N rate at seeding with the balance in-crop resulted in similar yields to when all the nitrogen was applied at seeding in one study while, in the other, some yield loss was observed at the 3.5 leaf stage. This indicates that a higher proportion, such as 50%, would be more appropriate. With canola, a minimum of 50% of the recommended nitrogen rate was required at seeding and the in-crop application at or before the bolting phase to give yields equivalent to when all fertilizer was applied at seeding. Consequently, applying 50% or more of the recommended N at seeding enhances the opportunity for in-crop applications of nitrogen in spring wheat and canola to better match the soil and climatic conditions. Key words: Canola, wheat, split applications, liquid urea-ammonium nitrate, grain yield, grain protein


1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Mason

Thirteen trials, each with 3 nitrogen (N) sources (urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate) and 2 N rates (25 and 75 kg N/ha), were carried out during 1987-89, to measure the rate of disappearance of ammonium-N on different soils. Six soil categories were examined, from very acid to calcareous light soils, and from medium to heavy textured soils. Plots were planted with wheat, and at the higher rate of N, fallow plots were included to distinguish plant uptake from other processes such as nitrification and immobilisation that cause the disappearance of ammonium N. Reduction in concentration of ammonium-N was rapid on high pH, light soils (2-3 weeks at Dongara 1988), and slower with decreasing soil pH (e.g. >19 weeks at Merredin 1987). Nitrate-N concentration increased on fertiliser-treated plots at all sites, indicating that nitrification was taking place. Ammonium-N decline was slower with ammonium sulfate supplied than with urea or ammonium nitrate, consistent with its greater acidifying effect in the soil. This difference did not occur on the alkaline light soils, where reduction in concentration of ammonium-N was rapid for all sources. In 1989, the rate of decline of ammonium-N was considerably slowed because the soil surface containing the ammonium-N was dried during a very dry spring with little effective rainfall in September and October.


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. JANZEN ◽  
C. W. LINDWALL ◽  
C. J. ROPPEL

Conventional methods of N application for winter wheat often exhibit low fertilizer use efficiency. The comparative effectiveness of a new method, point-injection of N solution, was evaluated in two similar microplot field experiments established in southern Alberta. The first experiment, conducted over three site-year combinations in 1985 and 1986, compared yield response and fertilizer uptake in four spring-applied fertilizer treatments: broadcast urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN), broadcast urea, broadcast ammonium nitrate, and point-injected UAN, all applied in solution form. The second experiment, conducted at five sites in 1987, compared four spring-applied fertilizer treatments: surface-banded UAN, broadcast urea (granular), broadcast ammonium nitrate (granular), and point-injected UAN. All fertilizers were labeled with 15N to permit direct estimation of fertilizer uptake. The experiments demonstrated significant increases in fertilizer efficiency with point-injection under some conditions. In five of eight comparisons conducted over a 3-yr period, point-injection treatments exhibited significantly higher fertilizer use efficiency than conventional broadcast methods of application. Average fertilizer-N recovery by the crop at all eight sites was 37% in the point-injection treatments compared with only 26% in the broadcast ammonium nitrate treatment, the next most effective method of N application. When one site was excluded, because of possible confounding effects of application time, average recoveries were 34 and 26%, respectively. The increased efficiency of point-injected fertilizers was attributed to the direct placement of fertilizer N into the active rooting zone of the crop. The advantage of point-injection over conventional methods of application was highly variable, ranging from approximately 0 to over 100%, in part because of variations in precipitation patterns. The results of these microplot studies suggest that point-injection has potential for significant enhancement of fertilizer use efficiency in winter wheat, particularly in semi-arid production regions. Key words: 15N, nitrogen, urea, ammonium nitrate, fertilizer placement


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle T. Fountain ◽  
Amir Badiee ◽  
Sebastian Hemer ◽  
Alvaro Delgado ◽  
Michael Mangan ◽  
...  

Abstract Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a serious invasive pest impacting the production of multiple fruit crops, including soft and stone fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and cherries. Effective control is challenging and reliant on integrated pest management which includes the use of an ever decreasing number of approved insecticides. New means to reduce the impact of this pest that can be integrated into control strategies are urgently required. In many production regions, including the UK, soft fruit are typically grown inside tunnels clad with polyethylene based materials. These can be modified to filter specific wavebands of light. We investigated whether targeted spectral modifications to cladding materials that disrupt insect vision could reduce the incidence of D. suzukii. We present a novel approach that starts from a neuroscientific investigation of insect sensory systems and ends with infield testing of new cladding materials inspired by the biological data. We show D. suzukii are predominantly sensitive to wavelengths below 405 nm (ultraviolet) and above 565 nm (orange & red) and that targeted blocking of lower wavebands (up to 430 nm) using light restricting materials reduces pest populations up to 73% in field trials.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. AULAKH ◽  
D. A. RENNIE

The effects of wheat straw incorporation on denitrification, immobilization of N, and C mineralization were investigated at H2O contents of 60, 90 and 120% saturation. Incorporation of increasing levels of straw consistently increased the rate of denitrification for the first 4–8 d, followed by negligible N losses thereafter. In a total period of 96 d, the addition of 1.0% straw increased N losses from 2.5 to 10.1, and from 61.6 to 83.9 μg g−1 in the 60 and 120% water saturation treatments, respectively. The pattern of CO2-C evolved was practically identical to that of the denitrification rate for the initial period when sufficient [Formula: see text] was present. This study has confirmed that in flooded soils, high rates of denitrification will persist only when C is supplied by native or applied organic C sources, provided adequate [Formula: see text] is present. When [Formula: see text] was low, denitrification rates rapidly decreased, even with a sufficient supply of C. Immobilization of fertilizer N (50 μg N g−1 as K15NO3) was very rapid. Around 90% of the total immobilization of applied N occurred within 4 d. Incorporation of 1.0% straw increased the immobilization of fertilizer N from 8.4 to 42.8, and from 1.0 to 7.6% in the 60 and 120% water-saturated treatments, respectively. Remineralization of recently immobilized fertilizer N was observed after 32 d in the 60% saturation treatments only. Key words: Denitrification, wheat straw, mineralization of N


Weed Science ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A. Renner ◽  
Gary E. Powell

The response of ‘C-20’ navy bean and ‘Frankenmuth’ soft white winter wheat grown in rotation to clomazone, imazethapyr, bentazon, and acifluorfen was examined. Clomazone at 560 and 430 g ai ha−1plus 800 g ai ha−1pendimethalin and 2000 g ai ha−1chloramben visibly injured navy bean in 1 of 2 yr. However, navy bean seed moisture at harvest and yield was not reduced compared to the weed-free control. PPI and PRE treatments of 70 g ai ha−1imazethapyr did not injure navy bean or reduce yield. Imazethapyr applied POST at 70 g ha−1plus nonionic surfactant visibly injured navy bean. The addition of urea ammonium nitrate to imazethapyr enhanced visible injury and seed moisture compared to nonionic surfactant alone in 1 of 2 yr. However, seed yield was not reduced. Seed moisture at harvest was greater following treatment with 430 g ai ha−1acifluorfen plus nonionic surfactant or urea ammonium nitrate and 140 and 280 g ha−1acifluorfen plus 840 g ai ha−1bentazon in 1 of 2 yr compared to the weed-free control, but yield was not reduced. Wheat yield was reduced in 2 of 2 and 1 of 2 yr by 560 g ha−1and 430 g ha−1clomazone, respectively, plus pendimethalin plus chloramben compared to the weed-free control. Wheat yield was not reduced by imazethapyr, bentazon, or acifluorfen.


Nitrogen ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-51
Author(s):  
Amitava Chatterjee

Nitrogen (N) losses from field crops have raised environmental concerns. This manuscript accompanies a database of N loss studies from non-legume field crops conducted across the conterminous United States. Cumulative N losses through nitrous oxide-denitrification (CN2O), ammonia volatilization (CNH3), and nitrate leaching (CNO3−) during the growing season and associated crop, soil, and water management information were gathered to determine the extent and controls of these losses. This database consisted of 404, 26, and 358 observations of CN2O, CNH3, and CNO3− losses, respectively, from sixty-two peer-reviewed manuscripts. Corn (Zea mays) dominated the N loss studies. Losses ranged between −0.04 to 16.9, 2.50 to 50.9, and 0 to 257 kg N ha−1 for CN2O, CNH3 and CNO3−, respectively. Most CN2O and CNO3− observations were reported from Colorado (n = 100) and Iowa (n = 176), respectively. The highest values of CN2O, and CNO3− were reported from Illinois and Minnesota states, and corn and potato (Solanum tuberosum), respectively. The application of anhydrous NH3 had the highest value of CN2O loss, and ammonium nitrate had the highest CNO3− loss. Among the different placement methods, the injection of fertilizer-N had the highest CN2O loss, whereas the banding of fertilizer-N had the highest CNO3− loss. The maximum CNO3− loss was higher for chisel than no-tillage practice. Both CN2O and CNO3− were positively correlated with fertilizer N application rate and the amount of water input (irrigation and rainfall). Fertilizer-N management strategies to control N loss should consider the spatio-temporal variability of interactions among climate, crop-and soil types.


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