scholarly journals The spatial and temporal rooting pattern of Brussels sprouts and leeks

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L. Smit ◽  
R. Booij ◽  
A. Van Der Werf

Rooting intensity and root distribution of Brussels sprouts and leeks were assessed in field experiments and in the Wageningen Rhizolab, a rhizotron facility built in 1990, in relation to their contrasting N uptake behaviour (Brussels sprouts usually take up N rapidly after planting, resulting in soil depletion, while leeks generally use only half of the available N). In field experiments rooting was quantified in the various layers of the profile as the volumetric root length density (RLD; cm/cmsuperscript 3) and in the Rhizolab with horizontal glass minirhizotrons as the number of roots per cmsuperscript 2 (NR). Regression of RLD and NR on thermal time (accumulated average daily temperature above ground) after planting revealed that the rooting depth of Brussels sprouts increased faster with thermal time than that of leeks (0.13 vs. 0.08 cm/degree-day, respectively in one of the Rhizolab experiments). Furthermore, leeks showed an unusual distribution of roots in the profile with maximal rooting intensity at depths of 10-20 cm. In all experiments the proliferation of roots (calculated as the increase in NR or RLD with thermal time) was slower in leeks than in Brussels sprouts, especially in the deeper layers of the soil profile. Therefore leeks can be considered as a shallow rooting crop. The field experiments generally showed the same difference between the crops, Brussels sprouts having greater root density, deeper rooting and faster root proliferation than leeks. For both crops, however, root proliferation at the deeper layers was much slower in the field than in the Rhizolab, probably due to unfavourable conditions in the subsoil caused by higher bulk densities or temporary high water tables. The consequences of different rooting patterns for N utilization are discussed.

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-160
Author(s):  
Martin Užík ◽  
Alžbeta Žofajová

Abstract Field experiments with 12 winter wheat cultivars, which differed in N grain concentration, were established with three variants of N fertilisation (N0 = 0 kg N/ha, N1 = 100 kg N/ha, N2 = 200 kg N/ha) in the vegetative years 2004/05 and 2005/06 in Piestany (Borovce). The aims of experiment were to find out the effect of N applied (Nf) and available N (Nfs) on differences in N uptake and N utilisation. From the primary data of traits, grain yield (GY kg/ha), biomass production (BP kg/ha), and N concentration in grain (Ng) and in straw (Ns), other characteristics (NUP, NUE, NUTE) for available and applied N (Nfs, Nf, respectively) were calculated. In available N, significant differences were seen among cultivars in all characteristics but in applied N differences in NUP and NUTE among cultivars were not significant. Genetic correlations among traits and characteristics were modified by N environment. Grain N concentration (Ng) was, at the low N rate, in a negative correlation with NUE (r = -0.683+) and in a strong negative correlation with NUTE (r = -0.956++). At a high N rate, these correlations had the same character, but were weaker and not significant (r = -0.560 and r = 0.570). Grain N concentration (Ng) was more determined by efficiency of N translocation than by quantity of N uptake. Selection on the higher NUPE and NUE will be limited by negative correlation between BP and N biomass concentration and by low genetic variability of all characteristics of N uptake and utilisation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Kliese ◽  
W. M. Strong ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
N. W. Menzies

The appropriate use of wastes is a significant issue for the pig industry due to increasing pressure from regulatory authorities to protect the environment from pollution. Nitrogen contained in piggery pond sludge (PPS) is a potential source of supplementary nutrient for crop production. Nitrogen contribution following the application of PPS to soil was obtained from 2 field experiments on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland on contrasting soil types, a cracking clay (Vertosol) and a hardsetting sandy loam (Sodosol), and related to potentially mineralisable N from laboratory incubations conducted under controlled conditions and NO3– accumulation in the field. Piggery pond sludge was applied as-collected (wet PPS) and following stockpiling to dry (stockpiled PPS). Soil NO3– levels increased with increased application rates of wet and stockpiled PPS. Supplementary N supply from PPS estimated by fertiliser equivalence was generally unsatisfactory due to poor precision with this method, and also due to a high level of NO3– in the clay soil before the first assay crop. Also low recoveries of N by subsequent sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) assay crops at the 2 sites due to low in-crop rainfall in 1999 resulted in low apparent N availability. Over all, 29% (range 12–47%) of total N from the wet PPS and 19% (range 0–50%) from the stockpiled PPS were estimated to be plant-available N during the assay period. The high concentration of NO3- for the wet PPS application on sandy soil after the first assay crop (1998 barley, Hordeum vulgare) suggests that leaching of NO3– could be of concern when high rates of wet PPS are applied before infrequent periods of high precipitation, due primarily to the mineral N contained in wet PPS. Low yields, grain protein concentrations, and crop N uptake of the sorghum crop following the barley crop grown on the clay soil demonstrated a low residual value of N applied in PPS. NO3– in the sandy soil before sowing accounted for 79% of the variation in plant N uptake and was a better index than anaerobically mineralisable N (19% of variation explained). In clay soil, better prediction of crop N uptake was obtained when both anaerobically mineralisable N (39% of variation explained) and soil profile NO3– were used in combination (R2 = 0.49).


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Xinyu Chen ◽  
Xiaoxu Shi ◽  
Jian Liu ◽  
Yafeng Wei ◽  
...  

Ridge tillage is an effective agronomic practice and a miniature precision agriculture; however, its effects on the growth of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of ridge tillage and straw mulching on the root growth, nutrient accumulation and yield of faba beans. Field experiments were conducted during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons and comprised four treatments: ridge tillage without any mulching (RT), flat tillage without any mulch (FT), flat tillage with rice straw mulched on the ridge tillage (FTRSM) and ridge tillage with rice straw mulched on the ridge tillage (RTRSM). The RT and RTRSM increased soil temperature and decreased soil humidity and improved soil total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available potassium and organic matter. RT and RTRSM increased the root length density, root surface area, root diameter and root activity of faba beans at flowering and harvest periods. The RT and RTRSM also increased the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium absorption and the yield of faba beans. These results indicated that ridge tillage and straw mulching affect faba bean growth by improving soil moisture conditions and providing good air permeability and effective soil nutrition supply. This study provides a theoretical basis for the high yield cultivation improvement of faba beans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leilah Krounbi ◽  
Akio Enders ◽  
John Gaunt ◽  
Margaret Ball ◽  
Johannes Lehmann

AbstractThe conversion of dairy waste with high moisture contents to dry fertilizers may reduce environmental degradation while lowering crop production costs. We converted the solid portion of screw-pressed dairy manure into a sorbent for volatile ammonia (NH3) in the liquid fraction using pyrolysis and pre-treatment with carbon dioxide (CO2). The extractable N in manure biochar exposed to NH3 following CO2 pre-treatment reached 3.36 g N kg−1, 1260-fold greater extractable N than in untreated manure biochar. Ammonia exposure was 142-times more effective in increasing extractable N than immersing manure biochar in the liquid fraction containing dissolved ammonium. Radish and tomato grown in horticultural media with manure biochar treated with CO2 + NH3 promoted up to 35% greater plant growth (dry weight) and 36–83% greater N uptake compared to manure biochar alone. Uptake of N was similar between plants grown with wood biochar exposed to CO2 + NH3, compared to N-equivalent treatments. The available N in dairy waste in New York (NY) state, if pyrolyzed and treated with NH3 + CO2, is equivalent to 11,732–42,232 Mg N year−1, valued at 6–21.5 million USD year−1. Separated dairy manure treated with CO2 + NH3 can offset 23–82% of N fertilizer needs of NY State, while stabilizing both the solid and liquid fraction of manure for reduced environmental pollution.


1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Panda ◽  
R. N. Samantaray ◽  
S. Patnaik

SummaryField experiments were conducted in wet seasons (June-December) for 4 years on a clay loam Haplaquept, to study the effects of different N management practices on yield, urea and ammonium-N in flood water and N nutrition of an clite rice cv. CR 1009, grown in rainfed lowlands. During the first 3 years of the experiment, fertilizer management practices like band placement of neem-cake-coated urea (NCU), broadcast application of sulphur-coated urea (SCU) at sowing, or point placement of urea supergranules (USG) 3 weeks after germination at 40 kg N/ha gave grain yields of 3·1–3·4 t·ha, which were almost equal to that of split application of prilled urea (PU). In the 4th year of the experiment, besides NCU and USG, single dose applications of PU as band placement, incorporation in the soil at sowing or broadcast incorporation of soil-treated urea at early tillering was also found to have similar effect on grain yield and N uptake as split application of PU. The flood water of the treatment receiving broadcast application of PU at tillering contained some urea and ammonium N, which rapidly decreased to negligible amounts in 3·4 days.The results suggest that, depending upon the feasibility, any one of the single dose application methods at sowing time or 3 weeks after germination may be adopted in this system of rice culture, which avoids top-dressing of PU to surface flowing flood water of greater depths at later stages of crop growth.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Dal Cortivo ◽  
Giuseppe Barion ◽  
Manuel Ferrari ◽  
Giovanna Visioli ◽  
Lucia Dramis ◽  
...  

This study investigated the effects of a commercial biofertilizer containing the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the diazotrophic N-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii on root and shoot growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in order to improve the sustainable cultivation of this widespread crop. The trials were carried out in controlled conditions (rhizoboxes) and in open fields over two years to investigate the interaction between inoculation and three doses of nitrogen fertilization (160, 120 and 80 kg ha−1) in a silty-loam soil of the Po Plain (NE Italy). In rhizoboxes, efficient root colonization by R. irregularis was observed at 50 days after sowing with seed inoculation, together with improved root tip density and branching (+~30% vs. controls), while the effects of post-emergence inoculation by soil and foliar spraying were not observable at plant sampling. In the open, field spraying at end tillering significantly increased the volumetric root length density (RLD, +22% vs. controls) and root area density (+18%) after about two months (flowering stage) in both years under medium and high N fertilization doses, but not at the lowest N dose. In absence of inoculation, RLD progressively decreased with increased N doses. Inoculation had a negligible effect on grain yield and N uptake, which followed a typical N dose-response model, while straw Zn, P, and K concentrations were seldom improved. It is concluded that medium-high N fertilization doses are required to achieve the target yield and standards of quality (protein contents) in wheat cultivation, while the use of this mixed VAM-PGPR biofertilizer appears to be a sustainable mean for minimizing the adverse effects of chemical N fertilizers on root expansion and for improving the uptake of low-mobility nutrients, which has potentially relevant environmental benefits.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. NYKÄNEN ◽  
A. GRANSTEDT ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN

Legume-based leys form the basis for crop rotations in organic farming as they fix nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere for the succeeding crops. The age, yield, C:N, biological N fixation (BNF) and total N of red clover-grass leys were studied for their influence on yields, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE) of the two sequential cereal crops planted after the leys. Mineral N in deeper soil (30-90 cm) was measured to determine N leaching risk. Altogether, four field experiments were carried out in 1994-1998 at two sites. The age of the ley had no significant effect on the yields and N uptake of the two subsequent cereals. Surprisingly, the residual effect of the leys was negligible, at 0–20 kg N ha-1yr-1. On the other hand, the yield and C:N of previous red clover-grass leys, as well as BNF-N and total-N incorporated into the soil influenced subsequent cereals. NUEs of cereals after ley incorporation were rather high, varying from 30% to 80%. This might indicate that other factors, such as competition from weeds, prevented maximal growth of cereals. The mineral N content deeper in the soil was mostly below 10 kg ha-1 in the sandy soil of Juva, but was 5-25 kg ha-1 in clayey soil of Mietoinen.;


2002 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 1013-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Feller ◽  
Matthias Fink

To reduce nitrogen (N) losses from vegetable fields, fertilizer recommendations should be adjusted according to the large range in yield and thus in N uptake of vegetable crops. Therefore, a model was used to predict total N uptake based on expected yield. The model has been validated successfully in a series of studies for Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera), white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) and kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea L. var. gongylodes). The objective of this study was to validate the model for table beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. conditiva), a crop with a considerable variability in N uptake, which is caused by a large potential range of selecting sowing dates, plant densities and cultivars. Field experiments were carried out over two years. Fifty-five combinations of N fertilizer levels, plant densities, cultivars and sowing dates were tested. Plants were sampled at 2- or 3-week intervals, and fresh matter, dry matter and N content of leaves and roots were measured. Crop specific model parameters for table beets were determined from independent data. The model wverestimated N uptake for N-limiting conditions, but for optimally fertilized table beets measured and estimated N uptake showed a close correlation (R2 = 0.93) when total yield was used as an input parameter for the model. Although the error of estimation (35 kg·ha-1) was considerable, studies with other vegetable crops using the model found the error even higher if other tools, such as look-up tables, were used for predicting N uptake.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lénaïc Pardon ◽  
Cécile Bessou ◽  
Nathalie Saint-Geours ◽  
Benoît Gabrielle ◽  
Ni’matul Khasanah ◽  
...  

Abstract. Oil palm is the most rapidly expanding tropical perennial crop. Its cultivation raises environmental concerns, notably related to the use of nitrogen (N) fertilisers and associated pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While numerous and diverse models exist to estimate N losses from agriculture, very few are available for tropical perennial crops. Moreover, there has been no critical analysis of the performances of existing models in the specific context of tropical perennial cropping systems. We assessed the capacity of 11 models and 29 sub-models to estimate N losses in a typical oil palm plantation over a 25-year-growth cycle, through leaching and runoff, and emissions of NH3, N2, N2O, and NOx. Estimates of total N losses were very variable, ranging from 21 to 139 kg N ha−1 yr−1. On average, 31 % of the losses occurred during the first three years of the cycle. Leaching comprised about 80 % of the losses. Based on a comprehensive Morris sensitivity analysis, the most influential variables were soil clay content, rooting depth and oil palm N uptake. We also compared model estimates with published field measurements. Many challenges remain to model more accurately processes related to the peculiarities of perennial tropical crop systems such as oil palm.


1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-272
Author(s):  
J.H.G. Slangen ◽  
G.J. Krook ◽  
C.H.M. Hendriks ◽  
N.A.A. Hof

The effect of different amounts (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg/ha) and timings of split application of N on yield and nutrient uptake of 3 hybrid cultivars grown for bulbs was investigated. Efficiency of N-uptake was determined by soil and plant analysis with field experiments in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Leaching of fertilizers applied before planting induced low nutrient efficiencies in sandy soils. Dividing the total N-dressings into 4 monthly applications from Mar. to June or Apr. to July led to a higher N-efficiency, though fertilizers were easily leached with high rainfall. A total of 150 kg N/ha appeared to be adequate. Concentrations of plant nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg and Na) in mature plants of cultivars Aristo, Connecticut King and Enchantment are presented in relation to bulb yield and N-uptake. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


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