Advances in understanding iron cycling in soils, uptake/use by plants and ways of optimising iron-use efficiency in crop production

AbstractImproved phosphorus (P) use efficiency for crop production is needed, given the depletion of phosphorus ore deposits, and increasing ecological concerns about its excessive use. Root system architecture (RSA) is important in efficiently capturing immobile P in soils, while agronomically, localized P application near the roots is a potential approach to address this issue. However, the interaction between genetic traits of RSA and localized P application has been little understood. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) and their parent of rice (qsor1-NIL, Dro1-NIL, and IR64, with shallow, deep, and intermediate root growth angles (RGA), respectively) were grown in flooded pots after placing P near the roots at transplanting (P-dipping). The experiment identified that the P-dipping created an available P hotspot at the plant base of the soil surface layer where the qsor1-NIL had the greatest root biomass and root surface area despite no genotyipic differences in total values, whereby the qsor1-NIL had significantly greater biomass and P uptake than the other genotypes in the P-dipping. The superior surface root development of qsor1-NIL could have facilitated P uptakes from the P hotspot, implying that P-use efficiency in crop production can be further increased by combining genetic traits of RSA and localized P application.

Download Full-text

Optimization of Topdressing for Winter Wheat by Accurate Growth Monitoring and Improved Production Estimation

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13122349 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2349

Author(s):

Jingchun Ji ◽

Jianli Liu ◽

Jingjing Chen ◽

Yujie Niu ◽

Kefan Xuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Crop Production ◽

Optimization Method ◽

Growth Potential ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Growth Monitoring ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Improved Model ◽

N Use

Topdressing accounts for approximately 40% of the total nitrogen (N) application of winter wheat on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China. However, N use efficiency of topdressing is low due to the inadaptable topdressing method used by local farmers. To improve the N use efficiency of winter wheat, an optimization method for topdressing (THP) is proposed that uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing to accurately acquire the growth status and an improved model for growth potential estimation and optimization of N fertilizer amount for topdressing (NFT). The method was validated and compared with three other methods by a field experiment: the conventional local farmer’s method (TLF), a nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm (NFOA) proposed by Raun and Lukina (TRL) and a simplification introduced by Li and Zhang (TLZ). It shows that when insufficient basal fertilizer was provided, the proposed method provided as much NFT as the TLF method, i.e., 25.05% or 11.88% more than the TRL and TLZ methods and increased the yields by 4.62% or 2.27%, respectively; and when sufficient basal fertilizer was provided, the THP method followed the TRL and TLZ methods to reduce NFT but maintained as much yield as the TLF method with a decrease of NFT by 4.20%. The results prove that THP could enhance crop production under insufficient N preceding conditions by prescribing more fertilizer and increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by lowering the fertilizer amount when enough basal fertilizer is provided.

Download Full-text

Fodder legumes affecting sequential crop production and fertilizer N use efficiency

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600055611 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 105 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. De ◽

M. A. Salim Khan ◽

M. S. Katti ◽

V. Raja

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Crop Production ◽

Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba ◽

Fertilizer N ◽

Available N ◽

Yield Increase ◽

Sudan Grass ◽

Fodder Crops ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Subsequent Crop

SUMMARYExperiments made with winter fodder crops, lucerne (Medicago sativa), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) and oats (Avena sativa) and summer fodder crops, cow pea (Vigna unguiculata), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), sunhemp (Crotolaria juncea) and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) showed that a sequential crop of Sudan grass yielded more after the legumes than after the cereal fodders, oats or pearl millet. The legume advantage was noted in the crop not given fertilizers but also when Sudan grass was given N fertilizer. The yield increase in Sudan grass grown after legumes was equivalent to 32–60 kg fertilizer N/ha applied to Sudan grass following pearl millet.After harvesting the legumes more available N and NO3-N was present in the soil and the apparent recovery of fertilizer N by a subsequent crop was increased by the legume.

Download Full-text

A REVISED ESTIMATE OF THE IRON USE EFFICIENCY OF NITROGEN FIXATION, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE MARINE CYANOBACTERIUMTRICHODESMIUMSPP. (CYANOPHYTA)1

Journal of Phycology ◽

10.1046/j.1529-8817.2003.01156.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 12-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Adam Kustka ◽

Sergio Saudo-Wilhelmy ◽

Edward J. Carpenter ◽

Douglas G. Capone ◽

John A. Raven

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Special Reference ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Iron Use Efficiency

Download Full-text

Synergy Between a Shallow Root System With a DRO1 Homologue and Localized P Application Improves Rice P Uptake

10.21203/rs.3.rs-138072/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aung Zaw Oo ◽

YASUHIRO TSUJIMOTO ◽

Mana Mukai ◽

Tomohiro Nishigaki ◽

Toshiyuki Takai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Layer ◽

P Uptake ◽

Ore Deposits ◽

Root Surface Area ◽

Genetic Traits ◽

P Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

P Application

Abstract Improved phosphorus (P) use efficiency for crop production is needed given the depleting phosphorus ore deposits and increasing ecological concerns about its excessive use. Root system architecture (RSA) is important in efficiently capturing immobile P in soils, while agronomically, localized P application near the roots is a potential approach to address this issue. However, the interaction between genetic traits of RSA and localized P application has been little understood. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) and their parent of rice (qsor1-NIL, Dro1-NIL, and IR64, with shallow, deep, and intermediate root growth angles (RGA), respectively) were grown in flooded pots after placing P near the roots at transplanting (P-dipping). The experiment identified that the P-dipping created an available P hotspot at the soil surface; the qsor1-NIL had the greatest root biomass and root surface area in the 0–3 cm soil layer despite no genotype differences in total values; the qsor1-NIL had significantly greater biomass and P uptake than the other genotypes in the P-dipping. The superior surface root development of qsor1-NIL could have facilitated P uptakes from the P hotspot, implying that P-use efficiency in crop production can be further increased by combining genetic traits of RSA and localized P application.

Download Full-text

No-tillage sorghum and garbanzo yields match or exceed standard tillage yields

California Agriculture ◽

10.3733/ca.2021a0017 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 112-120

Author(s):

Jeffrey P. Mitchell ◽

Anil Shrestha ◽

Lynn Epstein ◽

Jeffery A. Dahlberg ◽

Teamrat Ghezzehei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Surface ◽

San Joaquin Valley ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

No Till ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Crop System

To meet the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, there is a critical need for crop production strategies with less reliance on irrigation from surface and groundwater sources. One strategy for improving agricultural water use efficiency is reducing tillage and maintaining residues on the soil surface. We evaluated high residue no-till versus standard tillage in the San Joaquin Valley with and without cover crops on the yields of two crops, garbanzo and sorghum, for 4 years. The no-till treatment had no primary or secondary tillage. Sorghum yields were similar in no-till and standard tillage systems while no-till garbanzo yields matched or exceeded those of standard tillage, depending on the year. Cover crops had no effect on crop yields. Soil cover was highest under the no-till with cover crop system, averaging 97% versus 5% for the standard tillage without cover crop system. Our results suggest that garbanzos and sorghum can be grown under no-till practices in the San Joaquin Valley without loss of yield.

Download Full-text

Water use efficiency of spring wheat in the semi-arid Canadian prairies: Effect of legume green manure, type of spring wheat, and cropping frequency

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss2013-016 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 223-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

R. Kröbel ◽

R. Lemke ◽

C. A. Campbell ◽

R. Zentner ◽

B. McConkey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Green Manure ◽

Crop Production ◽

Canadian Prairies ◽

Cropping Frequency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Legume Green Manure

Kröbel, R., Lemke, R., Campbell, C. A., Zentner, R., McConkey, B., Steppuhn, H., De Jong, R. and Wang, H. 2014. Water use efficiency of spring wheat in the semi-arid Canadian prairies: Effect of legume green manure, type of spring wheat, and cropping frequency. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 223–235. In the semi-arid Canadian prairie, water is the main determinant of crop production; thus its efficient use is of major agronomic interest. Previous research in this region has demonstrated that the most meaningful way to measure water use efficiency (WUE) is to use either precipitation use efficiency (PUE) or a modified WUE that accounts for the inefficient use of water in cropping systems that include summer fallow. In this paper, we use these efficiency measures to determine how cropping frequency, inclusion of a legume green manure, and the type of spring wheat [high-yielding Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) vs. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS)] influence WUE using 25 yr of data (1987–2011) from the “New Rotation” experiment conducted at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. This is a well-fertilized study that uses minimum and no-tillage techniques and snow management to enhance soil water capture. We compare these results to those from a 39-yr “Old Rotation” experiment, also at Swift Current, which uses conventional tillage management. Our results confirmed the positive effect on WUE of cropping intensity, and of CPS wheat compared with CWRS wheat, while demonstrating the negative effect on WUE of a green manure crop in wheat-based rotations in semiarid conditions. Furthermore, we identified a likely advantage of using reduced tillage coupled with water conserving snow management techniques for enhancing the efficiency of water use.

Download Full-text

RELATIVE PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CROPPING SYSTEMS IN HOT ARID INDIA

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479714000052 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 549-572 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

V. S. RATHORE ◽

N. S. NATHAWAT ◽

B. MEEL ◽

B. M. YADAV ◽

J. P. SINGH

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Mung Bean ◽

Crop Production ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Application Rate ◽

Cluster Bean ◽

Use Efficiency

SUMMARYThe choice of an appropriate cropping system is critical to maintaining or enhancing agricultural sustainability. Yield, profitability and water use efficiency are important factors for determining suitability of cropping systems in hot arid region. In a two-year field experiment (2009/10–2010/11) on loam sandy soils of Bikaner, India, the production potential, profitability and water use efficiency (WUE) of five cropping systems (groundnut–wheat, groundnut–isabgol, groundnut–chickpea, cluster bean–wheat and mung bean–wheat) each at six nutrient application rate (NAR) i.e. 0, 25, 50, 75, 100% recommended dose of N and P (NP) and 100% NP + S were evaluated. The cropping systems varied significantly in terms of productivity, profitability and WUEs. Averaged across nutrient application regimes, groundnut–wheat rotation gave 300–1620 kg ha−1 and 957–3365 kg ha−1 higher grain and biomass yields, respectively, than other cropping systems. The mean annual net returns were highest for the mung bean–wheat system, which returned 32–57% higher net return than other cropping systems. The mung bean–wheat and cluster bean–wheat systems had higher WUE in terms of yields than other cropping systems. The mung bean–wheat system recorded 35–63% higher WUE in monetary terms compared with other systems. Nutrients application improved yields, profit and WUEs of cropping systems. Averaged across years and cropping systems, the application of 100% NP improved grain yields, returns and WUE by 1.7, 3.9 and 1.6 times than no application of nutrients. The results suggest that the profitability and WUEs of crop production in this hot arid environment can be improved, compared with groundnut–wheat cropping, by substituting groundnut by mung bean and nutrients application.

Download Full-text