Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Allocation, and Remobilization in Apple Trees: Uptake Is Optimized With Pre-harvest N Supply

Optimizing the utilization of applied nitrogen (N) in fruit trees requires N supply that is temporally matched to tree demand. We investigated how the timing of N application affected uptake, allocation, and remobilization within 14-year-old “Gala”/M26 apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) over two seasons. In the 2017–2018 season, 30 g N tree−1 of 5.5 atom% 15N–calcium nitrate was applied by weekly fertigation in four equal doses, commencing either 4 weeks after full bloom (WAFB) (pre-harvest) or 1-week post-harvest, or fortnightly, divided between pre- and post-harvest (50:50 split). Nitrogen uptake derived from fertilizer (NDF) was monitored by leaf sampling before whole trees were destructively harvested at dormancy of the first season to quantify N uptake and allocation and at fruit harvest of the second season to quantify the remobilization of NDF. The uptake efficiency of applied N fertilizer (NUpE) was significantly higher from pre-harvest (32.0%) than from the other treatments (~17%). The leaf NDF concentration, an indicator of N uptake, increased concomitantly only when pre-harvest N was applied. Pre-harvest treated trees allocated more than half of the NDF into fruit and leaves and stored the same amount of NDF into perennial organs as the post-harvest treatment. Subsequent spring remobilization of NDF was not affected by the timing of N fertigation from the previous season. A seasonal effect of remobilization was observed with a decrease in root N status and a reciprocal increase in branch N status at fruit harvest of season two. These findings represent a shift in the understanding of dynamics of N use in mature deciduous trees and indicate that current fertilizer strategies need to be adjusted from post-harvest to primarily pre-harvest N application to optimize N use efficiency. This approach can provide adequate storage N to support early spring growth the following season with no detriment to fruit quality.

Download Full-text

N uptake, N partitioning, and photosynthetic N-use efficiency of an old and a new maize hybrid

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps94-088 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 74 (3) ◽

pp. 479-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

D. E. McCullough ◽

A. Aguilera ◽

M. Tollenaar

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Maize Hybrid ◽

Unit Leaf ◽

N Supply ◽

N Partitioning ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use ◽

Leaf N

An old maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid (Pride 5) has been shown to be less tolerant to N stress than a new maize hybrid (Pioneer 3902) during early phases of development. The objective of this study was to quantify the response of the two hybids to N supply in terms of N uptake, N partitioning, and photosynthetic N–use efficiency. Plants were grown under controlled-environment conditions until the 12-leaf stage at three levels of N supply (i.e., 15 mM N, 2.5 mM N, and 0.5 mM N) and were sampled at the 4-, 8-, and 12-leaf stages. Rates of N uptake per unit ground area were higher for Pioneer 3902 than for Pride 5 under maximum N stress during the 8- to 12-leaf phase, but rates were higher for Pride 5 at high N. Rates of N uptake per unit root weight were higher for Pioneer 3902 than for Pride 5 under both medium and low N supply. The old hybrid (Pride 5) partitioned more dry matter and N to leaves than the new hybrid under low N supply, but leaf N per unit leaf area was higher for the new hybrid. The new hybrid (Pioneer 3902) maintained greater rates of leaf photosynthesis per unit leaf N regardless of N supply. Consequently, results indicate that the higher N-use efficiency of Pioneer 3902 under low N supply is associated with higher N uptake and a higher leaf N per unit leaf area. Key words:Zea mays L., dry matter accumulation, photosynthesis, leaf N

Download Full-text

How Nitrogen Supply Affects Growth and Nitrogen Uptake, Use Efficiency, and Loss from Citrus Seedlings

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.121.1.105 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 121 (1) ◽

pp. 105-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

John D. Lea-Cox ◽

James P. Syvertsen

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

N Uptake ◽

Single Application ◽

N Application ◽

N Supply ◽

N Concentration ◽

Leaf N Concentration ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Complete Nutrient Solution ◽

Leaf N

We examined how N supply affected plant growth and N uptake, allocation and leaching losses from a fine sandy soil with four Citrus rootstock species. Seedlings of `Cleopatra' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and `Swingle' citrumelo (C. paradisi × P. trifoliata) were grown in a glasshouse in 2.3-liter pots of Candler fine sand and fertilized weekly with a complete nutrient solution containing 200 mg N/liter (20 mg N/week). A single application of 15NH415NO3(17.8% atom excess 15N) was substituted for a normal weekly N application when the seedlings were 22 weeks old (day O). Six replicate plants of each species were harvested at 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, 7, 11, and 30 days after 15N application. In a second experiment, NH4 NO3 was supplied at 18,53, and 105 mg N/week to 14-week-old `Volkamer' lemon (C. volkameriana Ten. & Pasq.) and sour orange (C. aurantium L.) seedlings in a complete nutrient solution for 8 weeks. A single application of 15NH415NO3 (23.0% 15N) was substituted at 22 weeks (day 0), as in the first experiment, and seedlings harvested 3,7, and 31 days after 15N application. Nitrogen uptake and partitioning were similar among species within each rate, but were strongly influenced by total N supply and the N demand by new growth. There was no 15N retranslocation to new tissue at the highest (105 mg N/week) rate, but N supplies below this rate limited plant growth without short-term 15N reallocation from other tissues. Leaf N concentration increased linearly with N supply up to the highest rate, while leaf chlorophyll concentration did not increase above that at 53 mg N/week. Photosynthetic CO2 assimilation was not limited by N in this study; leaf N concentration exceeded 100 mmol·m-2 in all treatments. Thus, differences in net productivity at the higher N rates appeared to be a function of increased leaf area, but not of leaf N concentration. Hence, N use efficiency decreased significantly over the range of N supply, whether expressed either on a gas-exchange or dry weight basis. Mean plant 15N uptake efficiencies after 31 days decreased from 60% to 47% of the 15N applied at the 18,20, and 53 mg N/week rates to less than 33% at the 105 mg N/week rate. Leaching losses increased with N rate, with plant growth rates and the subsequent N requirements of these Citrus species interacting with residual soil N and potential leaching loss.

Download Full-text

Title Exploring the Impacts of Genotype-Management-Environment Interactions on Wheat Productivity, Water Use Efficiency, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency under Rainfed Conditions

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10112310 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2310

Author(s):

Raheel Osman ◽

Muhammad Naveed Tahir ◽

Syed Tahir Ata-Ul-Karim ◽

Wajid Ishaque ◽

Ming Xu

Keyword(s):

N Uptake ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Growing Season ◽

Wheat Cultivars ◽

N Application ◽

Application Rates ◽

Rainfed Conditions ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Crop N Uptake ◽

N Use

Wheat production under rainfed conditions is restrained by water scarcity, elevated temperatures, and lower nutrient uptake due to possible drought. The complex genotype, management, and environment (G × M × E) interactions can obstruct the selection of suitable high yielding wheat cultivars and nitrogen (N) management practices prerequisite to ensure food security and environmental sustainability in arid regions. The agronomic traits, water use efficiency (WUE), and N use efficiencies were evaluated under favorable and unfavorable weather conditions to explore the impacts of G × M × E on wheat growth and productivity. The multi-N rate (0, 70, 140, 210, and 280 kg N ha−1) field experiment was conducted under two weather conditions (favorable and unfavorable) using three wheat cultivars (AUR-809, CHK-50, and FSD-2008) in the Pothowar region of Pakistan. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD), with split plot arrangements having cultivars in the main plot and N levels in the subplot. The results revealed a significant decrease in aboveground biomass, grain yield, crop N-uptake, WUE, and N use efficiency (NUE) by 15%, 22%, 21%, 18%, and 8%, respectively in the unfavorable growing season (2014–2015) as compared to favorable growing season (2013–2014) as a consequence of less rainfall and heat stress during the vegetative and reproductive growth phases, respectively. FSD-2008 showed a significantly higher aboveground biomass, grain yield, crop N-uptake, WUE, and NUE as compared to other wheat cultivars in both years. Besides, N140 appeared as the most suitable dose for wheat cultivars during the favorable growing season. However, any further increase in N application rates beyond N140 showed a non-significant effect on yield and yield components. Conversely, the wheat yield increased significantly up to 74% from N0 to N70 during the unfavorable growing season, and there was no substantial difference between N70–N280. The findings provide opportunities for maximizing yield while avoiding excessive N loss by selecting suitable cultivars and N application rates for rainfed areas of Pothowar Plateau by using meteorological forecasting, amount of summer rainfall, and initial soil moisture content.

Download Full-text

Performance of Prilled Urea and Urea Super Granule by Applicators on Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Boro Rice

Bangladesh Rice Journal ◽

10.3329/brj.v22i2.44043 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 63-69

Author(s):

ATMS Hossain ◽

F Rahman ◽

PK Saha

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

N Application ◽

Deep Placement ◽

Prilled Urea ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

A field experiment was conducted on validation of prilled urea (PU) and urea super granule (USG) applied by applicators on yield and nitrogen use efficiency during Boro 2014 season at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) farm, Gazipur (AEZ 28). Six treatment combinations of different N doses and methods of N application were tested to compare urea-N application by PU and USG applicator for rice yield, N uptake and N use efficiency over urea broadcasting. Application of N as PU or USG through applicator has same effect on grain yield, N uptake and N use efficiency compared with urea broadcasting. Statistically similar grain yield were observed with N application as PU or USG @ 78 kg N ha-1 by applicator which was comparable with urea broadcasting @ 135 kg N ha-1. The N concentration and uptake in both panicle initiation (PI) and maturity stage were higher in USG deep placement than PU deep placement by applicators but the difference was not significant. Although agronomic use efficiency (AUE) of N was slightly higher in PU than USG applied by applicators but the recovery efficiency (RE) of N was higher in USG than PU. Bangladesh Rice j. 2018, 22(2): 63-69

Download Full-text

Genotypic Variation in Nitrogen Use-Efficiency Traits of 28 Tobacco Genotypes

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10040572 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 572

Author(s):

André B. Andrade ◽

Douglas R. Guelfi ◽

Valdemar Faquin ◽

Fabrício S. Coelho ◽

Carolina S. de C. Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

N Uptake ◽

Genotypic Variation ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Availability ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

N Supply ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

Knowing the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops is crucial to minimize environmental pollution, although NUE is rarely provided for numerous genotypes in the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) crop. Through the growth of contrasting genotypes in nutritive solutions, we aimed to characterize five NUE components of 28 genotypes and to classify them according to their efficiency and responsiveness to nitrogen (N) availability. On average, physiological N use efficiency, N harvest index, and N uptake efficiency decreased by 16%, 4%, and 57%, respectively, under N-deficient conditions, while N utilization efficiency decreased by 43% at adequate N supply. The relative efficiency of N use varied from 35% to 59% among genotypes. All genotypes of the Virginia and Maryland varietal groups were efficient, and those of the Burley, Comum, and Dark groups were inefficient, while the responsiveness varied among genotypes within varietal groups, except for Maryland genotypes. Our findings are helpful in indicating genotypes with distinguished efficiency and responsiveness to N supply, which can be further chosen according to soil N level or affordability to N fertilizers worldwide in tobacco crops. In a general framework, this can lead to a more sustainable use of N and can support tobacco breeding programs for NUE.

Download Full-text

A STELLA-Based Model to Simultaneously Predict Hydrological Processes, N Uptake and Biomass Production in a Eucalyptus Plantation

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050515 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 515

Author(s):

Ying Ouyang ◽

Gary Feng ◽

Heidi Renninger ◽

Theodor D. Leininger ◽

Prem Parajuli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Net Primary Production ◽

N Uptake ◽

Hydrological Processes ◽

Modeling Tools ◽

Eucalyptus Plantation ◽

Simulation Scenario ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

Eucalyptus is one of the fastest growing hardwoods for bioenergy production. Currently, few modeling tools exist to simultaneously estimate soil hydrological processes, nitrogen (N) uptake, and biomass production in a eucalyptus plantation. In this study, a STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation)-based model was developed to meet this need. After the model calibration and validation, a simulation scenario was developed to assess eucalyptus (E. grandis × urophylla) annual net primary production (ANPP), woody biomass production (WBP), water use efficiency (WUE), and N use efficiency (NUE) for a simulation period of 20 years. Simulation results showed that a typical annual variation pattern was predicted for water use, N uptake, and ANPP, increasing from spring to fall and decreasing from fall to the following winter. Overall, the average NUE during the growth stage was 700 kg/kg. To produce 1000 kg eucalyptus biomass, it required 114.84 m3 of water and 0.92 kg of N. This study suggests that the STELLA-based model is a useful tool to estimate ANPP, WBP, WUE, and NUE in a eucalyptus plantation.

Download Full-text

INFLUENCE OF THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION ON RICE YIELD AND NITROGEN AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY WITH DIFFERENT N APPLICATION RATES

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479709007583 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 275-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

LIMEI ZHAO ◽

LIANGHUAN WU ◽

YONGSHAN LI ◽

XINGHUA LU ◽

DEFENG ZHU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

System Of Rice Intensification ◽

N Application ◽

Application Rates ◽

Rice Intensification ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Rates ◽

N Use

SUMMARYField experiments were conducted in 2005 and 2006 to investigate the impacts of alternative rice cultivation systems on grain yield, water productivity, N uptake and N use efficiency (ANUE, agronomic N use efficiency; PFP, partial factor productivity of applied N). The trials compared the practices used with the system of rice intensification (SRI) and traditional flooding (TF). The effects of different N application rates (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha−1) and of N rates interacting with the cultivation system were also evaluated. Resulting grain yields with SRI ranged from 5.6 to 7.3 t ha−1, and from 4.1 to 6.4 t ha−1 under TF management. On average, grain yields under SRI were 21% higher in 2005 and 22% higher in 2006 than with TF. Compared with TF, SRI plots had higher harvest index across four fertilizer N rates in both years. However, there was no significance difference in above-ground biomass between two cultivation systems in either year. ANUE was increased significantly under SRI at 80 kg N ha−1 compared with TF, while at higher N application rates, ANUE with SRI was significantly lower than TF. Compared with TF, PFP under SRI was higher across all four N rates in both years, although the difference at 240 kg N ha−1 was not significant. As N rate increased, the ANUE and PFP under both SRI and TF significantly decreased. Reduction in irrigation water use with SRI was 40% in 2005 and 47% in 2006, and water use efficiency, both total and from irrigation, were significantly increased compared to TF. With both SRI and TF, the highest N application was associated with decreases in grain yield, N use efficiency and water use efficiency. This is an important finding given current debates whether N application rates in China are above the optimum, especially considering consequences for soil and water resources. Cultivation system, N rates and their interactions all produced significant differences in this study. Results confirmed that optimizing fertilizer N application rates under SRI is important to increase yield, N use efficiency and water use efficiency.

Download Full-text

Single and split nitrogen dose in wheat yield indicators

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v22n1p16-21 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 16-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Juliane S. P. Costa ◽

Rubia D. Mantai ◽

José A. G. da Silva ◽

Osmar B. Scremin ◽

Emilio G. Arenhardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Phenological Stages ◽

Split Dose ◽

N Supply ◽

N Release ◽

Residual N ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

ABSTRACT Single or split nitrogen (N) supply can maximize the expression of wheat yield indicators. The objective of the study was to evaluate the greater N use efficiency on wheat yield indicators by the single and split N supply under favorable and unfavorable year conditions to the crop in succession system of high and reduced residual N release. The study was conducted in 2014 and 2015, in a randomized complete block design with four replicates in a 4 x 3 factorial, for N-fertilizer doses (0, 30, 60, 120 kg ha-1) and supply forms [full dose (100%) in the phenological stage V3 (third expanded leaf); split dose (70 and 30%) in the phenological stages V3/V6 (third and sixth expanded leaves, respectively) and; split dose (70 and 30%) in the phenological stages V3/R1 (third expanded leaf and early grain filling)], respectively, in soybean/wheat and maize/wheat cultivation systems. The highest N use efficiency for wheat yield was obtained with the single dose supply in favorable year of temperature and rainfall and with the split dose in the V3/V6 stages in unfavorable year, regardless of the succession system of high and reduced residual N release.

Download Full-text

Rice NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 4 is a master regulator of nitrogen use efficiency

10.1101/2020.01.16.908558 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jie Wu ◽

Zi-Sheng Zhang ◽

Jing-Qiu Xia ◽

Alamin Alfatih ◽

Ying Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

N Uptake ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Field Trials ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Wild Type ◽

Inorganic N ◽

Master Regulator ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

AbstractNitrogen (N) is one of the key essential macronutrients that affects rice growth and yield. Inorganic N fertilizers are excessively used to boost yield and generate serious collateral environmental pollution. Therefore, improving crop N use efficiency (NUE) is highly desirable and has been a major endeavor in crop improvement. However, only a few regulators have been identified that can be used to improve NUE in rice to date. Here we show that the NIN-like protein OsNLP4 significantly improves the rice NUE and yield. Field trials consistently showed that loss-of-OsNLP4 dramatically reduced yield and NUE compared with wild type under different N regimes. In contrast, the OsNLP4 overexpression lines remarkably increased yield by 30% and NUE by 47% under moderate N level compared with wild type. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that OsNLP4 orchestrates the expression of a majority of known N uptake, assimilation and signaling genes by directly binding to the nitrate-responsive cis-element in their promoters to regulate their expression. Moreover, overexpression of OsNLP4 can recover the phenotype of Arabidopsis nlp7 mutant and enhance its biomass. Our results demonstrate that OsNLP4 is a master regulator of NUE in rice and sheds light on crop NUE improvement.

Download Full-text

Ethephon Reduces Maize Nitrogen Uptake but Improves Nitrogen Utilization in Zea mays L.

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.762736 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yushi Zhang ◽

Yubin Wang ◽

Churong Liu ◽

Delian Ye ◽

Danyang Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Plant Density ◽

N Uptake ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Application ◽

Total N ◽

N Concentration ◽

High Plant Density ◽

Ethephon Treatment ◽

N Use

Increasing use of plant density or/and nitrogen (N) application has been introduced to maize production in the past few decades. However, excessive planting density or/and use of fertilizer may cause reduced N use efficiency (NUE) and increased lodging risks. Ethephon application improves maize lodging resistance and has been an essential measure in maize intensive production systems associated with high plant density and N input in China. Limited information is available about the effect of ethephon on maize N use and the response to plant density under different N rates in the field. A three-year field study was conducted with two ethephon applications (0 and 90 g ha−1), four N application rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg N ha−1), and two plant densities (6.75 plants m−2 and 7.5 plants m−2) to evaluate the effects of ethephon on maize NUE indices (N agronomic efficiency, NAE; N recovery efficiency, NRE; N uptake efficiency, NUpE; N utilization efficiency, NUtE; partial factor productivity of N, PFPN), biomass, N concentration, grain yield and N uptake, and translocation properties. The results suggest that the application of ethephon decreased the grain yield by 1.83–5.74% due to the decrease of grain numbers and grain weight during the three experimental seasons. Meanwhile, lower biomass, NO3- and NH4+ fluxes in xylem bleeding sap, and total N uptake were observed under ethephon treatments. These resulted in lower NAE and NUpE under the ethephon treatment at a corresponding N application rate and plant density. The ethephon treatment had no significant effects on the N concentration in grains, and it decreased the N concentration in stover at the harvesting stage, while increasing the plant N concentration at the silking stage. Consequently, post-silking N remobilization was significantly increased by 14.10–32.64% under the ethephon treatment during the experimental periods. Meanwhile, NUtE significantly increased by ethephon.

Download Full-text