Efficiency of Mineral Nitrogen Fertilization in Winter Wheat under Pannonian Climate Conditions

Improvements in nitrogen (N) use efficiency in crop production are important for addressing the triple challenges of food security, environmental degradation and climate change. The three fertilizers, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea (Urea) and stabilized urea (Ureastab), were applied at a rate of 160 kg N ha−1 with two or three splits to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Pannonian climate region of eastern Austria. On average, over all fertilization treatments, the grain yield (GY) increased by about a quarter and the grain N concentration (GNC) doubled compared to the control without fertilization. Consequently, the grain N yield (NYGRAIN) was increased with N fertilization by 154%. The GY increased due to a higher grain density with no differences between N fertilizers but with a tendency of a higher grain yield with three compared to two splits. Three splits also slightly increased the GNC and consequently the NYGRAIN of CAN and Ureastab in one year. The removal of N fertilizer with the NYGRAIN (N surplus) was higher than the amount of applied fertilizer. Fertilization decreased the N use efficiency (NUE), the N uptake efficiency (NUpE) and the N utilization efficiency (NUtE) but increased the soil mineral nitrate (NO3-N) at harvest and the apparent N loss (ANL). Three compared to two applications resulted in a higher NO3-N at harvest but also a lower N surplus due to partly higher NYGRAIN. Consequently, the ANL was lower with three compared to two splits. Also, the NUpE and the apparent N recovery efficiency (ANRE) were higher with three splits. The best N treatment regarding highest above-ground biomass yield with lowest N surplus, N balance and ANL was the three-split treatment (50 CAN, 50 CAN, 60 liquid urea ammonium nitrate). Three splits can, under semi-arid conditions, be beneficial when aiming high-quality wheat for bread-making and also for reducing the N loss. Whereas, two splits are recommended when aiming only at high GY, e.g., for ethanol-wheat production.

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Effects of spray application of urea fertilizer at stem extension on winter wheat: N recovery and nitrate leaching

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859602002289 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 139 (1) ◽

pp. 11-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. J. READMAN ◽

C. P. BECKWITH ◽

P. S. KETTLEWELL

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Ammonium Nitrate ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Nitrate Concentration ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Urea Solution ◽

N Recovery ◽

Fertilizer N ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

A field experiment was carried out at Harper Adams in Shropshire to investigate the effect of supplying the spring N application to winter wheat as different proportions of urea as a solution, rather than as conventional soil-applied solid urea, on N recovery in the above-ground crop, autumn soil mineral N and nitrate leaching over the subsequent winter. A solid ammonium nitrate treatment was also included to represent alternative commercial practice to solid urea. Treatments were repeated on the same plots over the 3 years 1992, 1993 and 1994. N recovery was measured in all 3 years by difference in N uptake between fertilized and unfertilized plots, and in 1993 for selected treatments, N was applied as 15N-labelled fertilizer to determine direct uptake of fertilizer N in the crop and soil. Both urea sprays and solid soil N applications were labelled with 15N. Urea sprays were split over several days to reduce scorch, whereas solid fertilizer was applied as a single dressing. For some urea spray treatments, apparent N recovery in the above-ground crop in 1992 and 1994 was less compared with soil-applied N treatments. These urea spray treatments were applied in the morning rather than the evening, and gaseous losses, most likely by volatilization, are suggested. In 1992 application of a large proportion of N as urea sprays, such that application of some N as urea solution was delayed to around GS 37, was associated with an increase in physiological N use efficiency. In 1993, there was no difference in direct or apparent recovery of fertilizer N in the crop or soil for N applied as ammonium nitrate, solid urea or as urea sprays. Mean nitrate concentration in the drainage water at 1 m was elevated for all N treatments in all years, but only in 1992 did nitrate concentration and leaching loss decrease with increasing proportion of N applied as urea sprays. It may therefore be possible to reduce gaseous losses by application of urea sprays under cool conditions in the evening and exploit the increased physiological N use efficiency for urea sprays applied later, such that total fertilizer N applied and N losses are reduced.

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Effect of nitrogen rate and fertilizer nitrogen source on physiology, yield, grain quality, and nitrogen use efficiency in corn

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.1139/cjps-2015-0186 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 96 (3) ◽

pp. 392-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Dilip K. Biswas ◽

Bao-Luo Ma

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Grain Quality ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Canopy Reflectance ◽

Calcium Ammonium Nitrate ◽

N Source ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Rates ◽

N Use

A two-year (2010–2011) field experiment was undertaken to examine the effect of nitrogen (N) rate (0, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha−1) and N source (urea, calcium ammonium nitrate; ammonium sulphate) on canopy reflectance, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, yield, grain quality, and N-use efficiency in corn. However, the physiological observations were made only in 2011. We found that stover biomass was unaffected by higher N rate beyond 150 kg N ha−1 in both years. Higher N rates did not provide a yield advantage as compared to 150 kg N ha−1 in 2010, but the highest grain yield was produced with 200 kg N ha−1 in 2011. The higher grain yield by N application was attributed to a greater kernel size in both years. Corn stover [N] was found to increase with increasing N rates in both years. Kernel [N] only responded to the high N rate in 2010. There was no change in the kernel density as affected by N rate in both years. An increased N addition resulted in a decrease in both N-uptake efficiency and agronomic-N use efficiency in both years. There was an inconsistent effect of N source on yield and N use efficiency indices in the corn over two years.

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Nitrogen use efficiency and yield of BRRI dhan49 as influenced by different forms of N fertilizers under AWD condition

Research in Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries ◽

10.3329/ralf.v6i1.41383 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 27-33

Author(s):

Md Rafiqul Islam ◽

Snigdha Khatun ◽

Azmul Huda ◽

M Mazibur Rahman ◽

Mahbubul Alam Asad

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

N Recovery ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Deep Placement ◽

Straw Yield ◽

Prilled Urea ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

An experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Aman season of 2016 to evaluate the effects of deep placement of N fertilizers in the form of urea super granule (USG) and NPK briquettes in comparison with prilled urea (PU) on nitrogen use efficiency and yield of BRRI dhan49. The soil was silt loam in texture having pH 6.27, organic matter content 1.95% and total N 0.136%. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments include T1 (Control), T2 (PU, 104 kg N ha-1), T3 (USG, 104 kg N ha- 1), T4 (USG 78 kg N ha-1), T5 (USG, 52 kg N ha-1), T6 (NPK briquettes, 104 kg N ha-1), T7 (NPK briquettes, 78 kg N ha-1) and T8 (NPK briquettes, 52 kg N ha-1). All the treatments except T6, T7 and T8 received 16 kg P and 42 kg K ha-1 from TSP and MoP, respectively. In T6, T7 and T8 treatments, P and K were supplied from NPK briquettes. The PU was applied in three equal splits. The USG and NPK briquettes were deep placed 10 DAT and the briquettes were placed at 8-10 cm depth between four hills at alternate rows. Application of PU, USG and NPK briquette under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) condition exerted significant influence on yield attributes as well as grain and straw yields of BRRI dhan49. The maximum grain yield of 6311 kg ha-1 (100% increases over control) and straw yield of 6956 kg ha-1 was recorded in T3 (USG, 104 kg N ha-1). The second highest grain yield of 5865 kg ha-1 produced by T2 (PU, 104 kg N ha-1) was statistically similar with T4 (USG 78 kg N ha-1) and T6 (NPK briquettes, 104 kg N ha-1). The lowest grain yield (3155 kg ha-1) and straw yield (3908 kg ha-1) were recorded in T1 (Control). The deep placement of USG and NPK briquettes enhanced both the recovery of applied N and N use efficiency in comparison with broadcast application of prilled urea. The T5 (USG, 52 kg N ha-1) showed maximum apparent N recovery, and N use efficiency. Next to T5, the T4 depicted the position in respect of N recovery and N use efficiency. So the application of 78 kg N ha-1 in the form of USG can be recommended for the production of BRRI dhan49. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.6(1): 27-33, April 2019

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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.

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Integrated nutrient, water and other agronomic options to enhance rice grain yield and N use efficiency in double-season rice crop

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 148 ◽

pp. 15-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Jianquan Qin ◽

S.M. Impa ◽

Qiyuan Tang ◽

Shenghai Yang ◽

Jian Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Rice Crop ◽

Rice Grain ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

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Nitrogen fertilization impact on agronomic traits of maize hybrids released at different decades

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2001000500005 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 757-764 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Luís Sangoi ◽

Márcio Ender ◽

Altamir Frederico Guidolin ◽

Milton Luiz de Almeida ◽

Valmor Antônio Konflanz

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Genetic Selection ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Breeding Cycle ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Rates ◽

N Use

Genetic selection of maize hybrids is often conducted using high N rates during the breeding cycle. This procedure may either lead to the release of genotypes that present nitrogen luxury consumption or require a stronger N input to accomplish their yield potential. This work was carried out to evaluate the effects of N rates on grain yield and N use efficiency of hybrids cultivated in different decades in Southern Brazil. The trial was performed in Lages, Santa Catarina State. A split plot design was used. Hybrids Ag 12, Ag 28, Ag 303 and Ag 9012, released during the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, respectively, were evaluated in the main plots. Nitrogen rates equivalent to 0, 50, 100 and 200 kg ha-1 were side-dressed in the split-plots when each hybrid had six fully expanded leaves. Modern-day hybrid Ag 9012 had higher grain yield than hybrids of earlier eras, regardless of N rates. Under high doses of N, the older hybrids Ag 12 and Ag 28 took up more N and presented higher values of shoot dry matter at flowering than Ag 9012. Nonetheless, they set less grains per ear which contributed to decrease their grain yield and N use efficiency.

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The effect of grazing season length on nitrogen utilization efficiency and nitrogen balance in spring-calving dairy production systems

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s002185961200010x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 630-643 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

W. RYAN ◽

D. HENNESSY ◽

T. M. BOLAND ◽

L. SHALLOO

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Dairy Production ◽

N Losses ◽

Grazing Season ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Milk Solids ◽

N Use

SUMMARYThere is a continual requirement for grass-based production systems to optimize economic and environmental sustainability through increased efficiency in the use of all inputs, especially nitrogen (N). An N balance model was used to assess N use efficiency and N surplus, and to predict N losses from grass-based dairy production systems differing in the length of the grazing season (GS). Data from a 3-year grazing study with a 3×3 factorial design, with three turnout dates (1 February, 21 February and 15 March) and three housing dates (25 October, 10 November and 25 November) were used to generate estimates of N use efficiency and N losses. As the length of the GS increased by a mean of 30 days, milk production, milk solids production and milk N output increased by 3, 6 and 6%, respectively. The increase in milk production as the length of the GS increased resulted in a 2% decline in N surplus and a 5% increase in N use efficiency. Increasing GS length increased the proportion of grazed grass in the diet, which increased N cycling within the system, resulting in an 8% increase in milk solids/ha produced/kg of surplus N. The increased cycling of N reduced the quantity of N partitioned for loss to the environment by 8%. Reducing fertilizer N input by 20% increased N use efficiency by 22% and reduced total N losses by 16%. The environmental and production consequences of increased length of the GS and reduced N loss are favourable as the costs associated with N inputs increase.

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Improvement of Root Characteristics Due to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Interactions Increases Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy12010023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 23

Author(s):

Ming Du ◽

Wenzhong Zhang ◽

Jiping Gao ◽

Meiqiu Liu ◽

Yan Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Root Length ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Root Characteristics ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Total N ◽

Absorption Area ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

Although nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) co-application improves crop growth, yield, and N use efficiency (NUE) of rice, few studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying these interactions. To investigate root morphological and physiological characteristics and determine yield and nitrogen use parameters, rhizo-box experiments were performed on rice using six treatments (no fertilizer, PK, N, NK, NP, and NPK) and plants were harvested at maturity. The aboveground biomass at the elongating stage and grain yield at maturity for NPK treatment were higher than the sum of PK and N treatments. N, P, and K interactions enhanced grain yield due to an increase in agronomic N use efficiency (NAE). The co-application of N, P, and K improved N uptake and N recovery efficiency, exceeding the decreases in physiological and internal NUE and thereby improving NAE. Increases in root length and biomass, N uptake per unit root length/root biomass, root oxidation activity, total roots absorption area, and roots active absorption area at the elongating stage improved N uptake via N, P, and K interactions. The higher total N uptake from N, P, and K interactions was due to improved root characteristics, which enhanced the rice yield and NUE.

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Manure application increased crop yields by promoting nitrogen use efficiency in the soils of 40-year soybean-maize rotation

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-71932-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wei Hua ◽

Peiyu Luo ◽

Ning An ◽

Fangfang Cai ◽

Shiyu Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Crop Yields ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

N Recovery ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

Abstract It is great of importance to better understand the effects of the long-term fertilization on crop yields, soil properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency in a rotation cropping cultivation system under the conditions of frequent soil disturbance. Therefore, a long-term field experiment of 40 years under soybean-maize rotation was performed in a brown soil to investigate the effects of inorganic and organic fertilizers on crop yields, soil properties and nitrogen use efficiency. Equal amounts of 15N-labelled urea with 20.8% of atom were used and uniformly applied into the micro-plots of the treatments with N, NPK, M1NPK, M2NPK before soybean sowing, respectively. Analyses showed that a total of 18.3–32.5% of applied N fertilizer was taken up by crops in the first soybean growing season, and that the application of manure combining with chemical fertilizer M2NPK demonstrated the highest rate of 15N recovery and increased soil organic matter (SOM) and Olsen phosphorus (Olsen P), thereby sustaining a higher crop yield and alleviating soil acidification. Data also showed that no significant difference was observed in the 15N recovery from residue N in the second maize season plant despite of showing a lower 15N recovery compared with the first soybean season. The recovery rates of 15N in soils were ranged from 38.2 to 49.7% by the end of the second cropping season, and the residuals of 15N distribution in soil layers revealed significant differences. The M2NPK treatment demonstrated the highest residual amounts of 15N, and a total of 50% residual 15N were distributed in a soil layer of 0–20 cm. Our results showed that long-term application of organic fertilizers could effectively promote N use efficiency by increasing SOM and improving soil fertility, and thus leading to an increase in crop yields. This study will provide a scientific reference and guidance for improving soil sustainable productivity by manure application.

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