Nitrogen Fertiliser Immobilisation and Uptake in the Rhizospheres of Wheat and Canola

Immobilisation of fertiliser nitrogen (N) by soil microorganisms can reduce N availability to crops, decreasing growth and yield. To date, few studies have focussed on the effect of different plant species on immobilisation of fertiliser N. Canola (Brassica napus) is known to influence the soil microbiome and increase mineral N in soil for future crops compared with cereals. We tested the hypothesis that canola can reduce immobilisation of fertiliser N by influencing the composition of the rhizosphere microbiome. To investigate this, we conducted a glasshouse soil column experiment comparing N fertiliser uptake between canola and wheat (Triticum aestivium) and partitioning of fertiliser N between plants and microorganisms. Plants were grown in soil to which high C:N ratio wheat residues and 15N-labelled urea fertiliser were applied. There was no difference between wheat and canola in fertiliser N uptake despite differences in fungal community composition and the carbon metabolising enzyme alpha-glucosidase in the rhizosphere. Canola obtained more soil-derived N than wheat. There was no significant difference in the rhizosphere bacterial communities present between wheat and canola and unplanted controls. Our results highlight the capacity of canola to increase mineralisation of soil N compared with wheat although the study could not describe the microbial community which facilitated this increase.

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Organic amendment effects on tuber yield, plant N uptake and soil mineral N under organic potato production

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170508002330 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 23 (03) ◽

pp. 250-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Derek H. Lynch ◽

Zhiming Zheng ◽

Bernie J. Zebarth ◽

Ralph C. Martin

Keyword(s):

N Uptake ◽

N Availability ◽

Residual Soil ◽

Soil Mineral ◽

Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽

Mineral N ◽

Total N ◽

Available N ◽

Organic Potato ◽

Certified Organic

AbstractThe market for certified organic potatoes in Canada is growing rapidly, but the productivity and dynamics of soil N under commercial organic potato systems remain largely unknown. This study examined, at two sites in Atlantic Canada (Winslow, PEI, and Brookside, NS), the impacts of organic amendments on Shepody potato yield, quality and soil mineral nitrogen dynamics under organic management. Treatments included a commercial hog manure–sawdust compost (CP) and pelletized poultry manure (NW) applied at 300 and 600 kg total N ha−1, plus an un-amended control (CT). Wireworm damage reduced plant stands at Brookside in 2003 and those results are not presented. Relatively high tuber yields (~30 Mg ha−1) and crop N uptake (112 kg N ha−1) were achieved for un-amended soil in those site-years (Winslow 2003 and 2004) when soil moisture was non-limiting. Compost resulted in higher total yields than CT in one of three site-years. Apparent recovery of N from CP was negligible; therefore CP yield benefits were attributed to factors other than N availability. At Winslow, NW300, but not NW600, significantly increased total and marketable yields by an average of 5.8 and 7.0 Mg ha−1. Plant available N averaged 39 and 33% for NW300 and NW600, respectively. Soil (0–30 cm) NO3−-N at harvest was low (<25 kg N ha−1) for CT and CP, but increased substantially both in season and at harvest (61–141 kg N ha−1) when NW was applied. Most leaching losses of NO3−-N occur between seasons and excessive levels of residual soil NO3-N at harvest, as obtained for NW600, must be avoided. Given current premiums for certified organic potatoes, improving yields through application of amendments supplying moderate rates of N or organic matter appears warranted.

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Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community in Roots and Nitrogen Uptake Patterns of Understory Trees Beneath Ectomycorrhizal and Non-ectomycorrhizal Overstory Trees

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2020.583585 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Chikae Tatsumi ◽

Fujio Hyodo ◽

Takeshi Taniguchi ◽

Weiyu Shi ◽

Keisuke Koba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

N Uptake ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

N Availability ◽

Fungal Community Composition ◽

Mycorrhizal Association ◽

Understory Trees ◽

Overstory Trees

Nitrogen (N) is an essential plant nutrient, and plants can take up N from several sources, including via mycorrhizal fungal associations. The N uptake patterns of understory plants may vary beneath different types of overstory trees, especially through the difference in their type of mycorrhizal association (arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM; or ectomycorrhizal, ECM), because soil mycorrhizal community and N availability differ beneath AM (non-ECM) and ECM overstory trees (e.g., relatively low nitrate content beneath ECM overstory trees). To test this hypothesis, we examined six co-existing AM-symbiotic understory tree species common beneath both AM-symbiotic black locust (non-ECM) and ECM-symbiotic oak trees of dryland forests in China. We measured AM fungal community composition of roots and natural abundance stable isotopic composition of N (δ15N) in plant leaves, roots, and soils. The root mycorrhizal community composition of understory trees did not significantly differ between beneath non-ECM and ECM overstory trees, although some OTUs more frequently appeared beneath non-ECM trees. Understory trees beneath non-ECM overstory trees had similar δ15N values in leaves and soil nitrate, suggesting that they took up most of their nitrogen as nitrate. Beneath ECM overstory trees, understory trees had consistently lower leaf than root δ15N, suggesting they depended on mycorrhizal fungi for N acquisition since mycorrhizal fungi transfer isotopically light N to host plants. Additionally, leaf N concentrations in the understory trees were lower beneath ECM than the non-ECM overstory trees. Our results show that, without large differences in root mycorrhizal community, the N uptake patterns of understory trees vary between beneath different overstory trees.

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Foliar Application of Protein Hydrolysates on Baby-Leaf Spinach Grown at Different N Levels

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy12010036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 36

Author(s):

Anna Bonasia ◽

Giulia Conversa ◽

Corrado Lazzizera ◽

Antonio Elia

Keyword(s):

Photosynthetic Activity ◽

Foliar Application ◽

N Uptake ◽

Protein Hydrolysates ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

N Availability ◽

Nitrate Accumulation ◽

N Assimilation ◽

N Rates ◽

N Use

Surpluses of N are associated with environmental and health problems. To optimise N use and reduce nitrate accumulation in leafy species like spinach, the application of biostimulants is suggested. An experiment in controlled conditions (growth chamber/soilless) evaluated baby-spinach responses to two protein hydrolysates (PHs) from plant (legume, Trainer®) and animal (meat, Isabion®) sources, combined with three N rates: 2 (N2, deficient), 8 (N8, sub-optimal), and 14 (N14, optimal) mM of N. Biometrical and morphological traits of shoots and roots as well as the physio-metabolic (gas exchange, N assimilation, and NUtE), physical, mineral, and antioxidant profiles of leaves were assessed. The legume-PH boosts growth and yield only at the highest N conditions, while there was no effect at lower N rates. The legume-PH modulates root architecture and chlorophylls has positive responses only at optimal N availability, such as an increase in N uptake, leaf expansion, and photosynthetic activity at the canopy level. The PHs do not improve NUtE, leaf colour, consistency, cations, or antioxidants. Neither do PHs have any effect on reducing nitrate accumulation. Legume-PH improves N assimilation only at optimal N availability, while meat-PH does not, reaching the highest nitrate value at the highest N rate (2677 mg kg−1 fw), even if this value is under the EC limits for fresh spinach.

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Frequency Versus Quantity: Phenotypic Response of Two Wheat Varieties to Water and Nitrogen Variability

Journal of soil science and plant nutrition ◽

10.1007/s42729-021-00467-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Olivia H. Cousins ◽

Trevor P. Garnett ◽

Amanda Rasmussen ◽

Sacha J. Mooney ◽

Ronald J. Smernik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Carbon Allocation ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Availability ◽

Soil N ◽

High Moisture ◽

Mineral N ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

The Impact

AbstractDue to climate change, water availability will become increasingly variable, affecting nitrogen (N) availability. Therefore, we hypothesised watering frequency would have a greater impact on plant growth than quantity, affecting N availability, uptake and carbon allocation. We used a gravimetric platform, which measures the unit of volume per unit of time, to control soil moisture and precisely compare the impact of quantity and frequency of water under variable N levels. Two wheat genotypes (Kukri and Gladius) were used in a factorial glasshouse pot experiment, each with three N application rates (25, 75 and 150 mg N kg−1 soil) and five soil moisture regimes (changing water frequency or quantity). Previously documented drought tolerance, but high N use efficiency, of Gladius as compared to Kukri provides for potentially different responses to N and soil moisture content. Water use, biomass and soil N were measured. Both cultivars showed potential to adapt to variable watering, producing higher specific root lengths under low N coupled with reduced water and reduced watering frequency (48 h watering intervals), or wet/dry cycling. This affected mineral N uptake, with less soil N remaining under constant watering × high moisture, or 48 h watering intervals × high moisture. Soil N availability affected carbon allocation, demonstrated by both cultivars producing longer, deeper roots under low N. Reduced watering frequency decreased biomass more than reduced quantity for both cultivars. Less frequent watering had a more negative effect on plant growth compared to decreasing the quantity of water. Water variability resulted in differences in C allocation, with changes to root thickness even when root biomass remained the same across N treatments. The preferences identified in wheat for water consistency highlights an undeveloped opportunity for identifying root and shoot traits that may improve plant adaptability to moderate to extreme resource limitation, whilst potentially encouraging less water and nitrogen use.

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Modelling plant yield and quality response of fresh-market spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) to mineral nitrogen availability in the root zone

Italian Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.4081/ija.2018.1120 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 248-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniele Massa ◽

Luca Incrocci ◽

Luca Botrini ◽

Giulia Carmassi ◽

Cecilia Diara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

Spinacia Oleracea ◽

Root Zone ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

N Availability ◽

Human Beings ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Mineral N ◽

Yield And Quality

Spinach is one of the most important green-leafy vegetables, consumed worldwide, and its intake is beneficial for human beings. In this crop, produce yield and quality are closely related to plant nitrogen (N) nutrition. A precise supply of N is also essential for high environmental and economic sustainability. Main aims of the work were: i) to establish relationships between produce yield or quality and mineral N availability in the root zone; and ii) to define an optimal mineral N level to be maintained in the root zone for spinach. Eight experiments were carried out during a four-year-long period under typical Mediterranean climate conditions. Different amounts of N fertilisers were supplied leading to twenty different levels of mineral N in the root zone. Experimental measurements included climate parameters, plant growth, tissue and soil analyses, produce yield and quality indicators. A segmented linear model significantly represented the relationship between crop yield (1.7 to 21.7 t ha–1) and soil mineral N concentration (7.6 to 41.0 mg kg–1). Basing on this model, an optimal mineral N threshold was fixed at 23.4 mg kg–1. Above this threshold, crop yield did not show any significant variations as well as tissue characteristics and produce quality. Plants grown under suboptimal N levels showed reduction in growth, tissue mineral (nutrients) content, and SPAD index. The proposed models could be implemented in fertilisation protocols for the optimization of N supply and the estimation of spinach growth and yield.

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Availability of nitrogen in solid manure amendments with different C:N ratios

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s01-018 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 219-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

P. Qian ◽

J. J. Schoenau

Keyword(s):

Anion Exchange ◽

N Mineralization ◽

N Uptake ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Anion Exchange Membrane ◽

N Availability ◽

Short Term ◽

Available N ◽

Manure Amendments ◽

Exchange Membrane

Manures behave differently as sources of available N due to differences in the amounts and forms of N in the manure. The C:N ratio is an important factor affecting the rate of mineralization and release of available N from manures in which the majority of N is contained in organic forms. In order to ascertain the effect of manure C:N ratio on N mineralization in manure-amended soils, 13 solid manures with a large range in C:N ratio were applied to two Saskatchewan soils (Haverhill sandy loam and Blaine Lake clay loam) at 100 mg N kg-1 along with control (no manure) treatments. A growth chamber experiment was conducted to evaluate the relationship between manure C:N ratio and canola yield and N uptake, and a laboratory incubation was conducted to measure how the addition of manures with different C:N ratios affected the pattern of N release in the soils as measured by supply rates to anion exchange membrane (PRSTM) probes placed directly in the soil. Canola (Brassica napus var. Sprint) was grown under the same environmental conditions to maturity, and yield and nutrient contents were determined. A significant increase in canola yield and N uptake was observed over the control in both soils only when amended with poultry manure (C:N 7.6) or a pelletized form of hog manure that was supplemented with fertilizer N (C:N 6.6). A significant negative correlation was found between cattle manure organic C:N ratio and N mineralization. Overall, the manures showed limited release of available N over the short-term (67 d) when the organic C:N ratio was in the range of 13–15 and tended to decrease N availability in the short-term if the organic C:N ratio was over 15. The C:N ratio appears to be a useful parameter to measure when attempting to predict the effects of solid manure amendments on short-term N availability. Key words: Nitrogen availability, mineralization, manure, C:N ratio, anion exchange membrane

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Effect of Brassica break crops on the growth and yield of wheat

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9940529 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 529 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

JA Kirkegaard ◽

PA Gardner ◽

JF Angus ◽

E Koetz

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Field Experiments ◽

N Uptake ◽

Indian Mustard ◽

Gaeumannomyces Graminis ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Average Increase ◽

Mineral N ◽

Brassica Crops

The effect of the Brassica crops, canola and Indian mustard, on the growth and yield of subsequent wheat crops was investigated in field experiments at four sites in southern New South Wales. In all experiments, shoot growth, root growth, disease incidence and water and nitrogen use of wheat following the Brassica crops were compared with wheat following wheat. Linseed and field peas were included as break crops at some sites for comparison. At one site, methyl bromide fumigation was used to investigate break crop effects in the absence of soil-borne pathogens. Growth improvements following break crops were evident at an early stage (4 leaf stage), but were not related to levels of soil mineral N or the incidence of plants affected by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (take-all) or Rhizoctonia solani. At two of the four sites, early vegetative growth was greater following Indian mustard than following canola. Treatment with methyl bromide led to increased vegetative growth of wheat following all crops, but the ranking of the break crop effect was maintained, with wheat growth after Indian mustard>canola>wheat. The average increase in shoot biomass at anthesis following the break crops was 29%, varying from 12 to 46% according to site and break crop species. The effect of break crops on grain yield was influenced by water availability after anthesis. At one site, where 89 mm of rain fell after anthesis, the early improvements in growth persisted until maturity, and yield was significantly improved following the break crops. At the other three sites, less than 20 mm of rain fell after anthesis, and the greater biomass of wheat following break crops resulted in rapid depletion of soil water. The increased water deficit during grain filling reduced grain size, and no yield benefit was observed. As a result of increased pre-anthesis growth, wheat following break crops accumulated more N at anthesis in above-ground biomass at all sites. This N was redistributed into the grain after anthesis resulting in an average increase of 1.5% in grain protein in wheat following break crops. At one site, the increased N uptake in the crop was associated with less mineral N remaining in the profile at harvest. The results indicate the potential for break crops to improve the yield and protein levels of subsequent wheat crops, although the magnitude of these effects is dependent on seasonal conditions. The nature of the early growth improvements remains uncertain. However, the results from two of the sites support a previous report of the superior break-crop effect of Indian mustard.

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Leaf-litter production and soil organic matter dynamics along a nitrogen-availability gradient in Southern Wisconsin (U.S.A.)

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x83-003 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 12-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

Knute J. Nadelhoffer ◽

John D. Aber ◽

Jerry M. Melillo

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

N Mineralization ◽

N Uptake ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Litter Production ◽

N Availability ◽

Net N Mineralization ◽

Mineral N

Annual net N mineralization in the 0–10 cm mineral soil zone of nine forest stands on silt–loam soils was measured using a series of insitu soil incubations from April 1980 through April 1981. Differences in soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics among sites were shown with net N mineralization ranging from 0.54 to 2.10 mg N mineralized•g SOM−1•year−1. This variation was not related to percent N in SOM. Net N mineralization varied seasonally with maximum rates in June and very low rates in winter. Nitrification rates were constant from May through September despite fluctuations in soil ammonium pools. Nitrification was greater than 50% of annual net N mineralization at all sites. N uptake by vegetation, as estimated by net N mineralization plus mineral N inputs via precipitation, with minor corrections for mineralization below the incubation depth and for mineral N losses to groundwater, ranged from 40.3 to 119.2 kg N•ha−1•year−1. Annual leaf and needle litter production ranged from 2.12 to 4.17 Mg•ha−1•year−1 and was strongly correlated with N uptake (r = 0.938, P < 0.01). N returned in leaf litter was also correlated with N uptake (r = 0.755, P < 0.05). Important feedbacks may exist between N availability and litter quality and quantity.

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Some factors affecting the growth and yield of winter wheat grown as a third cereal with much or negligible take-all

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600069811 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 107 (3) ◽

pp. 639-671 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

R. D. Prew ◽

J. Beane ◽

N. Carter ◽

B. M. Church ◽

A. M. Dewar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus ◽

N Uptake ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Mineral N ◽

Sharp Eyespot ◽

Late Application ◽

Take All

SUMMARYWinter wheat cv. Avalon was sown in autumn 1981, 1982 and 1983 on a clay loam soil following two cereal crops. Multifactorial experiments tested the effects of combinations of the following eight factors, each at two levels: rotation, sowing date, timing of nitrogen, amount of nitrogen, growth regulator, pesticide, spring fungicide and summer fungicide.The best 16-plot mean grain yields in 1982–4 were respectively 8·7, 10·2 and 11·1 t/ha. Rotation had the largest effect on grain yield. Wheat following barley was severely infected with take-all and yielded, on average over 3 years, 2·2 t/ha less than wheat following oats. Take-all was more severe on wheat sown in mid-September than in mid-October; its effects on yield were lessened by early timing of N in 1982. Take-all decreased growth and N uptake mainly after anthesis, and also number of ears and dry weight per grain. Sowing in mid-September compared with mid-October decreased yield of wheat after barley by an average of 0·8 t/ha because take-all was more severe. Early sowing had negligible effects on grain yield of wheat after oats, but increased straw dry weight by 1·1 t/ha.Spring fungioide increased yield by an average of 0·3 t/ha. Effects were larger after barley than after oats, associated with a greater incidence of eyespot after barley. Summer fungioide increased yield by an average of 0·3 t/ha. Foliar diseases were slight in all 3 years. Fusarium ear blight and sharp eyespot were prevalent in 1982 and were not well controlled by the fungioide treatments. Fungicide temporarily decreased the incidence of some components of the mioroflora on the ears. Pesticide increased grain yield of wheat after oats only in 1984, when aphids on the ears were numerous. Aphids were present on early-sown plots in all three autumns but there was little barley yellow dwarf virus infection even without pesticide. Pesticide always decreased the number of nematodes after harvest to fewer than present before sowing. Populations never approached levels expected to affect yield.Early N application (main application early March) resulted in a larger grain yield in 1982 than N applied a month later. In 1983 and 1984 grain yield and N uptake by the grain were greater with the late application, especially when wheat was sown early. The soil contained more mineral N in the autumn of 1982 and 1983 than in 1981. Straw weight was always greater with early than with late application. Increasing the amount of N applied from 163 to 223 kg/ha increased N uptake by 40 kg/ha and grain yield by 0·5 t/ha after oats and by 0·6 t/ha after barley. N uptake in grain plus straw by the best yielding crops ranged from 205 kg/ha in 1982 to 246 kg/ha in 1984.Chlormequat applied at the start of stem extension shortened the stems at maturity by 2 cm each year. In 1984 it inoreased yield of early-sown wheat by 0·3 t/ha and also decreased lodging, which did not occur in the first 2 years.

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Mechanisms of nitrogen limitation affecting maize growth: a comparison of different modelling hypotheses

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp08412 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 60 (8) ◽

pp. 738 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

F. Y. Li ◽

P. D. Jamieson ◽

P. R. Johnstone ◽

A. J. Pearson

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

N Uptake ◽

Growth Dynamics ◽

Crop Growth ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Leaf N

Two hypothetical mechanisms exist for quantifying crop nitrogen (N) demand and N-deficit effects on crop growth. The Critical N mechanism uses a critical N concentration, while the Leaf N mechanism distinguishes active N in leaves from the N elsewhere in shoots. These two mechanisms were implemented in parallel in a maize model (Amaize) to evaluate their adequacy in predicting crop growth and development. In the Leaf N mechanism, two approaches for quantifying N-deficit effects, by reducing green leaf area (GAI) or diluting specific leaf nitrogen (SLN), were also examined. The model-predicted plant biomass, grain yield, and N uptake were compared with measurements from 47 maize crops grown on 16 sites receiving different N fertiliser treatments. The results showed that model-predicted plant biomass, grain yield and N uptake were insensitive to the approaches used for quantifying N-deficit effects in the Leaf N mechanism. The model-predicted plant biomass, grain yield and N uptake using either N approach were significantly related to measurements (P < 0.01) but had considerable deviations (r2 = 0.66–0.69 for biomass, 0.50–0.54 for grain yield: 0.17–0.33 for N uptake). The linear fits of the predicted against measured values showed no significant difference (P > 0.1) among the three N approaches, with the Leaf N mechanism predicting smaller deviation than the Critical N mechanism. However, the Critical N mechanism was better in simulating plant growth dynamics in early plant growth stages. The Leaf N mechanism distinguished functional from structural N pools in plants, having a sound physiological base. The simulation using the Leaf N mechanism with both SLN dilution and GAI reduction for quantifying N-deficit effects was the best in predicting crop growth and yield.

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