scholarly journals Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Excretion in Grazing Cows with High and Low Milk Urea Nitrogen Breeding Values

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9827
Author(s):  
Martín Correa-Luna ◽  
Daniel Donaghy ◽  
Peter Kemp ◽  
Michael Schutz ◽  
Nicolás López-Villalobos
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Milk Urea ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Milk Urea Nitrogen

Milk urea nitrogen content is moderately heritable and is phenotypically related to urine nitrogen (UN). Based on this relationship, it has been suggested that genetic selection for lower milk urea nitrogen in grazing dairy cows could decrease UN concentration thereby reducing nitrogen excretions into the ground. The objective of this study was to compare the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and excretion in grazing cows with high and low milk urea nitrogen breeding values (MUNBV) in two farms of contrasting farming intensity. On the high-intensity farm (HIF) 68 and 70 cows with low and high MUNBV, respectively, were fed higher levels of supplementation and milked twice-daily, while on the low-intensity farm (LIF) 82 and 86 cows with low and high MUNBV, respectively, were fed lower levels of supplementation milked once-daily. Nitrogen use efficiency (g/g) was calculated as the ratio of daily milk N to daily N intake. Daily N intake (g/day) was derived from feed intake estimates based on energy requirements. The UN (g/day) was estimated by back-calculation from dietary N and subtracting milk N, faecal N, and N retained in body tissues. Irrespective of farm, cows with low MUNBV had significantly lower MY and milk urea nitrogen (p < 0.001) but this was not linked to significantly less UN. In the LIF, cows with low MUNBV had lower NUE (p < 0.001) than cows with high MUNBV, and this was explained by the reduced protein yield (p < 0.001). Selecting cows for low MUNBV was not an effective tool to reduce N losses and to increase the NUE in two dairy farms of contrasting farming intensity.

scholarly journals Effect of Wheat Cover Crop and Split Nitrogen Application on Corn Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladapo Adeyemi ◽  
Reza Keshavarz-Afshar ◽  
Emad Jahanzad ◽  
Martin Leonardo Battaglia ◽  
Yuan Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
N Application ◽  
Use Efficiency

Corn (Zea mays L.) grain is a major commodity crop in Illinois and its production largely relies on timely application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Currently, growers in Illinois and other neighboring states in the U.S. Midwest use the maximum return to N (MRTN) decision support system to predict corn N requirements. However, the current tool does not factor in implications of integrating cover crops into the rotation, which has recently gained attention among growers due to several ecosystem services associated with cover cropping. A two-year field trail was conducted at the Agronomy Research Center in Carbondale, IL in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate whether split N application affects nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of corn with and without a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements and four replicates was used. Main plots were cover crop treatments (no cover crop (control) compared to a wheat cover crop) and subplots were N timing applications to the corn: (1) 168 kg N ha−1 at planting; (2) 56 kg N ha−1 at planting + 112 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; (3) 112 kg N ha−1 at planting + 56 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; and (4) 168 kg N ha−1 at sidedress along with a zero-N control as check plot. Corn yield was higher in 2018 than 2019 reflecting more timely precipitation in that year. In 2018, grain yield declined by 12.6% following the wheat cover crop compared to no cover crop control, indicating a yield penalty when corn was preceded with a wheat cover crop. In 2018, a year with timely and sufficient rainfall, there were no yield differences among N treatments and N balances were near zero. In 2019, delaying the N application improved NUE and corn grain yield due to excessive rainfall early in the season reflecting on N losses which was confirmed by lower N balances in sidedressed treatments. Overall, our findings suggest including N credit for cereals in MRTN prediction model could help with improved N management in the Midwestern United States.

scholarly journals Animal as the Solution: Searching for Environmentally Friendly Dairy Cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10451
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Marshall ◽  
Pablo Gregorini
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Potential Solution ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Milk Urea ◽  
Milk Urea Nitrogen

There is increasing societal concern surrounding the environmental externalities generated from ruminant production systems. Traditional responses to address these externalities have often been system-based. While these approaches have had promising results, they have served to view the animal as a problem that needs solving, rather than as a potential solution. This review attempts to answer the question: can we breed animals that are more environmentally friendly to address environmental outcomes and satisfy consumer demand? This was done by exploring the literature of examples where animals have been specifically bred to reduce their environmental impact. The use of milk urea nitrogen breeding values has been demonstrated as a tool allowing for selective breeding of dairy cows to reduce nitrogen losses. Low milk urea nitrogen breeding values have been documented to result in reduced urinary nitrogen concentrations per urination event, which ultimately reduces the level of nitrogen that will be lost from the system. The ability to breed for low methane emissions has also shown positive results, with several studies demonstrating the heritability and subsequent reductions in methane emissions via selective breeding programs. Several avenues also exist where animals can be selectively bred to increase the nutrient density of their final product, and thus help to address the growing demand for nutrient-dense food for a growing human population. Animal-based solutions are permanent, cumulative, and often more cost-effective than system-based approaches. With continuing research and interest in breeding for more positive environmental outcomes, the animal can now start to be viewed as a potential solution to many of the issues faced by ruminant production systems, rather than simply being seen as a problem.

Nitrogen use efficiency of different slurry management in the pre-alpine grassland region – a 15N tracing experiment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Zistl-Schlingmann ◽  
Steve Kwatcho-Kengdo ◽  
Mirella Schreiber ◽  
Bernd Berauer ◽  
Anke Jentsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Cattle Slurry ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Total N ◽  
Plant Nitrogen ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Use Efficiency

&lt;p&gt;Grasslands of the alpine and pre-alpine region do not only sustain economic soil functions such as fodder production for local dairy and cattle farming but also important ecological soil functions such as water and nutrient retention, erosion and flood protection and habitat provision for extraordinarily high plant and animal biodiversity. The current management in the more intensively used grasslands in this region is based on fertilization with liquid cattle slurry, which is assumed to be prone to high N leaching and gaseous N emissions with their undesired consequences for soil, air and water quality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In order to assess the nitrogen use efficiency and trade-offs such as greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching of liquid slurry surface application under the auspices of climate change, we set up a &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N cattle slurry labeling experiment, combined with a space for time climate change experiment using plant-soil mesocosms and lysimeters. The &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N signal was traced in the plant-soil-microbe system for an entire year to assess productivity, plant nitrogen use efficiency, soil nitrogen retention and nitrogen losses. We found surprisingly low plant nitrogen use efficiency (recovery of less than &amp;#188; of the applied &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N in harvested plant biomass), soil N retention (ca &amp;#188; &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N recovery) and high environmental N losses (ca &amp;#189; of the &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N tracer remained unrecovered). The estimates of N losses based on unrecovered &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N were in good agreement with independent measurements of gaseous and hydrological N losses. Due to very high productivity and associated N exports with grass harvests, total N exports exceeded total N inputs. Such soil nitrogen mining was especially pronounced in the climate change treatments and was supported by increased soil nitrogen mineralization.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We also tested alternative slurry management (slurry injection into the soil, slurry acidification) that is supposed to increase nitrogen use efficiency. Slurry acidification but not slurry injection slightly increased plant nitrogen use efficiency and reduced nitrogen losses, however could overall not prevent significant soil nitrogen mining.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Consequently, both surface application and the more modern techniques of liquid cattle slurry fertilization showed low nitrogen use efficiency and promoted soil nitrogen mining. This is asking for a re-consideration of traditional fertilization regimes based on solid manure mixed with straw, a management that over historical timescales likely contributed to the build up of the large nitrogen stocks in pre-alpine grassland soils.&lt;/p&gt;

Selection for nitrogen use efficiency and N concentration in timothy

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Michaud ◽  
G. Bélanger ◽  
A. Brégard ◽  
J. Surprenant
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
N Use Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Phleum Pratense L ◽  
N Use

Improvement of N use efficiency of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) involves higher DM yield but, for feeding purposes, N concentration should also be considered. Differences in N use efficiency were found among 40 genotypes of timothy. The analysis of residues of the linear regression between N uptake and DM yield of all genotypes allowed for the selection of genotypes with both high N use efficiency and contrasted N concentrations. Key words: Phleum pratense L., timothy, genetic selection, nitrogen use efficiency

Humic acid-modified bentonite composite material enhances urea-nitrogen use efficiency

Chemosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 255 ◽  
pp. 126976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuwen Shen ◽  
Shuying Jiao ◽  
Zheng Ma ◽  
Haitao Lin ◽  
Wensheng Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Composite Material ◽  
Humic Acid ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Modified Bentonite ◽  
Use Efficiency

Evidence for nitrification ability controlling nitrogen use efficiency and N losses via denitrification in paddy soils

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanju Yang ◽  
Tianzhu Meng ◽  
Xiaoqing Qian ◽  
Jinbo Zhang ◽  
Zucong Cai
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Paddy Soils ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

Grazing dairy cows with low milk urea nitrogen breeding values excrete less urinary urea nitrogen

2020 ◽  
Vol 739 ◽  
pp. 139994 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Marshall ◽  
M.R. Beck ◽  
K. Garrett ◽  
G.K. Barrell ◽  
O. Al-Marashdeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Milk Urea ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Urea Nitrogen

scholarly journals Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Onion Yield Increased with a Polymer-coated Nitrogen Source

HortScience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Drost ◽  
Rich Koenig ◽  
Terry Tindall
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Source ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use Efficiency ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Cropping Seasons ◽  
Polymer Coated Urea ◽  
N Use ◽  
Bulb Yield

Nitrogen (N) losses can be substantial in furrow-irrigated onions (Allium cepa L.). Polymer-coated urea (PU) may reduce N losses and result in an increase in productivity. In this study, we investigated the effects of different rates and blends of urea and PU on onion yield and N use for two cropping seasons. Nitrogen was applied at 112, 168, and 224 kg·ha-1 as PU or urea. In addition, three PU/urea blends equal to 224 kg·ha-1 of N were compared. Plant growth and N concentration, soil nitrate concentrations, and bulb yield were evaluated each year. Onion yield decreased by 95 Mg·ha-1 for each 25% increase in the proportion of urea in the fertilizer blends. Reducing the N rates from 224 to 112 kg·ha-1 had minimal effect on bulb yield when all the fertilizer was supplied by urea. A reduction of N applied from 224 to 168 kg·ha-1 had little effect on yield, although a further reduction to 112 kg·ha-1 did significantly reduce bulb yield when the entire N was supplied from PU. Nitrogen source and rate had no effect on bulb maturity and only minor effects on leaf area and storage potential. Soil sampling indicated that more N was retained in PU-treated onion beds than in urea-treated beds, which improved nitrogen use efficiency. In addition, N use efficiency improved when there was more PU in the blend and when PU was compared with urea at the same rate. We conclude that the use of PU can dramatically improve N use efficiency and productivity in direct-seeded onions.

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