Interrelationships between Grain Nitrogen Content and other Indicators of Nitrogen Accumulation and Utilization Efficiency in Wheat Plants

SUMMARYWheat yield and grain nitrogen concentration (GNC; mg N/g grain) are frequently negatively correlated. In most growing conditions, this is mainly due to a feedback process between GNC and the number of grains/m2. In Mediterranean conditions, breeders may have produced cultivars with conservative grain set. The present study aimed at clarifying the main physiological determinants of grain nitrogen accumulation (GNA) in Mediterranean wheat and to analyse how breeding has affected them. Five field experiments were carried out in north-eastern Spain in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 growing seasons with three cultivars released at different times and an advanced line. Depending on the experiment, source-sink ratios during grain filling were altered by reducing grain number/m2 either through pre-anthesis shading (unshaded control or 0·75 shading only between jointing and anthesis) or by directly trimming the spikes after anthesis and before the onset of the effective grain filling period (un-trimmed control or spikes halved 7–10 days after anthesis). Grain nitrogen content (GN content; mg N/grain) decreased with the year of release of the genotypes. As the number of grains/m2 was also increased by breeding there was a clear dilution effect on the amount of nitrogen allocated to each grain. However, the increase in GN content in old genotypes did not compensate for the loss in grain nitrogen yield (GNY) due to the lower number of grains/m2. GN content of all genotypes increased (increases ranged from 0·13 to 0·40 mg N/grain, depending on experiment and genotype) in response to the post-anthesis spike trimming or pre-anthesis shading. The degree of source-limitation for GNA increased with the year of release of the genotypes (and thus with increases in grain number/m2) from 0·22 (mean of the four manipulative experiments) in the oldest cultivar to 0·51 (mean of the four manipulative experiments) in the most modern line. It was found that final GN content depended strongly on the source-sink ratio established at anthesis between the number of grains set and the amount of nitrogen absorbed at this stage. Thus, Mediterranean wheat breeding that improved yield through increases in grain number/m2 reduced the GN content by diluting a rather limited source of nitrogen into more grains. This dilution effect produced by breeding was further confirmed by the reversal effect produced by grain number/m2 reductions due to either pre-anthesis shading or post-anthesis spike trimming.

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Comparison of nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen utilization efficiency between elite inbred lines and the landraces of maize

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B - Soil & Plant Science ◽

10.1080/09064710.2012.673010 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fanjun Chen ◽

Guohua Mi

Keyword(s):

Inbred Lines ◽

Nitrogen Utilization ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Nitrogen Accumulation ◽

Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency

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DRY MATTER AND NITROGEN ACCUMULATION AND REDISTRIBUTION AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GRAIN YIELD AND GRAIN PROTEIN IN WHEAT

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps88-041 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 311-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

PATRICK M. McMULLAN ◽

PETER B. E. McVETTY ◽

AILEEN A. URQUHART

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Content ◽

Harvest Index ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Plant Nitrogen ◽

Nitrogen Harvest Index ◽

Grain Nitrogen ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Nitrogen Harvest

Dry matter and nitrogen (nitrate and reduced) accumulation and redistribution in four different spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes grown at field density were studied on a plant part and whole plant basis over the growing season for 2 yr. The four cultivars displayed significant differences in plant part and total plant dry matter, harvest index, nitrogen content, nitrogen concentration, nitrogen harvest index and nitrogen translocated values at most sample dates in both years. Grain yield was highly correlated with dry matter accumulation (r = 0.88**), while grain nitrogen content was highly correlated with plant nitrogen content (r = 0.95**). Nitrogen harvest index and plant nitrogen content were correlated at anthesis (r = 0.61**), while, as a consequence of this, the amount of nitrogen translocated was highly correlated with plant nitrogen content at anthesis (r = 0.87**). Nitrogen harvest index and harvest index were highly correlated (r = 0.83**), indicating that they may be related processes. Since plant dry matter and plant nitrogen content were not significantly correlated, it should be possible to select simultaneously for these traits to effect grain yield and grain nitrogen content increases on a per-plant basis. Further research will have to be done to determine how these changes will relate to grain nitrogen concentrations and grain yield per unit area.Key words: Wheat, dry matter, nitrogen, yield, protein, Triticum aestivum L.

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The role of the leaves in the accumulation of nitrogen by wheat during ear development

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9630725 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 725 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

TF Neales ◽

MJ Anderson ◽

IF Wardlaw

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Content ◽

External Factor ◽

Amino Nitrogen ◽

Wheat Plant ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Leaf Removal ◽

Ear Development ◽

Rooting Medium ◽

Grain Nitrogen

When wheat plants were deprived of nitrogen in the rooting medium at anthesis there was a small, but significant, increase in the nitrogen content of the grain at maturity. It was shown that there was a greater migration of nitrogen from the leaves and stem to the ear in plants deprived of nitrogen than in those plants supplied with nitrogen throughout ear development. In an examination of the effects on grain nitrogen content of leaf removal at anthesis, it was shown that this treatment reduces the uptake of nitrogen into the culm and the nitrogen content of the grain at maturity. Ear shading treatments significantly reduced the total nitrogen content of the grain in one experiment. Ear shading also decreased the amino nitrogen, and increased the nitrate nitrogen, content of the ear. Variation of the grain dry weight per ear, induced by shading, by defoliation treatments, or by differences in variety, were positively correlated with grain nitrogen content. Either the movement of dry matter and nitrogen into the ear are interdependent, or they are both promoted by some external factor, such as rate of growth of the ear. The possible importance of the leaves of the wheat plant in promoting the uptake of nitrogen into the culm and in supplying nitrogen to the grain is discussed.

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Effect of magnesium or zinc supplementation at the background of nitrogen rate on nitrogen management by maize canopy cultivated in monoculture

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/77/2010-pse ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 57 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 19-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. Potarzycki

Keyword(s):

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Physiological Role ◽

Nitrogen Management ◽

Nitrogen Accumulation ◽

Nitrogen Rate ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Npk Fertilizer ◽

Chlorophyll Index ◽

Grain Nitrogen

In five consecutive growth seasons from 2003 to 2007 a response of maize variety Eurostar (var. FAO 240) to supply of NPK fertilizer supplemented with magnesium or zinc was investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of zinc (NPK + Zn) or magnesium (NPK + Mg) in controlling nitrogen management by maize crop fertilized with 80 and 140 kg N/ha. In the course of the study, total grain nitrogen content did not show any response to both experimental factors and weather variability, as well. However, the obtained results indicate, that magnesium and zinc have significantly increased SPAD (chlorophyll index) indices of maize cob leaf at anthesis. A significant effect of both factors interaction on nitrogen accumulation in grain and cob covering leaves was noted, but limited to the 80 kg N/ha treatment. The physiological role of Mg and Zn in nitrogen management was most manifested throughout its greater recovery from nitrogen fertilizer applied at the rate 80 kg N/ha, amounting to 92 and 94% respectively; for the NPK, it was only 78%.

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DRY MATTER AND NITROGEN ACCUMULATION AND REDISTRIBUTION AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GRAIN YIELD AND GRAIN PROTEIN IN OATS

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps88-119 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 983-993 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

PATRICK M. McMULLAN ◽

PETER B. E. McVETTY ◽

AILEEN A. URQUHART

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Content ◽

Harvest Index ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Plant Part ◽

Plant Nitrogen ◽

Grain Nitrogen ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Nitrogen Harvest ◽

Plant Basis

Dry matter and nitrogen (nitrate and reduced) accumulation and redistribution in four different spring oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes grown at commercial field density were studied on a plant part and whole plant basis over the growing season for 2 yr. The four cultivars displayed significant differences in plant part and total plant dry matter, harvest index, nitrogen content, nitrogen concentration, nitrogen harvest index, and nitrogen translocated values at most sample dates in both years. Grain yield per plant was correlated with dry matter accumulation (r = 0.80*). Harvest index was highly correlated with grain yield per plant (r = 0.88**). Grain nitrogen content was highly correlated with plant nitrogen content (r = 0.94**). Nitrogen harvest index and harvest index were highly correlated (r = 0.86**), indicating that they may be related processes. Since plant dry matter and plant nitrogen content were not significantly correlated, it should be possible to select simultaneously for these traits to effect grain yield and grain nitrogen content increases on a per plant basis. Further research will have to be done to determine how these changes will relate to grain nitrogen concentrations and grain yield per unit area.Key words: Avena sativa L., oat, dry matter, nitrogen, yield, protein

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Scale and space dependencies of soil Nitrogen variability

10.5194/npg-2016-32 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Ana M. Tarquis ◽

María Teresa Castellanos ◽

Maria Carmen Cartagena ◽

Augusto Arce ◽

Francisco Ribas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Content ◽

Scaling Behavior ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

Structure Variation ◽

Previous Crop ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Grain Nitrogen ◽

Generalized Dimensions ◽

Applied Nitrogen

Abstract. In this study we use the multifractal analysis, through generalized dimensions (Dq) and the relative entropy (E(δ)) to investigate residual effects on wheat and grain, biomass and nitrogen content, of fertigation treatments applied to a previous crop. The wheat crop covered nine subplots from a previous experiment on melon response to fertigation. Each subplot had previously received a different level of applied nitrogen and plants from the previous melon crop had already taken up part of it. Many factors affect these variables, causing it to vary at different scales creating a non uniform distribution. The Dq were used to study the relation between scales meanwhile E(δ), and their increments between scales, were used to identify the scale at which the variable had a maximum structure and compare with the scaling behavior of the nitrogen applied. The E(δ) is particularly appropriate for this because of does not require any prior assumptions to the structure of the data and it is easy to calculate. The four variables studied presented a weak multifractal character presenting a low variation in Dq values, around the unit, that wasn't relevant for the study. On the other hand, the E(δ) and the increments in E(δ) help us to detect changes in the scaling behavior of all the variables studied. To this respect, the results showed that the applied nitrogen through fertirrigation dominated the wheat and grain biomass response as well as nitrogen content of the whole plant; surprisingly grain nitrogen content didn't show the same structure than the applied nitrogen. At the same time, there was a noticeable structure variation in the biomass and nitrogen content at the smaller scales that correspond to the previous cropping root arrangement due to uptake of the applied nitrogen.

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The effect of cropping after medic and non-medic pastures on total soil nitrogen, and on the grain yield and nitrogen content of wheat

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9800220 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 20 (103) ◽

pp. 220 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

CL Tuohey ◽

AD Robson

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Content ◽

Soil Nitrogen ◽

Yield Response ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Nitrogen Response ◽

Total Soil ◽

Grain Nitrogen ◽

Total Soil Nitrogen

The effect of medic and non-medic pastures on grain yield and nitrogen content of wheat was studied over 15 seasons on a friable grey clay in the Wimmera. The effects of length and type of pasture ley on grain yield and nitrogen content were closely related to the effects of these treatments on total soil nitrogen. Grain yield was not increased in any season by increasing total soil nitrogen beyond 0.1 10%. The grain yield response to increased total soil nitrogen varied markedly with seasons and most of the variation could be accounted for by variation in November rainfall; grain yield response was greater in years of higher November rainfall. Grain nitrogen content increased with increasing total soil nitrogen over the range studied (0.078% to 0.1 28%). Seasonal variation in grain nitrogen response to total soil nitrogen was mainly associated with variation in September and November rainfall. Higher September rainfall increased the response and higher November rainfall decreased it. The decline in total soil nitrogen that occurred with cropping was strongly correlated with the level of total soil nitrogen before cropping.

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Rate and duration of grain filling and grain nitrogen accumulation of wheat cultivars grown in different environments

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar98146 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 1007 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

J. F. Panozzo ◽

H. A. Eagles

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Maximum Rate ◽

Nitrogen Concentration ◽

Grain Filling ◽

Accurate Method ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Logistic Function ◽

Nitrogen Accumulation ◽

Grain Nitrogen ◽

Rate Of Accumulation

In Australia, the period during grain filling for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is often associated with increasing ambient temperatures and diminishing soil moisture conditions. This can affect grain size and grain protein concentration. In this study, grain filling and nitrogen accumulation were investigated by sampling every 7 days during grain filling for 4 cultivars: Rosella, Hartog, Halberd, and Eradu. The plants were grown in trials with and without irrigation in 1991 and 1992, which were seasons with divergent temperatures and rainfall during this period. A4-term logistic function, using both days after anthesis (DAA) and growing degree days (GDD), was fitted to data to estimate maximum rate and duration of grain filling. The logistic model proved to be, in most cases, an accurate method to determine the rate and duration of grain filling and nitrogen accumulation. Probably because of differences in availability of soil moisture, the use of GDD did not improve on the estimates obtained from using DAAas the independent variable. In 1991, a relatively dry year, non-irrigated plants showed signs of wilting. In that year, grain nitrogen contents on a per grain basis were similar in both the irrigated and non-irrigated (dryland) environments, but grain weights were much higher from the irrigated environment. The maximum rate and duration of grain filling were lower in the dryland environment. In contrast, whereas the duration of nitrogen accumulation was similarly shorter in the dryland environment, the maximum rate of accumulation was substantially higher. In 1992, a cooler and wetter year, differences between irrigated and non-irrigated environments were smaller, but the trends for rate and duration were similar. We concluded that, under stress conditions, higher rates of accumulation of grain nitrogen and lower rates of accumulation of carbohydrate, rather than differences in duration of accumulation, were primarily responsible for increased grain nitrogen concentrations. In general, cultivars used in this study were ranked similarly for rate and duration of grain filling across environments, with the exception of Hartog, which had a significantly lower maximum rate in the dryland treatment in 1991. This suggests that Hartog may be more sensitive to drier conditions than the other cultivars. In almost all environments, Eradu had a higher maximum rate of accumulation of grain nitrogen than other cultivars; however, the duration was reduced, so that in the mature grain, grain nitrogen concentration was not significantly different.

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