Effect of nitrogen and snow management on efficiency of water use by spring wheat grown annually on zero-tillage

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
F. Selles
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Yield Point ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Use Efficiency

Water and N fertility are major limitations to cereal production in southwestern Saskatchewan. Both factors interact to determine grain yield and thus water use efficiency. A 9-yr study to assess the effects of snow management and fertilizer N on yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown annually under zero-tillage provided an opportunity to quantify water use efficiency and relate this to apparent water used by the crop (WU), years of cropping (Yr) assumed to be 10 or fewer, soil test N (SN), and rate of fertilizer N (FN). The results showed that the estimated initial yield point (IYP) (available water required to produce the first unit of grain) and the yield increase per unit of water used beyond IYP increased with available N. Within the range of available N encountered in this study, IYP ranged between 60 and about 100 mm, values similar to those reported in the literature. However, because IYP is obtained by extrapolation, these values are regarded as first approximations. The yield increase per unit of WU increased with FN, varying between 10 and 14.4 kg ha−1 mm−1 (avg. 12.7) when a simple linear regression model was used to relate yield to WU. When a more accurate multiple regression equation that related yield to WU, SN, FN, and time and placement of fertilizer N was used, the marginal increase in yield per unit increase in available water (∂y/∂WU) ranged between 5 and 23 kg ha−1 mm−1 for assumed combinations of SN ranging between 0 and 50 kg ha−1 and FN ranging between 0 and 100 kg ha−1. The multiple regression model is superior to linear models because it allows the separation of available soil and fertilizer N effects. Key words: Water use efficiency, initial yield point, regression, N fertilizer, soil N

Fodder legumes affecting sequential crop production and fertilizer N use efficiency

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. De ◽  
M. A. Salim Khan ◽  
M. S. Katti ◽  
V. Raja
Keyword(s):  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Sudan Grass ◽  
Fodder Crops ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Subsequent Crop

SUMMARYExperiments made with winter fodder crops, lucerne (Medicago sativa), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) and oats (Avena sativa) and summer fodder crops, cow pea (Vigna unguiculata), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), sunhemp (Crotolaria juncea) and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) showed that a sequential crop of Sudan grass yielded more after the legumes than after the cereal fodders, oats or pearl millet. The legume advantage was noted in the crop not given fertilizers but also when Sudan grass was given N fertilizer. The yield increase in Sudan grass grown after legumes was equivalent to 32–60 kg fertilizer N/ha applied to Sudan grass following pearl millet.After harvesting the legumes more available N and NO3-N was present in the soil and the apparent recovery of fertilizer N by a subsequent crop was increased by the legume.

Potential yield and water-use efficiency benefits in sorghum from limited maximum transpiration rate

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Sinclair ◽  
Graeme L. Hammer ◽  
Erik J. van Oosterom
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Transpiration Rate ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Stomatal Closure ◽  
Risk Attitude ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Yield Responses

Limitations on maximum transpiration rates, which are commonly observed as midday stomatal closure, have been observed even under well-watered conditions. Such limitations may be caused by restricted hydraulic conductance in the plant or by limited supply of water to the plant from uptake by the roots. This behaviour would have the consequences of limiting photosynthetic rate, increasing transpiration efficiency, and conserving soil water. A key question is whether the conservation of water will be rewarded by sustained growth during seed fill and increased grain yield. This simulation analysis was undertaken to examine consequences on sorghum yield over several years when maximum transpiration rate was imposed in a model. Yields were simulated at four locations in the sorghum-growing area of Australia for 115 seasons at each location. Mean yield was increased slightly (5–7%) by setting maximum transpiration rate at 0.4 mm h–1. However, the yield increase was mainly in the dry, low-yielding years in which growers may be more economically vulnerable. In years with yield less than ∼450 g m–2, the maximum transpiration rate trait resulted in yield increases of 9–13%. At higher yield levels, decreased yields were simulated. The yield responses to restricted maximum transpiration rate were associated with an increase in efficiency of water use. This arose because transpiration was reduced at times of the day when atmospheric demand was greatest. Depending on the risk attitude of growers, incorporation of a maximum transpiration rate trait in sorghum cultivars could be desirable to increase yields in dry years and improve water use efficiency and crop yield stability.

Water use efficiency of spring wheat in the semi-arid Canadian prairies: Effect of legume green manure, type of spring wheat, and cropping frequency

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kröbel ◽  
R. Lemke ◽  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
R. Zentner ◽  
B. McConkey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Cropping Frequency ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Legume Green Manure

Kröbel, R., Lemke, R., Campbell, C. A., Zentner, R., McConkey, B., Steppuhn, H., De Jong, R. and Wang, H. 2014. Water use efficiency of spring wheat in the semi-arid Canadian prairies: Effect of legume green manure, type of spring wheat, and cropping frequency. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 223–235. In the semi-arid Canadian prairie, water is the main determinant of crop production; thus its efficient use is of major agronomic interest. Previous research in this region has demonstrated that the most meaningful way to measure water use efficiency (WUE) is to use either precipitation use efficiency (PUE) or a modified WUE that accounts for the inefficient use of water in cropping systems that include summer fallow. In this paper, we use these efficiency measures to determine how cropping frequency, inclusion of a legume green manure, and the type of spring wheat [high-yielding Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) vs. Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS)] influence WUE using 25 yr of data (1987–2011) from the “New Rotation” experiment conducted at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. This is a well-fertilized study that uses minimum and no-tillage techniques and snow management to enhance soil water capture. We compare these results to those from a 39-yr “Old Rotation” experiment, also at Swift Current, which uses conventional tillage management. Our results confirmed the positive effect on WUE of cropping intensity, and of CPS wheat compared with CWRS wheat, while demonstrating the negative effect on WUE of a green manure crop in wheat-based rotations in semiarid conditions. Furthermore, we identified a likely advantage of using reduced tillage coupled with water conserving snow management techniques for enhancing the efficiency of water use.

Water-deficit and high temperature affected water use efficiency and arabinoxylan concentration in spring wheat

2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beibei Zhang ◽  
Wenzhao Liu ◽  
Scott X. Chang ◽  
Anthony O. Anyia
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Use Efficiency

Sustaining productivity of a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes 4. Nitrogen fixation, water use and yield of chickpea

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Strong ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
J. E. Cooper ◽  
J. A. Doughton ◽  
E. J. Weston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practice ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Use Efficiency

Summary. Continuous cereal cropping in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales has depleted native soil nitrogen fertility to a level where corrective strategies are required to sustain grain yields and high protein content. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of chickpea in chickpea–wheat rotations in terms of yields, water use and N2 fixation. The effects of sowing time and tillage practice have been studied. Chickpea grain yields varied from 356 kg/ha in 1995 to 2361 kg/ha in 1988; these were significantly correlated with the total rainfall received during the preceding fallow period and crop growth. Almost 48% of total plant production and 30% of total plant nitrogen were below-ground as root biomass. Mean values of water-use efficiency for grain, above-ground dry matter, and total dry matter were 5.9, 14.2 and 29.2 kg/ha.mm, respectively. The water-use efficiency for grain was positively correlated with the total rainfall for the preceding fallow and crop growth period although cultural practices modified water-use efficiency. The potential N2 fixation was estimated to be 0.6 kg nitrogen/ha.mm from 1992 total dry matter nitrogen yields assuming all of the nitrogen contained in chickpea was derived from the atmosphere. Sowing time had a much larger effect on grain yield and N2 fixation by chickpea than tillage practice (conventional tillage and zero tillage) although zero tillage generally increased grain yields. The late May–early June sowing time was found to be the best for chickpea grain yield and N2 fixation since it optimised solar energy use and water use, and minimised frost damage. Nitrogen fixation by chickpea was low, less than 40% nitrogen was derived from atmosphere, representing less than 20 kg nitrogen/ha.year. The potential for N2 fixation was not attained during this period due to below-average rainfall and high soil NO3-N accumulation because of poor utilisation by the preceding wheat crop. Increased soil NO3-N due to residual from fertiliser N applied to the preceding wheat crop further reduced N2 fixation. A simple soil nitrogen balance indicated that at least 60% of crop nitrogen must be obtained from N2 fixation to avoid continued soil nitrogen loss. This did not occur in most years. The generally negative soil nitrogen balance needs to be reversed if chickpea is to be useful in sustainable cropping systems although it is an attractive cash crop. Sowing time and zero tillage practice, possibly combined with more appropriate cultivars, to enhance chickpea biomass, along with low initial soil NO3-N levels, would provide maximum N2 fixation.

scholarly journals Effects of Temperature and Grafting on Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Water Use Efficiency of a Hydroponic Sweet Pepper Crop

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ropokis ◽  
Georgia Ntatsi ◽  
Constantinos Kittas ◽  
Nikolaos Katsoulas ◽  
Dimitrios Savvas
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Sweet Pepper ◽  
Winter Climate ◽  
Mild Winter ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

In areas characterized by mild winter climate, pepper is frequently cultivated in unheated greenhouses in which the temperature during the winter may drop to suboptimal levels. Under low temperature (LT) conditions, the uptake of nutrients may be altered in a different manner than that of the water and thus their uptake ratio, known as uptake concentration, may be different than in greenhouses with standard temperature (ST) conditions. In the present study, pepper plants of the cultivars “Sammy” and “Orangery”, self-grafted or grafted onto two commercial rootstocks (“Robusto” and “Terrano”), were cultivated in a greenhouse under either ST or LT temperature conditions. The aim of the study was to test the impact of grafting and greenhouse temperature on total yield, water use efficiency, and nutrient uptake. The LT regime reduced the yield by about 50% in “Sammy” and 33% in “Orangery”, irrespective of the grafting combination. Grafting of “Sammy” onto both “Robusto” and “Terrano” increased the total fruit yield by 39% and 34% compared with the self-grafted control, while grafting of “Orangery” increased the yield only when the rootstock was “Terrano”. The yield increase resulted exclusively from enhancement of the fruit number per plant. Both the water consumption and the water use efficiency were negatively affected by the LT regime, however the temperature effect interacted with the rootstock/scion combination. The LT increased the uptake concentrations (UC) of K, Ca, Mg, N, and Mn, while it decreased strongly that of P and slightly the UC of Fe and Zn. The UC of K and Mg were influenced by the rootstock/scion combination, however this effect interacted with the temperature regime. In contrast, the Ca, N, and P concentrations were not influenced by the grafting combination. The results of the present study show that the impact of grafting on yield and nutrient uptake in pepper depend not merely on the rootstock genotype, however on the rootstock/scion combination.

Spring wheat performance and water use efficiency on permanent raised beds in arid northwest China

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin He ◽  
Hongwen Li ◽  
A. D. McHugh ◽  
Zhongmin Ma ◽  
Xinhui Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Gansu Province ◽  
North West ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

Permanent raised beds have been proposed as a more productive and water-efficient alternative to the conventional system of flat, flood-irrigated bays for planting narrow-spaced crops in arid north-west China. Data from a field experiment (2005–2007) conducted in the Hexi Corridor at Zhangye, Gansu Province, China, were used to compared the effects of traditional tillage (TT), zero tillage (ZT), and permanent raised beds (PRB) on crop growth, yield, and water use in a spring wheat monoculture. The results show that PRB significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil water content to 0.30 m depth by 7.2–10.7% and soil temperature to 0.05 m depth by 0.2–0.9°C during the wheat-growing period relative to TT and ZT treatments. Bulk density in 0–0.10 m soil layer under PRB was also 5.8% less than for flat planting treatments. Mean wheat yields over 3 years on PRB plots were slightly greater and furrow irrigation in permanent beds was particularly effective in increasing irrigation water use efficiency (~18%), compared with TT and ZT treatments. This increase in water use efficiency is of considerable importance for these arid areas where irrigation water resources are scarce.

Comparative forage yield, water use, and water use efficiency of alfalfa, crested wheatgrass and spring wheat in a semiarid climate in southern Saskatchewan

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. Jefferson ◽  
Herb W. Cutforth
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Use Efficiency

Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are introduced forage species used for hay and grazing by cattle across western Canada. These species are well adapted to the semiarid region but their long-term responses to water stress have not been previously compared. Two alfalfa cultivars with contrasting root morphology (tap-rooted vs. creeping-rooted) and two crested wheatgrass (CWG) cultivars with different ploidy level (diploid vs. tetraploid) were compared with continuously cropped spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for 6 yr at a semiarid location in western Canada. Soil water depletion, forage yield, water use efficiency, leaf water potential, osmotic potential and turgor were compared. There were no consistent differences between cultivars within alfalfa or CWG for variables measured. However, these two species exhibit different water stress response strategies. Leaf water potential of CWG was lower during midday stress period than that of alfalfa or wheat. Alfalfa apparently had greater capacity to osmotically adjust to avoid midday water stress and maintain higher turgor. Soil water use patterns changed as the stands aged. In the initial years of the trial, forage crops used soil water from upper layers of the profile. In later years, soil water was depleted down to 3 m by alfalfa and to 2 m by crested wheatgrass. Alfalfa was able to deplete soil water to lower concentrations than crested wheatgrass or wheat. Soil water depletion by wheat during the non-active growth season (after harvest to fall freeze-up) was much less than for CWG or alfalfa as expected for annual vs. perennial crops. As a result, more soil water was available to wheat during its active growth period. In the last 3 yr, the three species depleted all available soil water. Forage yield responses also changed over time. In the initial 3 yr, crested wheatgrass yielded as much as or more than alfalfa. For the last 3 yr of the experiment, alfalfa yielded more forage than crested wheatgrass. Forage crops deplete much more soil water during periods of aboveground growth dormancy than wheat. Water use efficiency of crested wheatgrass declined with stand age compared with fertilized continuous spring wheat. Alfalfa exhibited deep soil water extraction and apparent osmotic adjustment in response to water stress while CWG exhibited tolerance of low water potential during stress. Key words: forage yield, soil water, water potential, water use, water use efficiency, drought

Yield of spring wheat and field pea seeded into standing and cultivated canola stubble on the semiarid Canadian prairie

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-289
Author(s):  
Herb Cutforth
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Field Pea ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Use Efficiency

Cutforth, H. 2013. Yield of spring wheat and field pea seeded into standing and cultivated canola stubble on the semiarid Canadian prairie. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 287–289. Previous research in the semiarid prairie showed that crop yields increased as the height of standing cereal stubble increased to ≥45 cm. A 3-yr (2008–2010) study was conducted at Swift Current, SK, to determine how seeding field pea and spring wheat into cultivated and tall (≥45 cm high) canola stubble affected crop yield. Similar to cereal stubble, crop yield and water use efficiency were significantly greater for crops grown in the tall standing canola stubble compared to the cultivated stubble. Water use by each crop was independent of stubble management.

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