Residual effects of nitrogen fertiliser on the yield and N composition of succeeding cereal crops and on soil chemical properties of an Ethiopian highland Vertisol

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selamyihun Kidanu ◽  
D. G. Tanner ◽  
Tekalign Mamo

A trial was conducted on an Ethiopian Vertisol from 1990 to 1995 to determine the residual effects of fertiliser N applied to tef [Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter] on the grain and straw yield, N content, and total N uptake of succeeding crops of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) and tef. The mean agronomic efficiency of 60 kg fertiliser N ha−1 was 13.1 kg grain kg−1 fertiliser N applied in the current year and 5.4 kg grain kg−1 fertiliser N applied in the previous year. Thus, the residual fertiliser N benefit was equivalent to 41.2% of the response to current season N application for the two cereal crops. The mean rates of apparent recovery of fertiliser N were 65.8% for current season N application and 31.0% for previous season N application. Soil organic matter and nitrate levels increased linearly in response to both previous and current season N application rates. The current study demonstrates that the residual effect of fertiliser N enhanced the yields and N contents of the grain and straw of both wheat and tef, resulting in a significant increase in total N uptake. Any analysis of the profitability of fertiliser N response should reflect the multi-year benefit period. Key words: N recovery, N residue, N uptake, tef, wheat

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N’Dayegamiye ◽  
S. Huard ◽  
Y. Thibault

Mixed paper mill sludges are an important source of N for crop production. An estimate of direct and residual N recovery is necessary for their efficient management. A 3-yr field study (1997-1999) was conducted in central Quebec, Canada, to evaluate mixed paper mill sludges (PMS) effects on corn (Zea mays L.) yields and N nutrition, N recovery and N efficiency. The effects of PMS on soil NO3-N and total N levels were also determined. The study was situated on a silt loam Baudette soil (Humic Gleysol). The treatments included 3 PMS rates (30, 60 and 90 t ha-1 on wet basis) applied alone or in combination with N fertilizer (90 and 135 kg N ha-1, respectively, for 60 and 30 t ha-1). Treatments also included a control without PMS or N fertilizer, and a complete mineral N fertilizer (180 kg N ha-1) as recommended for corn. The previous plots were split beginning with the second year of the experiment, for annual and biennal PMS applications. Similar treatments as above were made on an adjacent site to evaluate N recovery under climatic conditions in 1999. In all years, PMS applied alone significantly increased corn yields by 1.5–5 t ha-1, compared to the unfertilized control. However, corn yields and N uptake were highest from the application of PMS in combination with N fertilizer. Biennial PMS applications at 60 to 90 ha-1 significantly increased corn yields and N uptake, which suggest high PMS residual effect; however, these increases were lower than those obtained with annual PMS applications. The N efficiency varied in 1997 from 13.0 to 15.4 kg grain kg N-1 for mineral N fertilizer and ranged from 3 to 13.7 kg grain kg N-1 for PMS, decreasing proportionally to increasing PMS rates. Apparent N recovery ranged from 1 3 to 19% in 1997 and from 10 to 14% in the residual year (1998), compared to 30 and 49%, respectively, for mineral N fertilizer. Depending on the PMS rate, N recovery varied from 13 to 21% in 1999. The results indicate high N supplying capacity and high r esidual N effects of PMS, which probably influenced corn yields and N nutrition. Annual PMS applications alone or combined with mineral N fertilizer had no significant effect on soil NO3-N and total N levels. This study demonstrates that application of low PMS rate (30 t ha-1) combined with mineral N fertilizer could achieve high agronomic, economic and environmental benefits on farms. Key words: Mixed paper mill sludges, corn yields, N uptake, N efficiency, residual effects, soil N


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
R R Simard

Combined primary/secondary papermill sludge (PS) is rich in N and may potentially be used as a N source for horticultural crops. A 3-yr experiment was conducted to determine the effects of PS application on crop yields, N uptake and N recovery. The PS was applied in 1996 on a Bedford silty clay (Humic Gleysol) cropped to winter cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L. 'Bartolo') at 0, 8, 16, 32, and 64 Mg ha-1 (dry basis). In 1997, PS was applied at 44% of the 1996 rates to the same plots and cropped to sweet corn (Zea mays L. 'Delectable'). No PS was applied in 1998 to evaluate residual effects on corn. Treatments with ammonium nitrate (AN) at 50, 100 and 200% of N fertiliser recommendations were included each year as a reference for crop response. The PS had a C:N ratio of 42:1 in 1996 and of 28:1 in 1997. About 29% of the total N in PS was inorganic. Cabbage and corn marketable yields and N uptake increased with increasing amounts of PS applied. AN supplemented with PS further increased cabbage yields. Based on the N fertiliser replacement value, the N efficiency coefficient of PS was 44% in the first year. A N residual effect of the PS applied in 1996 was observed on the corn yield in 1997. The two PS applications also had a very significant residual effect on corn yield in the third year, although supplemental AN at 150 kg N ha-1 tended to further increase yields. The apparent total N recovery by the three crops was similar for PS and AN (i.e., 34 vs. 38%). The apparent recovery of organic N from PS decreased with increasing rates of application from 46 to 25%. These results suggest that PS is an effective source of N for crops and that significant residual N effects should be considered when estimating the N needs of subsequent crops. Key words: Cabbage, nitrogen, mineralization coefficient, paper mill residues, sweet corn


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bittman ◽  
C. G. Kowalenko

An orchardgrass study in which three rates of N (100, 200 and 400 kg ha−1) each distributed in 1/0/0/0, 0.75/0.25/0/0, 0.50/0.25/0.25/0 and 0.25/0.25/0.25/0.25 proportions prior to four cut intervals examined crude-protein-N and nitrate-N concentrations in grass herbage at each cut in three trials. Crude-protein-N concentration frequently increased to a greater degree and in a different pattern (based on cut) than yield as the rate of N application increased. This showed that crude-protein-N by itself cannot be used as a method for determining the N sufficiency status of grass. Both rate and distribution of fertilizer N strongly influenced plant nitrate-N concentration; the degree of change varied considerably among cuts and trials. Plant nitrate-N concentration in the control did not correspond to yield responsiveness to N application, making it a poor indicator of the plant's need for fertilizer applications. Residual effects of N applications on plant nitrate-N were noted into the last cut of the season from a single spring application. The effect of N rate and distribution, then, was a function of immediate and residual effects of the applications. There was some evidence that N present in the soil in nitrate-N form enhanced the potential for high nitrate-N in the plant. Plant nitrate-N concentrations accounted for up to 29% of the total N in the plant with concentrations greater than 4000 mg N kg−1 at the highest N application rates. Plant nitrate-N did not exceed 1000 mg N kg−1, a concentration considered safe for ruminants, when 75 kg N ha−1 or less ammonium nitrate was applied as a single application prior to a growth interval for all cuts. Since grass protein- and nitrate-N concentrations respond differently than yield to N applications, a specific combination of rate and distribution of fertilizer will not necessarily produce maximum herbage quantity and quality simultaneously. Key words: Crude-protein-N, plant nitrate-N, residual effect, split applications


1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong ◽  
RC Dalal ◽  
MJ Cahill ◽  
EJ Weston ◽  
JE Cooper ◽  
...  

Unreliable rainfall during the crop growing season leads to a variable use of applied fertiliser nitrogen (N) by the crop, which may leave substantial fertiliser N residue in the soil. Residual effects of fertiliser N (0-150 kg/ha) applied to a succession of wheat crops over the period 1987-94 were studied in terms of increased crop returns ($A/ha) from fertiliser application and increased soil mineral N for the subsequent crop. In spite of the unreliability of wheat responses to applied N in this region, increases in financial returns over this sequence of crops suggest that a strategy of routine N application to wheat was highly profitable on this fertility-depleted soil. When increases in returns from 1 fertiliser application were summed over successive crops, financial returns generally increased with increasing rate of N applied up to the highest N rate (100 or 150 kg/ha). When N was applied to each successive crop, financial returns were similarly increased but applications >50 kg/ha were less profitable than rates <50 kg/ha. Increased financial returns for the 7 crops grown with conventional tillage increased by $A306/ha, $794/ha, $867/ha and $867/ha for fertiliser N applied at rates of 12.5, 25, 50 and 75 kg N/ha to each crop, respectively. Total N fertiliser costs for the 7 crops were $A63ha, $126ha, $253/ha and $380/ha. Increased financial returns of $608/ha and $962/ha were derived from applications of 25 and 75 kg N/ha to each of the 7 crops with zero tillage. When N uptake by wheat was reduced by water deficit, or where a longer fallow period created much higher nitrate levels, a single fertiliser N application of 75 or 150 kg/ha resulted in nitrate accumulated to 1.2 m depth in the following May. Where N was applied to each crop in the sequence, application of 75 kg/ha increased soil nitrate to 1.2 m in the following May, except in 1989 and 1990. The 3-crop sequence, 1988-90, placed high demands on soil N supplies, with high wheat yields (about 4.5 t/ha) and grain N contents (100-115 kg/ha) in 1988 but lower yields (>2t/ha) in 1989 and 1990. Consequently, low levels (46-63 kg/ha) of soil mineral N were apparently carried over for crops in 1989 and 1990 even where 75 kg N/ha was applied to the preceding crop. Subsequent recovery of financial losses, incurred in years of water deficit, made the routine application of 75 kg N/ha to fertility-depleted soils of this region profitable.


Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Peng ◽  
Xiaori Han ◽  
Na Li ◽  
Kun Chen ◽  
Jinfeng Yang ◽  
...  

AbstractCombined application of biochar with fertilizers has been used to increase soil fertility and crop yield. However, the coupling mechanisms through which biochar improves crop yield at field scale and the time span over which biochar affects carbon and nitrogen transformation and crop yield are still little known. In this study, a long-term field trial (2013–2019) was performed in brown soil planting maize. Six treatments were designed: CK—control; NPK—application of chemical fertilizers; C1PK—low biochar without nitrogen fertilizer; C1NPK, C2NPK and C3NPK—biochar at 1.5, 3 and 6 t ha−1, respectively, combined with chemical fertilizers. Results showed that the δ15N value in the topsoil of 0–20 cm layer in the C3NPK treatment reached a peak of 291 ‰ at the third year (2018), and demonstrated a peak of 402 ‰ in the NPK treatment in the initial isotope trial in 2016. Synchronously, SOC was not affected until the third to fourth year after biochar addition, and resulted in a significant increase in total N of 2.4 kg N ha−1 in 2019 in C3NPK treatment. During the entire experiment, the 15N recovery rates of 74–80% were observed highest in the C2NPK and C3NPK treatments, resulting in an annual increase in yields significantly. The lowest subsoil δ15N values ranged from 66‰ to 107‰, and the 15N residual rate would take 70 years for a complete decay to 0.001% in the C3NPK. Our findings suggest that biochar compound fertilizers can increase C stability and N retention in soil and improve N uptake by maize, while the loss of N was minimized. Biochars, therefore, may have an important potential for improving the agroecosystem and ecological balance. Graphic abstract


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 740
Author(s):  
Ken Okamoto ◽  
Shinkichi Goto ◽  
Toshihiko Anzai ◽  
Shotaro Ando

Fertilizer application during sugarcane cultivation is a main source of nitrogen (N) loads to groundwater on small islands in southwestern Japan. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of reducing the N fertilizer application rate on sugarcane yield, N leaching, and N balance. We conducted a sugarcane cultivation experiment with drainage lysimeters and different N application rates in three cropping seasons (three years). N loads were reduced by reducing the first N application rate in all cropping seasons. The sugarcane yields of the treatment to which the first N application was halved (T2 = 195 kg ha−1 N) were slightly lower than those of the conventional application (T1 = 230 kg ha−1 N) in the first and third seasons (T1 = 91 or 93 tons ha−1, T2 = 89 or 87 tons ha−1). N uptake in T1 and T2 was almost the same in seasons 1 (186–188 kg ha−1) and 3 (147–151 kg ha−1). Based on the responses of sugarcane yield and N uptake to fertilizer reduction in two of the three years, T2 is considered to represent a feasible fertilization practice for farmers. The reduction of the first N fertilizer application reduced the underground amounts of N loads (0–19 kg ha−1). However, application of 0 N in the first fertilization would lead to a substantial reduction in yield in all seasons. Reducing the amount of N in the first application (i.e., replacing T1 with T2) improved N recovery by 9.7–11.9% and reduced N leaching by 13 kg ha−1. These results suggest that halving the amount of N used in the first application can improve N fertilizer use efficiency and reduce N loss to groundwater.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yushi Zhang ◽  
Yubin Wang ◽  
Churong Liu ◽  
Delian Ye ◽  
Danyang Ren ◽  
...  

Increasing use of plant density or/and nitrogen (N) application has been introduced to maize production in the past few decades. However, excessive planting density or/and use of fertilizer may cause reduced N use efficiency (NUE) and increased lodging risks. Ethephon application improves maize lodging resistance and has been an essential measure in maize intensive production systems associated with high plant density and N input in China. Limited information is available about the effect of ethephon on maize N use and the response to plant density under different N rates in the field. A three-year field study was conducted with two ethephon applications (0 and 90 g ha−1), four N application rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg N ha−1), and two plant densities (6.75 plants m−2 and 7.5 plants m−2) to evaluate the effects of ethephon on maize NUE indices (N agronomic efficiency, NAE; N recovery efficiency, NRE; N uptake efficiency, NUpE; N utilization efficiency, NUtE; partial factor productivity of N, PFPN), biomass, N concentration, grain yield and N uptake, and translocation properties. The results suggest that the application of ethephon decreased the grain yield by 1.83–5.74% due to the decrease of grain numbers and grain weight during the three experimental seasons. Meanwhile, lower biomass, NO3- and NH4+ fluxes in xylem bleeding sap, and total N uptake were observed under ethephon treatments. These resulted in lower NAE and NUpE under the ethephon treatment at a corresponding N application rate and plant density. The ethephon treatment had no significant effects on the N concentration in grains, and it decreased the N concentration in stover at the harvesting stage, while increasing the plant N concentration at the silking stage. Consequently, post-silking N remobilization was significantly increased by 14.10–32.64% under the ethephon treatment during the experimental periods. Meanwhile, NUtE significantly increased by ethephon.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. NYKÄNEN ◽  
A. GRANSTEDT ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN

Legume-based leys form the basis for crop rotations in organic farming as they fix nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere for the succeeding crops. The age, yield, C:N, biological N fixation (BNF) and total N of red clover-grass leys were studied for their influence on yields, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE) of the two sequential cereal crops planted after the leys. Mineral N in deeper soil (30-90 cm) was measured to determine N leaching risk. Altogether, four field experiments were carried out in 1994-1998 at two sites. The age of the ley had no significant effect on the yields and N uptake of the two subsequent cereals. Surprisingly, the residual effect of the leys was negligible, at 0–20 kg N ha-1yr-1. On the other hand, the yield and C:N of previous red clover-grass leys, as well as BNF-N and total-N incorporated into the soil influenced subsequent cereals. NUEs of cereals after ley incorporation were rather high, varying from 30% to 80%. This might indicate that other factors, such as competition from weeds, prevented maximal growth of cereals. The mineral N content deeper in the soil was mostly below 10 kg ha-1 in the sandy soil of Juva, but was 5-25 kg ha-1 in clayey soil of Mietoinen.;


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O. Huett ◽  
G. R. Stewart

The effect of timing of nitrogen (N) application as 15N-enriched ammonium sulfate (50 kg N/ha) on the growth response and N uptake by vegetative and reproductive tissues was investigated in the low-chill peach cv. Flordagem growing on a krasnozem soil at Alstonville. Nitrogen was applied in late August, late September, late October, mid February, and early May. Tree parts were sampled for 15N at 4 and 8 weeks after application and after fruit harvest in December the following season. After fruit yield was measured, trees were excavated and divided into parts for dry weight and nutrient concentration determinations, and fertiliser N recovery and to estimate tree nutrient removal. Nitrogen enrichment was detected in all plant parts within 4 weeks of N application, irrespective of timing, and was greatest in rapidly growing tissues such as laterals, leaves, and fruit. The most rapid (P < 0.05) 15N enrichment in vegetative tissues resulted from September, October, and February N applications and for fruit from a September application. The level of enrichment 4 weeks after fertiliser N application was similar for vegetative and reproductive tissues. The timing of N application in the first season had no effect on fruit yield and vegetative growth the following season. At tree removal, the recovery of fertiliser N in most tree parts increased (P < 0.05) as fertiliser N application was delayed from October to May the previous season. Maximum contribution of absorbed N to whole tree N was 10–11% for laterals, leaf, and fruit. Data from this study indicate that vegetative and reproductive growth have similar demand for absorbed N, and that uptake of fertiliser N is most rapid when an application precedes a period of rapid growth. Over 2 seasons, recovery of applied fertiliser N was 14.9–18.0% in the tree, confirming that stored N and the soil N pool are the dominant sources of tree N. The recovery of fertiliser N from the May application was 18% even though uptake in all tree parts including roots at 4 weeks after application was very low, indicating that tree fertiliser N uptake occurred when growth resumed after the dormant winter period. The low proportion and recovery of fertiliser N in the tree confirm the lack of immediate influence of applied N to vegetative growth and yield. Annual crop nutrient removal is a sound basis for fertiliser recommendations, and for the Flordagem orchard (1000 trees/ha), it consisted of fruit plus 70% of laterals (removed at pruning) plus 20% of leaf. Removal in vegetative tissues was relatively low at (kg/ha) 14 N, 1 P, 12 K, 13 Ca, and 2 Mg. The addition of fruit at a yield of 25 t/ha increased total nutrient removal to (kg/ha) 46 N, 5 P, 54 K, 14 Ca, and 5 Mg.


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-355
Author(s):  
Richard E. Engel ◽  
Carlos M. Romero ◽  
Patrick Carr ◽  
Jessica A. Torrion

Fertilizer NO3-N may represent a benefit over NH4-N containing sources in semiarid regions where rainfall is often not sufficient to leach fertilizer-N out of crop rooting zones, denitrification concerns are not great, and when NH3 volatilization concerns exist. The objective of our study was to contrast plant-N derived from fertilizer-15N (15Ndff), fertilizer-15N recovery (F15NR), total N uptake, grain yield, and protein of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from spring-applied NaNO3 relative to urea and urea augmented with urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). We established six fertilizer-N field trials widespread within the state of Montana between 2012 and 2017. The trials incorporated different experimental designs and 15N-labeled fertilizer-N sources, including NaNO3, NH4NO3, urea, and urea + NBPT. Overall, F15NR and 15Ndff in mature crop biomass were significantly greater for NaNO3 than urea or urea + NBPT (P < 0.05). Crop 15Ndff averaged 53.8%, 43.9%, and 44.7% across locations for NaNO3, urea, and urea + NBPT, respectively. Likewise, crop F15NR averaged 52.2%, 35.8%, and 38.6% for NaNO3, urea, and urea + NBPT, respectively. Soil 15N recovered in the surface layer (0–15 cm) was lower for NaNO3 compared with urea and urea + NBPT. Wheat grain yield and protein were generally not sensitive to improvements in 15Ndff, F15NR, or total N uptake. Our study hypothesis that NaNO3 would result in similar or better performance than urea or urea + NBPT was confirmed. Use of NO3-N fertilizer might be an alternative strategy to mitigate fertilizer-N induced soil acidity in semiarid regions of the northern Great Plains.


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