Nitrogen performance indicators for dairy production systems

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile A. M. de Klein ◽  
Ross M. Monaghan ◽  
Marta Alfaro ◽  
Cameron J. P. Gourley ◽  
Oene Oenema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
N Use

Nitrogen (N) is invaluable for maintaining agricultural production, but its use, and particularly inefficient use, can lead to environmental losses. This paper reviews N use efficiency (NUE) and N surplus indicators for dairy production systems to assess their utility for optimising N use outcomes and minimising environmental N losses. Using case-study examples, we also assess realistic goals for these indicators and discuss key issues associated with their use. Published whole-farm NUE and whole-farm N surplus values ranged within 10–65% and 40–700 kg N ha–1 year–1 respectively. In a study of five catchments across New Zealand, whole-farm NUE was more strongly affected by catchment differences in soil and climatic conditions than by differences in management. In contrast, whole-farm N surplus differed both between- and within-catchments and was a good indicator of N losses to water. Realistic goals for both NUE and N surplus thus depend on the agro-climatic context of the dairy system and on its economic and environmental goals. Crop and animal NUE values can be valuable indicators for optimising fertiliser and feed use and minimising N losses. However, global or national whole-farm NUE values appear of limited value if the ultimate goal for setting targets is to reduce the environmental impact of N use; whole-farm level targets based on N surplus would be a more useful indicator for this purpose. Our review also reinforces the importance of standardising the variables that should be used to estimate NUE and N surplus values, to ensure equitable comparisons between different systems. Finally, NUE and N surplus targets should also be set in the context of other agro-environmental considerations.

The effect of grazing season length on nitrogen utilization efficiency and nitrogen balance in spring-calving dairy production systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 630-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. RYAN ◽  
D. HENNESSY ◽  
T. M. BOLAND ◽  
L. SHALLOO
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
N Use Efficiency ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Milk Solids ◽  
N Use

SUMMARYThere is a continual requirement for grass-based production systems to optimize economic and environmental sustainability through increased efficiency in the use of all inputs, especially nitrogen (N). An N balance model was used to assess N use efficiency and N surplus, and to predict N losses from grass-based dairy production systems differing in the length of the grazing season (GS). Data from a 3-year grazing study with a 3×3 factorial design, with three turnout dates (1 February, 21 February and 15 March) and three housing dates (25 October, 10 November and 25 November) were used to generate estimates of N use efficiency and N losses. As the length of the GS increased by a mean of 30 days, milk production, milk solids production and milk N output increased by 3, 6 and 6%, respectively. The increase in milk production as the length of the GS increased resulted in a 2% decline in N surplus and a 5% increase in N use efficiency. Increasing GS length increased the proportion of grazed grass in the diet, which increased N cycling within the system, resulting in an 8% increase in milk solids/ha produced/kg of surplus N. The increased cycling of N reduced the quantity of N partitioned for loss to the environment by 8%. Reducing fertilizer N input by 20% increased N use efficiency by 22% and reduced total N losses by 16%. The environmental and production consequences of increased length of the GS and reduced N loss are favourable as the costs associated with N inputs increase.

scholarly journals Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency—A Key for Sustainable Rice Production Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Chivenge ◽  
Sheetal Sharma ◽  
Michelle Anne Bunquin ◽  
Jon Hellin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
N Use Efficiency ◽  
Decision Support Tools ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use

Fertilizer use and genetic improvement of cereal crops contributed to increased yields and greater food security in the last six decades. For rice, however, fertilizer use has outpaced improvement in yield. Excess application of nutrients beyond crop needs, especially nitrogen (N), is associated with losses to the environment. Environmental pollution can be mitigated by addressing fertilizer overuse, improving N use efficiency, while maintaining or improving rice productivity and farmers' income. A promising approach is the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), developed in the 1990s to optimize supply to meet demand of nutrients, initially for rice, but now extended to other crops. The SSNM approach has been further refined with the development of digital decision support tools such as Rice Crop Manager, Nutrient Expert, and RiceAdvice. This enables more farmers to benefit from SSNM recommendations. In this mini-review, we show how SSNM can foster sustainability in rice production systems through improved rice yields, profit, and N use efficiency while reducing N losses. Farmer adoption of SSNM, however, remains low. National policies and incentives, financial investments, and strengthened extension systems are needed to enhance scaling of SSNM-based decision support tools.

scholarly journals Gross Ammonification and Nitrification Rates in Soil Amended with Natural and NH4-Enriched Chabazite Zeolite and Nitrification Inhibitor DMPP

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2605
Author(s):  
Giacomo Ferretti ◽  
Giulio Galamini ◽  
Evi Deltedesco ◽  
Markus Gorfer ◽  
Jennifer Fritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Short Term ◽  
N Losses ◽  
15N Pool Dilution ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Silty Clay Soil ◽  
N Use ◽  
15N Pool Dilution Technique

Using zeolite-rich tuffs for improving soil properties and crop N-use efficiency is becoming popular. However, the mechanistic understanding of their influence on soil N-processes is still poor. This paper aims to shed new light on how natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolites alter short-term N-ammonification and nitrification rates with and without the use of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP). We employed the 15N pool dilution technique to determine short-term gross rates of ammonification and nitrification in a silty-clay soil amended with two typologies of chabazite-rich tuff: (1) at natural state and (2) enriched with NH4+-N from an animal slurry. Archaeal and bacterial amoA, nirS and nosZ genes, N2O-N and CO2-C emissions were also evaluated. The results showed modest short-term effects of chabazite at natural state only on nitrate production rates, which was slightly delayed compared to the unamended soil. On the other hand, the addition of NH4+-enriched chabazite stimulated NH4+-N production, N2O-N emissions, but reduced NO3−-N production and abundance of nirS-nosZ genes. DMPP efficiency in reducing nitrification rates was dependent on N addition but not affected by the two typologies of zeolites tested. The outcomes of this study indicated the good compatibility of both natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolite with DMPP. In particular, the application of NH4+-enriched zeolites with DMPP is recommended to mitigate short-term N losses.

Closing the yield gap and achieving high N use efficiency and low apparent N losses

2017 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Wang ◽  
Lichun Wang ◽  
Zhenling Cui ◽  
Xinping Chen ◽  
Jiagui Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Use Efficiency ◽  
Yield Gap ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use

scholarly journals Potassium impact on nitrogen use efficiency in potato – a case study from the Central-East Europe

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 422-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
GRZEBISZ Witold ◽  
ČERMÁK Pavel ◽  
RROCO Evan ◽  
SZCZEPANIAK Witold ◽  
POTARZYCKI Jarosław ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Efficiency ◽  
East Europe ◽  
Application Management ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Potassium Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency

Potato yield is affected by an interaction between nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) supply. This hypothesis was verified in a series of field experiments conducted during 2010–2013 in Albania (AL), Czech Republic (CZ) and Poland (PL). The two-factorial experiment was founded on relative scales of K (0, 50, 100, and 150%), and N application rates (75% and 100%) of the recommended doses, which were country-specific. The average tuber yield was doubled for AL, increased by 50% for PL, and by 15% for the CZ in response to K and N interaction. These differences are caused by an increase in the apparent nitrogen efficiency (ANE), which rose significantly by the progressive Krates. Maximum average ANE of 90 kg tubers/kg N was recorded in AL; it was 2-fold lower in CZ. Top average apparent potassium efficiency (AKE) of 65 kg tubers/kg K was recorded in PL; it was 4-times lower in CZ. The relationships between AKE and ANE clearly demonstrate the tight interaction between the N and K, and its effects on potato yield. However, a sound K application management should be adjusted to the local edaphic and climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Controlled Release Urea as a Nitrogen Source for Spring Wheat in Western Canada: Yield, Grain N Content, and N Use Efficiency

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 114-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenz Haderlein ◽  
T.L. Jensen ◽  
R.E. Dowbenko ◽  
A.D. Blaylock
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Release ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
N Use Efficiency ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Application Range ◽  
Woody Perennials ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use ◽  
Controlled Release Urea

Controlled release nitrogen (N) fertilizers have been commonly used in horticultural applications such as turf grasses and container-grown woody perennials. Agrium, a major N manufacturer in North and South America, is developing a low-cost controlled release urea (CRU) product for use in field crops such as grain corn, canola, wheat, and other small grain cereals. From 1998 to 2000, 11 field trials were conducted across western Canada to determine if seed-placed CRU could maintain crop yields and increase grain N and N use efficiency when compared to the practice of side-banding of urea N fertilizer. CRU was designed to release timely and adequate, but not excessive, amounts of N to the crop. Crop uptake of N from seed-placed CRU was sufficient to provide yields similar to those of side-banded urea N. Grain N concentrations of the CRU treatments were higher, on average, than those from side-banded urea, resulting in 4.2% higher N use efficiency across the entire N application range from 25 to 100 kg ha-1. Higher levels of removal of N in grain from CRU compared to side-banded urea can result in less residual N remaining in the soil, and limit the possibility of N losses due to denitrification and leaching.

scholarly journals Nitrogen Utilization in a Cereal-Legume Rotation Managed with Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariangela Diacono ◽  
Paola Baldivieso-Freitas ◽  
Francisco Sans Serra
Keyword(s):  
Green Manure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices ◽  
N Use

Optimization of the nitrogen (N) inputs and minimization of nutrient losses strongly affect yields in crop rotations. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of agricultural practices on yield and N use in a 4-year cereal-legume rotation in organic farming and to identify the best combination of these practices. The following treatments were compared: conventional plough (P) vs. reduced chisel (RC) tillage; composted farmyard manure (F) vs. unfertilized control (NF); and green manure (GM) vs. no green manure (NoM). No significant differences were found for N use efficiency between P and RC in each crop. The results suggested that legumes in the tested rotation do not need supplemental N fertilization, particularly if combining GM and F. The use of composted farmyard manure should be considered in a long-term fertilization plan for cereals, to allow a higher efficiency in N use. The residual effect of fertilization over time, along with the site-specific pedo-climatic conditions, should also be considered. In both tested tillage approaches, soil N surplus was the highest in plots combining GM and F (i.e., more than 680 kg N ha−1 in combination with RC vs. about 140 kg N ha−1 for RC without fertilization), with a risk of N losses by leaching. The N deficit in NoM–NF both combined with P and RC would indicate that these treatment combinations are not sustainable for the utilized crops in the field experiment. Therefore, the combination of the tested practices should be carefully assessed to sustain soil fertility and crop production.

China’s Agricultural Development in Response to Climate Change

2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 3609-3612
Author(s):  
Wen Bao
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Change Climate ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation Strategies

Agricultural development, especially agricultural production in mountain areas, is fundamentally linked to climatic conditions, so any changes in climate will necessarily affect agricultural development. China’s agriculture faces several development challenges including those linked to climate change. Climate change is threatening food production systems and therefore the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who depend on agriculture in China. Agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to climate change due to its high dependence on climate and weather and because people involved in agriculture tend to be poorer compared with urban residents. Consistent warming trends and more frequent and intense meteorological disasters have been observed across China in recent decades. In line with climate change across the whole country, it will require agricultural development to implement comprehensive mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Adaptation strategies based on the historical evolution for dairy production systems in temperate areas: A case study approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 182 ◽  
pp. 102841
Author(s):  
Paula Toro-Mujica ◽  
Raúl Vera ◽  
Pablo Pinedo ◽  
Fernando Bas ◽  
Daniel Enríquez-Hidalgo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
Historical Evolution ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Study Approach
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document