Fertilizer response of barley silage in southern and central Alberta

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. McKenzie ◽  
A. B. Middleton ◽  
J. DeMulder ◽  
E. Bremer
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilizer Efficiency ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Fertilizer Response ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Soil N Uptake ◽  
Barley Silage ◽  
N Demand

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) silage is the foundation for cattle production on the Canadian prairies, but few studies have evaluated fertilizer requirements for the range of cultivars, soil types and environmental conditions in which it is grown. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine optimum N fertilizer rates for a range of barley cultivars when used for silage in southern and central Alberta and (2) to determine the frequency and impact of P, K and S deficiencies. Thirty-two field experiments were conducted from 1994 to 1996; 20 in southern Alberta under irrigated (8) or dryland (12) conditions and 12 in central Alberta under dryland conditions. Two semi-dwarf (CDC Earl, Tukwa) and three conventional (AC Lacombe, Leduc and Seebe) cultivars were tested. Fertilizer treatments included six rates of N (0 to 200 kg ha-1) and one rate each of P (13 kg ha-1), K (50 kg ha-1) and S (20 or 30 kg ha-1), compared to an appropriate unfertilized control. Optimum rates of N fertilizer ranged from 0 to 172 kg N ha-1. Irrigated sites had the highest N demand but the lowest economic optimum rate of N fertilizer (NFopt) due to high fertilizer N efficiency and high soil N availability. Dryland sites in southern Alberta had a lower N demand than irrigated sites, but NFopt was higher due to lower soil N availability. Sites in central Alberta had the least demand for N, but NFopt was similar to irrigated sites due to low N fertilizer efficiency. Nitrogen fertilizer efficiency frequently exceeded 80% in southern Alberta, particularly under irrigation. Soil N uptake increased with optimum barley yield, indicating that factors that increased crop growth also increased net mineralization and/or efficiency of soil N uptake. A good fit of NFopt was obtained in southern Alberta based on spring soil NO3-N levels and optimum yield. The best estimate of NFopt in central Alberta was the mean due to the lack of a relationship between soil N uptake and spring soil NO3-N. Barley response to P fertilizer was greatest in central Alberta and least in southern Alberta under irrigation. Few responses to K or S fertilizer were observed due to the generally adequate levels of these nutrients in Alberta soils. Fiber concentrations were not strongly affected by fertilizer treatment, while protein concentrations varied with the availability of N relative to demand. Improvements in prediction of fertilizer response for barley silage require better predictors of N fertilizer efficiency and soil N uptake, particularly in central Alberta. Key words: Hordeum vulgare, nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency, protein, fiber

scholarly journals Growing Soybean Prior to Corn Increased Soil Nitrogen Supply and N Fertilizer Efficiency for Corn in Cold and Humid Conditions of Eastern Canada

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Adrien N. Dayegamiye ◽  
Judith Nyiraneza ◽  
Johann K. Whalen ◽  
Michèle Grenier ◽  
Anne Drapeau
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Fertilizer Efficiency ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Continuous Corn ◽  
N Fertilizer Efficiency ◽  
Corn Grain

<p>Growing soybean (<em>Glycine max L.)</em> prior to corn (<em>Zea mays</em> L) can enhance corn grain and nitrogen (N) use efficiency compared to continuous corn. This two year study (2007-2008) was conducted at 62 sites in Quebec (Eastern Canada) to assess the effect of crop rotations [soybean-corn, soybean-wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.,)-corn and corn-corn] on corn yield, N uptake, N fertilizer efficiency (NFE), and the economic optimum N rate (EONR). Plots within each crop rotation received N fertilizer rates from 0 to 250 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> to assess the N contribution from the preceding soybean crop. Corn grain yields ranged from 8.4 to 10.8 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup> and were lower in continuous corn than in the crop rotations. Corn N uptake and NFE varied from 89 to 164 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> and from 45 to 80 kg grain per kg N fertilizer, respectively. A significant interaction of crop rotation and year on corn N uptake and NFE was obtained implying that annual variations influenced soil N supply. The EONR for corn was lower under crop rotations than continuous corn in 2008 only. No difference in corn yield, NFE and EONR was observed for soybean-corn and soybean-wheat-corn crop sequences. In conclusion, crop rotations including soybean increased soil N availability and reduced EONR from 32 to 45 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> for corn grown in 2008.</p>

scholarly journals Inhibition of N2 Fixation by N Fertilization of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Plants Grown on Fields of Farmers in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Measured Using 15N Natural Abundance and Tissue Ureide Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Habinshuti ◽  
Sipho T. Maseko ◽  
Felix D. Dakora
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Single Dose ◽  
Phaseolus Vulgaris ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Double Dose ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Bean Plants ◽  
Soil N Uptake

Inhibition of N2 fixation in N-fertilized common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants growing on the fields of farmers in the Eastern Cape of South Africa was measured using 15N natural abundance and tissue ureide analysis. The N-fertilized bean plants revealed greater soil N uptake, higher concentrations of nitrate in organs, low tissue ureide levels, and much lower percent relative ureide-N abundance when compared with unfertilized plants. In contrast, the unfertilized plants showed greater nodule fresh weight, higher N derived from fixation (e.g., 84.6, 90.4, and 97.1% at Lujecweni fields 2, 3, and 4, respectively), increased amount of N-fixed (e.g., 163.3, 161.3, and 140.3 kg ha−1 at Lujecweni fields 2, 3, and 4, respectively), greater ureide concentration in stems and petioles, higher % relative ureide-N abundance, and low soil N uptake. We also found that the percent N derived from fixation (%Ndfa) was very high for some bean plants receiving a double dose of N fertilizer [e.g., Lujecweni field 1 (51.8%) and Tikitiki field 1 (53.3%], and quite high for others receiving a single dose of N fertilizer [e.g., Tikitiki field 2 (50.1%), Mfabantu fields 1 and 2 (45.5 and 79.9%, respectively), and St. Luthberts field 1 (58.9%)]. Though not assessed in this study, it is likely that the rhizobia that effectively nodulated the N-fertilized bean plants and fixed considerable amounts of symbiotic N had constitutive and/or inducible nitrate reductase genes for reducing nitrate in nodules and bacteroids, hence their ability to form root nodules and derived high %Ndfa in bean with added N. While single- and double-dose N fertilizer applications increased plant growth and grain yield compared to unfertilized bean plants, the single-dose N fertilizer application produced much greater grain yield than the double dose. This indicates that farmers should stop using a double dose of N fertilizers on bean production, as it decreases yields and can potentially pollute the environment. This study has however shown that government supply of free N fertilizers to resource-poor farmers in South Africa increased bean yields for food/nutritional security.

The Regulation of N Uptake at the Whole-plant Level in Tree Crops

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 556d-556
Author(s):  
Farbod Youssefi ◽  
Patrick H. Brown ◽  
Steve A. Weinbaum
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Soil N ◽  
N Content ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Soil N Uptake ◽  
Almond Trees ◽  
Plant Level ◽  
N Demand ◽  
N Status

Coordinating fertilization practices with tree N uptake is important for reduction of groundwater contamination with nitrate. To reach this goal, the regulation of nitrogen uptake at the whole-plant level must be further understood. A theory that has been proposed on this subject is that a pool of amino-N, whose size is determined by above-ground N demand, cycles in the plant and regulates soil N uptake by exerting an inhibitory effect at the root level. Several experiments were carried out to study this hypothesis in fruit trees. First, foliar applications of N were made in almond trees, which led to the observation that soil N uptake was reduced in treated trees. In these trees, foliar-applied N was present in the roots when uptake was reduced; further, amino-N content of leaf and bark phloem sap was increased after several hours in the treated tree. In another experiment, amino-N content of phloem and xylem sap of almond trees of varying N status was determined. Several trees under each N status were given a pulse of abundant N fertilizer, so that their N uptake would be compared. Trees of higher N status, with greater amounts of amino-N cycling in their sap, did not take up more N than equivalent control plants, whereas lower N status trees did. To complete this series of experiments, it was observed that fruit-bearing shoots in walnut trees exported smaller proportions of foliar-applied N than non-bearing shoots, indicating that above-ground N demand may regulate the pool of N that moves down in the plant. These results and the principles that regulate N uptake will be discussed.

scholarly journals 433 PB 180 ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN DEMAND IN MATURE, ALTERNATE BEARING PISTACHIO TREES

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 493c-493
Author(s):  
Richard C. Rosecrance ◽  
Steve A. Weinbaum ◽  
Patrick H. Brown
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilizer Efficiency ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Alternate Bearing ◽  
Total N ◽  
One Year ◽  
N Demand ◽  
Pistachio Trees

Contributions of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications to nitrate pollution of groundwater is an increasing public health concern. In an effort to improve N fertilizer efficiency, a study was initiated to determine periods of tree N demand in mature, alternate bearing pistachio trees. Seasonal patterns of nitrogen accumulation in the branches (i.e. fruit, current year wood, one year old wood, and leaves) and roots were monitored monthly. Branches from heavily fruiting trees contained almost six times more nitrogen than branches from light fruiting trees by September; a result of the large amount of N accumulated in the fruit. Nitrogen accumulated in the branches during the Spring growth flush and nut fill periods in both heavy and light fruiting trees. Root nitrate and total N concentrations, however, peaked during the Spring growth flush and subsequently decreased during nut fill. The relationship between tree N demand and the capacity for N uptake is discussed.

scholarly journals Development of an Online Tool for Tracking Soil Nitrogen to Improve the Environmental Performance of Maize Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5649
Author(s):  
Giovani Preza-Fontes ◽  
Junming Wang ◽  
Muhammad Umar ◽  
Meilan Qi ◽  
Kamaljit Banger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Soil N Availability

Freshwater nitrogen (N) pollution is a significant sustainability concern in agriculture. In the U.S. Midwest, large precipitation events during winter and spring are a major driver of N losses. Uncertainty about the fate of applied N early in the growing season can prompt farmers to make additional N applications, increasing the risk of environmental N losses. New tools are needed to provide real-time estimates of soil inorganic N status for corn (Zea mays L.) production, especially considering projected increases in precipitation and N losses due to climate change. In this study, we describe the initial stages of developing an online tool for tracking soil N, which included, (i) implementing a network of field trials to monitor changes in soil N concentration during the winter and early growing season, (ii) calibrating and validating a process-based model for soil and crop N cycling, and (iii) developing a user-friendly and publicly available online decision support tool that could potentially assist N fertilizer management. The online tool can estimate real-time soil N availability by simulating corn growth, crop N uptake, soil organic matter mineralization, and N losses from assimilated soil data (from USDA gSSURGO soil database), hourly weather data (from National Weather Service Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis), and user-entered crop management information that is readily available for farmers. The assimilated data have a resolution of 2.5 km. Given limitations in prediction accuracy, however, we acknowledge that further work is needed to improve model performance, which is also critical for enabling adoption by potential users, such as agricultural producers, fertilizer industry, and researchers. We discuss the strengths and limitations of attempting to provide rapid and cost-effective estimates of soil N availability to support in-season N management decisions, specifically related to the need for supplemental N application. If barriers to adoption are overcome to facilitate broader use by farmers, such tools could balance the need for ensuring sufficient soil N supply while decreasing the risk of N losses, and helping increase N use efficiency, reduce pollution, and increase profits.

scholarly journals Effect of Winter Cover Crops on Soil Nitrogen Availability, Corn Yield, and Nitrate Leaching

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kuo ◽  
B. Huang ◽  
R. Bembenek
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil N Availability ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Biculture of nonlegumes and legumes could serve as cover crops for increasing main crop yield, while reducing NO3leaching. This study, conducted from 1994 to 1999, determined the effect of monocultured cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch on N availability in soil, corn (Zea mays L.) yield, and NO3-N leaching in a silt loam soil. The field had been in corn and cover crop rotation since 1987. In addition to the cover crop treatments, there were four N fertilizer rates (0, 67, 134, and 201 kg N ha-1, referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively) applied to corn. The experiment was a randomized split-block design with three replications for each treatment. Lysimeters were installed in 1987 at 0.75 m below the soil surface for leachate collection for the N0, N2, and N3treatments. The result showed that vetch monoculture had the most influence on soil N availability and corn yield, followed by the bicultures. Rye or ryegrass monoculture had either no effect or an adverse effect on corn yield and soil N availability. Leachate NO3-N concentration was highest where vetch cover crop was planted regardless of N rates, which suggests that N mineralization of vetch N continued well into the fall and winter. Leachate NO3-N concentration increased with increasing N fertilizer rates and exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water standard of 10 mg N l�1 even at recommended N rate for corn in this region (coastal Pacific Northwest). In comparisons of the average NO3-N concentration during the period of high N leaching, monocultured rye and ryegrass or bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch very effectively decreased N leaching in 1998 with dry fall weather. The amount of N available for leaching (determined based on the presidedress nitrate test, the amount of N fertilizer applied, and N uptake) correlated well with average NO3-N during the high N leaching period for vetch cover crop treatment and for the control without the cover crops. The correlation, however, failed for other cover crops largely because of variable effectiveness of the cover crops in reducing NO3leaching during the 5 years of this study. Further research is needed to determine if relay cover crops planted into standing summer crops is a more appropriate approach than fall seeding in this region to gain sufficient growth of the cover crop by fall. Testing with other main crops that have earlier harvest dates than corn is also needed to further validate the effectiveness of the bicultures to increase soil N availability while protecting the water quality.

scholarly journals Regulation of Nitrogen Uptake at the Whole-plant Level: A Study in Almond Trees

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farbod Youssefi ◽  
Patrick H. Brown ◽  
Steve A. Weinbaum
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Prunus Dulcis ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Phloem Sap ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Soil N Uptake ◽  
Almond Trees ◽  
Plant Level

It has been proposed that a pool of amino N, whose size is determined by aboveground N demand, cycles in the plant and regulates soil N uptake by exerting an inhibitory effect at the root level. Several experiments were carried out to study this hypothesis in almond trees [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb]. Based on the evidence found, there is an association, at the whole tree level, between sap N content and soil N uptake. The data are consistent with the possibility that increased phloem sap amino acids result in decreased uptake of soil N.

scholarly journals Nitrogen Availability in Pecan Orchard Soil: Implications for Pecan Fertilizer Management

HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1294-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lenny Wells
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N ◽  
N Dynamics ◽  
Available N ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Soil N Dynamics

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to plants at rates not adjusted for the N contribution from soil N availability may result in overapplication of fertilizer. Further understanding of proper timing of N applications based on soil N dynamics and plant demand can be valuable information for the efficient use of fertilizer N. The present study measures soil N dynamics in a pecan orchard under various N fertilizer regimes on a southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain soil. The following treatments were evaluated: 1) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.); 2) poultry litter; 3) crimson clover + poultry litter; 4) ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3); and 5) untreated control. Crimson clover provided from 20 to 75 kg·ha−1 N over the course of the two growing seasons; however, most of the available N from crimson clover became available late in the growing season. As a result, supplemental N may be required in spring where crimson clover is used as an orchard cover crop. Poultry litter, with and without clover, provided available N consistently throughout the growing season with more N becoming available later in the season than earlier. This suggests that poultry litter applications for pecan should be timed before budbreak. Under optimum environmental conditions, N from NH4NO3 is most available within the first 30 days of application. Thus, it appears that synthetic fertilizer applications using NH4NO3 as the N source should be targeted at or 2 to 3 weeks after pecan budbreak.

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