Recovery of 15N-labeled fertilizer by spring bread wheat at different N rates and application times

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Sen Tran ◽  
Gilles Tremblay

Optimal N fertilization can improve the yield and quality of spring bread wheat in eastern Canada. This study aimed to determine the economical N rate for the production of spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'AC Pollet') and to compare the effect of application times on the efficiency of fertilizer N use. The experiment was conducted during 2 yr on two sites of Sainte-Rosalie clay loam. The experimental treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with N rates (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 kg ha−1) as the main plots and the application times of fertilizer N (15NH415NO3 applied at seeding and booting stages) as the subplots. Grain yield, grain protein concentration and straw N content of wheat were increased significantly with N application rates. The economic N rates were 90 and 120 kg ha−1 for 1993 and 1994, respectively. The recovery of 15N-labeled fertilizer (%FNR) in grain and straw was higher when applied at booting stage than at seeding in both years. In 1993, FNR varied from 37.8 to 45.7% for seeding and from 62.1 to 68.4% for booting stage treatments. The respective values were 23.1 to 30.4% and 41.3 to 50.7% in 1994. At each N rate, the proportion of N derived from fertilizer (Ndff) was higher in grain than that in straw when 15N fertilizer was applied at booting stage. The combined recovery of 15N fertilizer (% total FNR) applied at seeding and booting, as determined by the isotopic and the difference method, was in the same range, with a mean of 49.8% and 36.2% for 1993 and 1994, respectively. Soil N supplies for wheat during the growing season were 54 and 61 kg N ha−1 in 1993 and 1994, respectively. No priming effect of added fertilizer N on the mineralization of soil N was observed. Key words: Spring bread wheat, 15N-labeled fertilizer, split N application, fertilizer N recovery

1998 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. CHALMERS ◽  
C. J. DYER ◽  
R. SYLVESTER-BRADLEY

Amounts of spring nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0–240 kg/ha), combined with three timing treatments (single, divided early or divided late), were tested at 14 sites in England and Wales between 1984 and 1988 to determine the optimum fertilizer N requirement for winter oats. The trials were superimposed on commercial crops of the cultivars Pennal (9 sites) or Peniarth (5 sites). Optimum amounts of N ranged from nil to 202 kg/ha (mean 119) and optimum yields varied between 5·8 and 9·9 t/ha (mean 7·3). Much (c. 60%) of the inter-site variation in N optimum was explained by differences in soil N supply, as indicated by N offtake in the grain at nil applied N. Mean yield differences between single and early (+0·08 t/ha) or late (−0·04 t/ha) divided dressings were slight, although significant (P<0·05) but inconsistent yield effects were obtained from early N at two sites and late N at three sites.Lodging occurred at 11 of the 12 sites where lodging scores were recorded and always increased significantly (P<0·05) with applied N. The amount of crop lodging at N optimum was, on an area basis, <50% at nine of the sites. The overall extent of site lodging was also influenced by soil N fertility and hence inversely related to N optimum. However, multiple regression, using site lodging as well as soil N supply, only accounted for slightly more (65%) of the variation in N optimum, which suggests that lodging was not a major limiting factor. Lodging was unexpectedly less from early N (mean 43%), but more from late N (53%) divided dressings, compared with a single N dressing (49%). Early N reduced lodging significantly (P<0·05) at four sites, although the actual reduction was only large at one site where early N also increased yield significantly (+0·57 t/ha).Grain N concentrations increased significantly (P<0·05) with applied N, on average by 0·12% per 40 kg/ha N increment. Timing effects on grain N concentration were very small, with mean values of 1·94, 1·91 and 1·96%N respectively from single, early and late divided dressings. Apparent recovery in grain of fertilizer N at the optimum amount ranged from 13 to 57% (mean 37), with better N recovery at the more yield-responsive sites. Changes in mean grain weight due to the amount and timing of fertilizer N were small, with an average reduction of 0·6 mg/grain per 40 kg/ha N applied. The adverse effects of N fertilizer on grain quality were slight and unlikely to have commercial significance. The agronomic implications of these results on the N fertilization of winter oats are discussed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Sen Tran ◽  
Marcel Giroux ◽  
Michel P. Cescas

The main objective of this study was to compare the recovery of 15N-labelled fertilizer by different methods of N application and N rates. Field experiments were carried out for 3 yr at Saint-Hyacinthe (Saint-Damase, Du Contour, Sainte-Rosalie soils) and at Saint-Lambert, Lévis (Le Bras soil). Grain corn (cv. Pride K228, 2700 CHU) and silage corn (cv. Hyland 3251, 2300 CHU) were grown at Saint-Hyacinthe and Saint-Lambert, respectively. In 1988 and 1989, field trials were arranged in a randomized complete bloc design consisting of five treatments in three replications: control 0 N and four split application methods of N fertilizer. Labelled 15NH4 15NO3 fertilizer was applied either banded at planting as starter (D), broadcast and incorporated before planting (Vs) or sidedressing between rows at V6 to V8 stages of corn (Bp). In 1990 field trials, treatments consisted of four N rates (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha−1) labelled with 15NH4 15NO3. The effect of N rates on yield and N uptake by corn was significant in all years. However, the effect of application methods was significant only on the soil Du Contour in 1989 where corn grain yield was highest when N fertilizer was split as starter and sidedress band. The CUR of N fertilizer applied broadcast before planting (42 to 48%) was generally lower than sidedressing band application (43 to 54%). N fertilizer recovery in the starter showed also high CUR values (45 to 60%). Consequently, it is recommended to split N fertilizers and apply in band to increase efficiency for grain corn. The CUR values decreased with N rates only in Le Bras soil in 1990. Residual N fertilizer increased from 27 to 103 kg N ha−1 for 60 and 180 kg N ha−1 rates, respectively. Consequently, the environmental impact of N fertilization may increased with high N rate. Key words: Grain corn, silage corn, 15N recovery, fertilizer N split application


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 456 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 81-98
Author(s):  
Marcus Schlingmann ◽  
Ursina Tobler ◽  
Bernd Berauer ◽  
Noelia Garcia-Franco ◽  
Peter Wilfahrt ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Consequences of climate change and land use intensification on the nitrogen (N) cycle of organic-matter rich grassland soils in the alpine region remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify fates of fertilizer N and to determine the overall N balance of an organic-matter rich grassland in the European alpine region as influenced by intensified management and warming. Methods We combined 15N cattle slurry labelling with a space for time climate change experiment, which was based on translocation of intact plant-soil mesocosms down an elevational gradient to induce warming of +1 °C and + 3 °C. Mesocosms were subject to either extensive or intensive management. The fate of slurry-N was traced in the plant-soil system. Results Grassland productivity was very high (8.2 t - 19.4 t dm ha−1 yr−1), recovery of slurry 15N in mowed plant biomass was, however, low (9.6–14.7%), illustrating low fertilizer N use efficiency and high supply of plant available N via mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM). Higher 15N recovery rates (20.2–31.8%) were found in the soil N pool, dominated by recovery in unextractable N. Total 15N recovery was approximately half of the applied tracer, indicating substantial loss to the environment. Overall, high N export by harvest (107–360 kg N ha−1 yr−1) markedly exceeded N inputs, leading to a negative grassland N balance. Conclusions Here provided results suggests a risk of soil N mining in montane grasslands, which increases both under climate change and land use intensification.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Adrien N. Dayegamiye ◽  
Judith Nyiraneza ◽  
Johann K. Whalen ◽  
Michèle Grenier ◽  
Anne Drapeau

<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>


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 837-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Steckler ◽  
D J Pennock ◽  
F L Walley

The Illinois soil N test (ISNT) has been used to distinguish between soils that are responsive and non-responsive to fertilizer N in Illinois. We examined the suitability of this test, together with more traditional measures of soil fertility, including spring nitrate-N and soil organic carbon (SOC), for predicting yield and N fertilizer response of wheat (Triticum aestivum) on hummocky landscapes in Saskatchewan. The relationship between ISNT-N and wheat yield and fertilizer N response was assessed using data and soils previously collected for a variable-rate fertilizer study. Soils were re-analyzed for ISNT-N. Our goal was to determine if ISNT-N could be used to improve the prediction of crop yields. Although ISNT-N was correlated with both unfertilized wheat yield (r = 0.467, P = 0.01) and fertilizer N response (r = -0.671, P = 0.01) when data from all study sites were combined, correlations varied according to landscape position and site. Stronger correlations between nitrate-N and both unfertilized wheat yield (r = 0.721, P = 0.01) and fertilizer N response (r = -0.690, P = 0.01) indicated that ISNT-N offered no advantage over nitrate-N. Although both tests broadly discriminated between sites with high or low N fertility, few relationships were detected on a point-by-point basis within a field. Stepwise regression equations predicting yield and yield response did not include ISNT-N, due in part to the high degree of collinearity between ISNT-N and other variables such as SOC, suggesting that ISNT-N alone was not a key indicator of soil N supply. Key words: Illinois soil nitrogen test, potentially available N, soil N, fertilizer N recommendations


1991 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Addiscott ◽  
R. J. Darby

SUMMARYOptimum applications of N fertilizer, Nopt have been related successfully to the amount of mineral N in the soil, Nmin in some parts of Europe but not always in the UK. If there is a body of mineral N, QN, that ultimately lessens the need for N fertilizer, it will not remain constant in its amount or its position. Mineralization will add to QN, while the nitrate component of QN will be leached downwards.Also, part of QN will be taken up into the crop where it will continue to lessen the need for fertilizer N but will be safe from leaching. A computer model was used to simulate these processes for 23 experiments, covering five sites and five years, in which N opt had been estimated. From these simulations we derived trial values of QN that took account of mineral N to a series of depths on a series of dates. For each date we used the trial values to find the depth for which Nopt was best correlated with QN andassumed that this was the depth, dL, of the lower boundary of QN on that date. Thus dL was a collective value for all 23 experiments. The value of dLincreased throughout the winter and the spring and was very closely related to the cumulative average drainage through 0·5 m soil at Rothamsted. By 15 April, dL, was 1·66 m, a depth that was compatible with observations by others that winter wheat can remove mineral N to a depth of at least 1·5 m. We inferred two likely reasons why Nmin may fail as a predictor of Nopt in the UK: insufficient depth of sampling, and too wide a spread of sampling dates. The values of Nopt were shown to be related satisfactorily to the values of QN computed, without any measurements of mineral N, for appropriate depths on single dates.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Leyshon

A 9-yr study was conducted on an alluvial clay loam at Swift Current, Saskatchewan to determine the effect of annual applications of urea-N (46-0-0) fertilizer on production, nutrient quality, N use efficiency, root mass, and root distribution of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.). Nitrogen was applied annually at the rates of 0, 50, 100, and 200 kg ha−1 N to an established stand of bromegrass. Plots were flood irrigated. Forage DM yields increased linearly with rate of N applied. In all years, the slope of the response was similar and averaged 24 kg DM kg−1 N. The average y-intercept value was 1794 kg DM ha−1. In years 1–4, the N concentration in the grass was depressed at low N rates but after 5 yr the N concentration increased at all N rates. Tissue [Formula: see text] levels over 100 ppm occurred at the 200 kg N rate after 3 yr. Applications of N reduced plant P in all years; the extent depended on N rate. Uptake of N increased with increasing N rate as did the apparent N recovery. Nitrogen rate had no effect on root mass or distribution. Root mass totalled 13 888 kg DM ha−1 to 105-cm depth. Approximately 36% of the root mass was in the top 7.5 cm, 11.9% in the 7.5- to 15-cm depth and 16.9% in the 15-to 30-cm depth. Estimates of the soil space occupied by roots indicate that they would occupy a large proportion of the available pore volume. It was concluded that producers growing bromegrass under irrigation on medium- to heavy-textured soils in southern Saskatchewan can consistently expect considerable increases in hay yield of good quality with N fertilizer at rates up to 200 kg N ha−1. While forage production increased linearly in response to N fertilization, root accumulation remained at a constant level. Further studies are needed to establish maximum yields and economic rates of N application. Key words: N rate, N recovery, roots, forage N, forage P


2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Zebarth ◽  
E. J. Botha ◽  
H. Rees

Use of an in-season measurement of crop nitrogen (N) status to optimize fertilizer N management has been proposed as a means of optimizing yield of spring wheat while minimizing environmental N losses. This study determined the effect of the rate and time of fertilizer N application on the grain yield, grain protein, and apparent recovery of fertilizer N in grain and in the above-ground plant for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2001–2003, and evaluated the use of a SPAD-502 meter to measure crop N status in spring wheat. Sixteen N fertility treatments were used, including application of different rates of fertilizer N (0–160 kg N ha-1) applied pre-seeding (ZGS 0), at tillering (ZGS 21) and at shooting (ZGS 32) as ammonium nitrate. Split N application provided no benefit in terms of grain yield or apparent recovery of fertilizer N. Application of fertilizer N at ZGS 32 reduced crop yield and apparent recovery of fertilizer N compared with N application at ZGS 0. Application of fertilizer N at ZGS 21 reduced yield and apparent recovery of fertilizer N in grain in 2 of 3 yr, but had no effect on apparent recovery of fertilizer N in the above-ground plant. Delayed fertilizer N application generally increased grain protein. Fertilizer N can be applied at ZGS 21 as required to optimize grain yield provided at least some fertilizer N is applied prior to seeding; however, crop N status cannot reliably be assessed at this time using a SPAD-502 meter. Crop N status can be assessed at ZGS 32 using a SPAD-502 meter; however, fertilizer N application at this time primarily influences grain protein rather than grain yield. These results highlight the need for a means of predicting soil N mineralization potential in order to optimize grain yield in humid environments where carry-over of soil nitrate from the previous growing season is limited. Key words: Triticum aestivum; N mineralization; soil N supply; SPAD-502 meter, leaf chlorophyll index


Author(s):  
Agustin Limon-Ortega

Abstract Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is an input that has played an important role in grain yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and agronomic efficiency (AE) that needs to be studied on rainfed wheat grown in permanent beds as a planting system. The objective of this study was to test the effect of N treatments on yield, NUE and AE from 2005 to 2009. The experimental design consisted of three N rates (25, 50 and 75 kg/ha) and four N timing treatments (two single basal applications and two splits), plus a control plot (0 N). Results showed that N rate and N timing treatments had no effect on grain yield, but years, meanwhile Year–N rate interaction affected NUE and AE. Precipitation and post-harvest soil N-NO3 were identified as factors to test the years' effect on yield, NUE and AE. Regression procedures showed that the effect was greater for 25 kg N/ha treatment. The relationships between these variables and precipitation were positive, whereas the opposite occurred with soil N-NO3. NUE and AE, however, showed negative values in crop seasons with moisture constraints from precipitation (<335 mm) and soil N-NO3 (>90 kg N-NO3/ha). This result indicated that N removal and yield in these years were larger in control plots (0 N) than fertilizer application. Precipitation and soil N-NO3, rather than N treatments, explained most of the yield, NUE and AE variation over years. Therefore, to enhance that effect of weather and soil, further research on alternate N sources is needed.


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