Zinc and phosphorus interaction in a wheat-maize cropping system

To study the interaction effect of Zn and P in a wheat-maize cropping system, a field experiment was conducted at the H.P. Agricultural University Research Station, Palampur (India). Zinc was applied as ZnSO₄·7H₂O at the rate of 0, 20 and 40 kg per ha and P as superphosphate at the rate of 0, 60 and 120 kg per ha. The direct Zn-P interaction effect was investigated on wheat (S—308) and its residual effect on maize (early composite). Added Zn did not increase the grain and straw yield of wheat when P was not applied, but when P was applied, 20 kg per ha added Zn responded significantly. Contrary to this, in maize, only 20 kg per ha added Zn responded significantly when P was not applied, but when P was applied, even 40 kg per ha Zn increased the grain and straw yield of maize. The grain and straw yield of wheat and maize were higher under limed than under unlimed conditions.The concentration of Zn increased with the application of Zn and decreased with the application of P. The concentration of Zn was comparatively higher in grain than in straw of wheat and maize. The P concentration in wheat and maize plants decreased with the increasing levels of applied Zn. The concentrations of Zn were lower under limed than under unlimed condition, whereas the reverse was true for P concentrations.The respective absorption of Zn and P in wheat was 9.7 and 7.3 per cent upto tillering, 47.9 and 49.4 per cent between tillering and flowering, and 42.3 and 43.3 per cent between flowering and maturity. The corresponding absorption of Zn and P in maize was 11.7 and 9.4, 59.9 and 52.1, and 29.3 and 38.5 per cent before booting stage, between booting and tasseling stage and between tasseling and maturity stage, respectively. At maturity, about 53.1 and 13.0 per cent of the Zn and P taken up were retained by wheat straw and 46.9 and 87.0 per cent by wheat grain. The respective values for Zn and P in maize straw and grain were 66.8 and 30.3 and 33.2 and 69.7 per cent. When more Zn was applied, less Zn was translocated to grains; when more P was added, more Zn was translocated to grains. The effects of P and Zn on P distribution at maturity were opposite to that of Zn distribution.     

Assessment of plant-available phosphate in limed,acid soils using several soil-testing procedures

A range of soil-testing procedures was used in a factorial glasshouse study to assess the plant-available phosphate (P) status of soils which had been treated with lime and added P. A close 1:1 relationship (r = 0.90^***) was obtained between plant P uptake and resin-extractable soil P. In contrast, Olsen-, Colwell-, Bray (I) and (II)-, and Mehlich-extractable P were only weakly correlated with P uptake. Inclusion of 4 different indices of P-buffer capacity did not improve the relationship between plant P uptake, and extractable P. The difficulty in relating plant P uptake data to extractable-soil P levels is attributed to the problems associated with extracting P from limed soils. There was no useful relationship between plant P uptake and isotopically-exchangeable P in the soils.     

Effect of nitrogen and water uptake on yield of wheat

For 2 years, field experiments were conducted to study the direct and interactive effects of water and nitrogen uptake at different growth stages on grain yield of wheat, grown on coarse textured alluvial soil of Ludhiana. Twelve treatments comprising 3 irrigation regimes and 4 rates of N were imposed. The N and irrigation regimes showed significant interaction, especially during the drier year. Grain yield was better explained with water uptake and N uptake, when partitioned over different growth stages than with total uptake. The sensitivity factor for water uptake was higher at the reproductive stage ( = 1.60) than at the vegetative ( = 1.05) and maturation ( = 0.38) stages. Contrary, yield was more sensitive to N uptake during the vegetative stage than the reproductive and the maturation stages. Sensitivity of grain yield to water uptake was higher at higher N application rates. Yield predictability was much better (R² = 0.98) when N and water uptake at different growth stages were combined.     

Studies on depth of placement of urea on nitrogen recovery in wheat grown on a red-brown earth in Australia

Field and greenhouse experiments were carried out at the University of Sydneyto examine the influence of depth of placement of urea on crop nitrogen (N) uptake and N recovery in wheat grown on a red-brown earth in Australia. In the greenhouse, an ¹⁵N source of urea was used in examining the pattern of N availability, while field experiments using an unlabelled urea assessed the usefulness of deep placement of urea as a tool for improving N use by wheat.Placement at a depth of 15 cm slightly delayed the accessibility of N to the plant only in the early stages of growth, i.e., about 12 days after sowing. Large differences in N content and N concentration observed as a result of placement was only transient and disappeared later in the season. Total N recovery was 93.8% in the deep placement and 79.9% in the shallow placemen, but these differences were due to differences in soil N recovery, as crop N recovery was approximately 48% in both treatments.In the field, there was very little advantage in the deep placement compared with the shallow placement. Also, no residual benefit was observed as a result of increased depth of placement. Thus deep placement may not be an important strategy for increasing N uptake over a conventional shallow depth of 3–5 cm.     

Effects of varying nitrogen supply at different growth stages on nitrogen uptake and nitrogen partitioning efficiency in two wheat cultivars

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of N availability upon N uptake and nitrogen partitioning efficiency and its relationship with %N in the grain in two wheat cultivars, differing in their grain protein content.Plants were grown in a nutrient solution with 2 nitrogen levels, 200 ppm (H) and 40 ppm (L). Four treatments were imposed: HH, HL, LH and LL. Nutrient solution exchange was done at maximum floret number. Plants were harvested at terminal spikelet stage, maximum floret number, 10 days after anthesis and maturity.Nitrogen content, N uptake and N distribution at maturity were significantly affected by N supply. Nitrogen content in the grain was similar in both cultivars, but varied significantly between treatments and decreased as follows: LH; HH; LL and HL. In both cultivars a low leaf %N was observed in HL 10 days after anthesis, which suggest early N utilization and its premature depletion, resulting in a low %N in the grain. Total %N in the plant, for both cultivars was higher in HH and LH than other treatments. When N availability was high during the whole crop cycle (HH), N distribution to the ear was improved.It is concluded that late N availability is necessary to achieve high %N in the grain. On the other hand if high and initial N availability is not maintained, %N in the grain decreased in a significant way.     

The value of nitrogen applied to wheat during early development

Forty eight field trials were conducted at sites representing the major arable areas of the UK to test the effectiveness of nitrogen applied during early growth. A family of linear + exponential curves of constant shape fitted to data from all the trials accounted for 94% of the variation in grain yield. This approach identified soil nitrogen supply as the largest source of variation in the optimum requirement for fertiliser nitrogen. Changes in optimum amounts of fertiliser N indicated that N applied at sowing was about half as effective as N applied in spring. Where some of the spring N was applied in February, the mean response to N applied at sowing was –0.02t/ha of grain. Although some sites responded economically to N applied at sowing, varietal type and delayed spring N application were the only factors identified as possible predictors in practice. Grain yields with optimum N varied between 6.1 to 11.5 t/ha but this wide range failed to account for variation in optimum amount of spring applied N for individual sites. However, about one third of the variation in optimum N was accounted for by a knowledge of soil type, drilling date, winter rain and amount of seedbed N.     

Ammonium nitrogen uptake by rice grown in acid sulfate soil under controlled redox conditions

A study was conducted to determine plant growth and ammonium fertilizer nitrogen uptake by rice (Oryza sativa, L.) in acid sulfate soils (Sulfic Tropaquept) as affected by soil redox conditions. Rice seedlings of acid sulfate soil-tolerant and sensitive varieties (IR 46 and IR 26, respectively) were grown in laboratory microcosms for 3 weeks in soil suspensions incubated at four separate Eh levels (+500, +250, +50, and-150 mV). Growth of both varieties decreased as soil Eh decreased. Uptake of both added¹⁵N labelled (NH₄)₂SO₄ and native soil nitrogen also decreased with decreasing soil Eh. Percent N from fertilizer in the plant tissues increased with decreasing soil Eh. Nitrogen uptake was greater in IR 46 as compared to IR 26. A greater amount of fertilizer N and native soil N remained in the soil suspension under a highly reduced condition compared to an oxidized condition indicating that more ammonium N was utilized by the rice plants under the oxidized than the highly reduced conditions. The growth of the soil tolerant rice variety (IR 46) was more superior to that of the sensitive rice variety (IR 26) under oxidized (+500 mV) and moderately reduced (+250 to +50 mV) than highly reduced (-150 mV) conditions. Greater uptake of soil and fertilizer nitrogen was measured under the soil redox conditions in which adequate plant growth was recorded. Strongly reducing soil redox conditions adversely affected plant growth which in turn limited nitrogen uptake.     

Zinc oxide obtained by the solvothermal method with high sensitivity and selectivity to nitrogen dioxide

The effect of heat treatment using [Zn(H₂O)(O₂C₅H₇)₂] precursor ethylene glycol solution (synthesis temperature 125–185 °C, holding time 2–6 h) on the characteristics of the obtained nanocrystalline zinc oxide powder was studied. Under all synthesis conditions crystalline ZnO was formed with a wurtzite structure and an average crystallite size of 8–37 nm. The thermal behaviour and microstructure of the nanostructured ZnO powder were studied. The sensory properties of the obtained films in terms of the detection of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide were studied. The high sensitivity and selectivity of a thick ZnO film (synthesis temperature 145°С, holding time 6 h) when detecting NO₂ was established. It was found, that humidity had almost no effect on response value for NO₂ detection.     

Response of wheat to nitrogen fertilization,a data set to validate simulation models for nitrogen dynamics in crop and soil

A data set originating from winter wheat experiments at three locations during two years is described. The purpose is to provide sufficient data for testing simulation models for soil nitrogen dynamics, crop growth and nitrogen uptake. Each experiment comprised three different nitrogen treatments, and observations were made at intervals of two or three weeks. The observations included measurements of soil mineral nitrogen content, soil water content, groundwater table, dry matter production and dry matter distribution, nitrogen uptake, nitrogen distribution and root length density.     

肥料中硝态氮、铵态氮、总氮的研究

研究仅含硝态氮、铵态氮的肥料,结果表明,用GB/T8572-2010《复混肥料中总氮含量的测定蒸馏后滴定法》检测含有硝态氮、铵态氮的肥料中铵态氮含量、硝态氮含量(差减法总氮含量-铵态氮含量=硝态氮含量)(标准GB/T8572-2010《复混肥料中总氮含量的测定蒸馏后滴定法》中没有体现总氮含量-铵态氮含量=硝态氮含量,这是根据铵态氮与硝态氮性质总结研究出来的)与标准NY/T1116-2014《肥料硝态氮、铵态氮、酰胺态氮含量的测定》单独检测铵态氮含量、硝态氮含量结果无显著性差异。GB/T8572-2010检测总氮含量与SN/T0736.5-2010《进出口化肥检验方法第5部分:氮含量的测定》检测总氮含量无显著性差异。     

Yield,water use and nitrogen uptake for different water and N levels in winter wheat

In an effort to establish an optimum combination of water and nitrogen for winter wheat a field investigation was carried out on a coarse loamy sand soil during 1984–85 and 1985–86 to assess effects of irrigation regime (IR) and N application on yield, water use and N uptake. The treatments compromised all combinations of three irrigation regimes (IR) based on ratios of irrigation water to cumulative pan evaporation viz.1.2 (I-1), 0.9 (I-2) and 0.6 (I-3) and four rates of N, viz. 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha^–1. Grain yield increased with increase in frequency of irrigation. In spite of wide differences in weather during the two years, scheduling of irrigation at IW/CPE = 1.2 gave the highest wheat yield on the coarse-textured soil. During 1984–85, the rainless year, grain yield under I-1 was 20 and 32 per cent higher than I-2 and I-3, respectively. With increasing N rate the yield and water use efficiency increased progressively upto 180 kg N under I-1 and upto 120 kg N ha^–1 under I-2 and I-3 regimes. During 1985–86, the wet year, grain yield response to IR was relatively low. Irrespective of IR, yield increased progressively upto 180 kg N ha^–1 during the wet year. Irrigation water regimes and N application also influenced leaf area index and root growth of wheat. The yield of unfertilized wheat was relatively less affected by seasonal rainfall and IR.Both N uptake and grain yield of wheat were found to increase linearly with increase in water use. Water use efficiency was highest under I-1 regime at all levels of N in the dry season of 1984–85 and under I-3 regime in the wet season of 1985–86. Increase in N uptake with increasing N rates was significantly higher under I-1 than I-2 and I-3 regimes. The N use efficiency being maximum at 60 kg N ha^–1, decreased at higher N levels irrespective of IR.     

Simulation of the nitrogen balance in the soil and a winter wheat crop

A simulation model for winter wheat growth, crop nitrogen dynamics and soil nitrogen supply was tested against experimental data. When simulations of dry matter production agreed with measurements, nitrogen uptake was simulated accurately. The total amount of soil mineral nitrogen as well as the distribution of mineral nitrogen over the various soil layers were generally simulated well, except for experiments in which fertilizer was applied late in spring. In these experiments, applied nitrogen disappeared because it could not be accounted for by the model. Some explanations for this disappearance are briefly discussed.     

Response of dryland wheat to small supplemental irrigation and fertilizer nitrogen in submontane Punjab

In northern India, the monsoon rains recede much earlier than the sowing time of post-rainy crops and the seed-zone gets dried. Excess rain water collected in near-farm or on-farm reservoirs permits small presowing and/or postsowing irrigation(s) to increase yield which is also limited by N supplies. Field experiments were conducted to match N application rates with available water supplies to optimise wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields. Five rates of fertilizer N (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha^–1) were combined with five irrigation treatments (no-irrigation; 5 cm and 10 cm presowing irrigation, 5 cm irrigation 30 days after sowing and; equal presowing and postsowing irrigations totalling 10 cm). The yield was regressed over crop water supply inclusive of irrigation (W) or exclusive of irrigation (W₁) and applied nitrogen (N). Grain yield increased with increase in both water supply and N-rate. Within certain limits N and W₁ substituted each other for yield and so did irrigation and W₁. Irrespective of irrigation, the amount of N required to substitute for given W₁ to maintain a given yield decreased with increasing W₁. At low W₁, irrigation substituted for small changes in W₁ but with increased W₁, irrigation substituted for larger changes in W₁. Also with increase in N level given irrigation substituted for smaller amount of W₁. These regressions permit recommendations of N in relation to stored water and seasonal rain with or without limited irrigation. The latter was most useful at intermediate W₁.     

The value of poultry manure for wetland rice grown in rotation with wheat

Poultry manure applied alone or in combination with urea at different N levels was evaluated as a N source for wetland rice grown in a Fatehpur loamy sand soil. Residual effects were studied on wheat which followed rice every year during the three cropping cycles. In the first year, poultry manure did not perform better than urea but by the third year, when applied in quantities sufficient to supply 120 and 180 kg N ha^–1, it produced significantly more rice grain yield than the same rates of N as urea. Poultry manure sustained the grain yield of rice during the three years while the yield decreased with urea. Apparent N recovery by rice decreased from 45 to 28% during 1987 to 1989 in the case of urea, but it remained almost the same (35, 33 and 37%) for poultry manure. Thus, urea N values of poultry manure calculated from yield or N uptake data following two different approaches averaged 80, 112 and 127% in 1987, 1988 and 1989, respectively. Poultry manure and urea applied in 1:1 ratio on N basis produced yields in between the yields from the two sources applied alone. After three cycles of rice-wheat rotation, the organic matter in the soil increased with the amount of manure applied to a plot. Olsen available P increased in soils amended with poultry manure. A residual effect of poultry manure applied to rice to supply 120 or 180 kg N ha^–1 was observed in the wheat which followed rice and it was equivalent to 40 kg N ha^–1 plus some P applied directly to wheat.     

Relationship between electroultrafiltration (EUF) extractable nitrogen,grain yield,and optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates for winter wheat

The objective of the investigation was to examine whether there exist relationships between the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate for winter wheat and soil nitrogen fractions extracted by electroultrafiltration (EUF) from autumn samples of the upper soil layer (0–30 cm). Optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates were derived from grain yield curves of field trials carried out with increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates on 19 different sites in 1985/86 and 1986/87. Most soils were luvisols derived from loess, two soils were brown earths and one a pararendzina. Total Nitrogen fertilizer rates were 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N/ha applied twice before ear emergence. The final nitrogen rate at ear emergence was the same for all treatments, namely 60 kg N/ha.Optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates were derived from the grain yield curve fitted to a modified Mitscherlich equation. The optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates were correlated with the nitrogen fractions extracted by EUF. The regression equation thus obtained showed that NO ₃ ^- , the organic N fraction (EUF Norg), and the EUF Norg-quotient each had a highly significant impact on the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate. The higher the amounts of EUF-N extracted the lower the optimum nitrogen rate. Substituting the EUF Norg-fraction for total nitrogen concentration in the upper soil layer gave a poorer relationship between the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate and the soil data. In absolute terms the EUF Norg-fraction had by far the greatest impact on calculating the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate. The investigation shows that the EUF method is a suitable technique for the determination of available soil nitrogen from which optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates can be derived for winter wheat cultivated under soil and climatic conditions typical for cereal growing areas in central Europe.     

Interaction of ammonium and nitrate nutrition with potassium in wheat

A greenhouse experiment with wheat in 3L pots filled with a sandy loam soil in a factorial design was conducted to determine the effect of potassium on nitrogen utilization. Nitrogen was applied in three NH₄-N/NO₃-N ratios, 0/100, 25/75 and 50/50, at three levels: 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00gN/pot, and potassium was applied at three levels: 0, 0.5 and 1.0gK/pot. The higher levels of nitrate nitrogen with or without potassium reduced dry matter yields drastically, while the same levels of a NH₄-N/NO₃-N mixture of 50/50 with applied potassium reduced yields only slightly. Highest grain yield and total yield were obtained with a 25/75 mixture of ammonium/nitrate nitrogen with added potassium. Potassium addition to soil increased the utilization of nitrogen fertilizers, particularly when the ratio of ammonium to nitrate was increased. The highest uptake of reduced nitrogen was at the highest level of the ammonium to nitrate nitrogen ratio (50/50) when potassium was applied. Tillering was enhanced by an increased ammonium ratio in the nitrogen mixture, and by potassium.     

Nutrient cycling in a cropping system with potato, spring wheat, sugar beet, oats and nitrogen catch crops. I. Input and offtake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium

Nutrient balances, defined as the difference between input with manures, fertilizers and atmospheric deposition and offtake of nutrients with harvested products in arable cropping systems, need to be positive to compensate for unavoidable losses to the environment, but should be kept at the lowest possible level to minimize emissions or unnecessary accumulation of nutrients in the soil. Data from five consecutive years are reported from a long-term nutrient monitoring experiment with three replicates, managed comparably to conventional farming practice. There were four nutrient treatments (T1–T4). Treatment T1 received chemical fertilizer only. T2 received processed organic manure, supplying 50 per cent of the crop N-requirement, supplemented by chemical fertilizers. In treatments T1 and T2 the soil was bare during winter. In T3 and T4 the crops were fertilized as in T1 and T2, respectively, but nitrogen catch crops were grown in autumn and winter. Averaged over five years, the N-balances were 46 kg N ha^-1 y^-1 in T1 and T2 and 25 kg ha^-1 y^-1 in T3 and T4 (atmospheric deposition of 44 kg N ha^-1y^-1 included). Averaged over all treatments and years, the P-balance was 7 kg ha^-1 y^-1 and the K-balance -33 kg ha^-1 y^-1. The initially high soil fertility indices for both P and K declined over the experimental period. Catch crops and organic manure did not affect crop yields or nutrient balances, except that their combination in T4 resulted in 1.5 ton ha^-1 extra dry matter yield of sugar beet roots. Between spring and harvest, potato and sugar beet showed positive N balances and the cereals negative N-balances. Sugar beet was the only crop with a positive K-balance. NPK concentrations in plant products were not systematically affected by treatments but varied considerably between seasons. At harvest, on average 63, 71, 75 and 112 kg N ha^-1 (0–90 cm) were found after sugar beet, spring wheat, oats and potato, respectively. In November catch crops accumulated on average 39 kg N ha^-1 after cereals and 33 and 5 kg ha^-1 after potato and sugar beet, respectively. In March catch crops after the cereals contained 4 kg N ha^-1 less than in autumn, but after potato and sugar beet N-accumulation in spring had increased to 49 and 29 ha N ha^-1, respectively. In spring soil mineral N (0–90 cm) varied across years from 31 to 63 kg ha^-1. The results indicate that compliance with a maximum excess of input over offtake, as imposed by future legislation, is feasible for N for cropping systems comparable to the system examined, but that the standard for P will probably turn out to be a tight one.     

Simulation of the effects of nitrogen supply on yield formation processes in winter wheat with the model TRITSIM

An outline of the dynamic winter wheat model TRITSIM is given. The model describes in one-day steps growth, yield formation and development of a crop from post-winter tillering until harvest under various conditions of water and nitrogen supply. TRITSIM is coupled with a simple soil nitrogen model and a soil water model to describe effects of nitrogen and water on yield formation processes. Comparisons between model and experimental results for ontogenesis, grain biomass, nitrogen uptake and soil mineral nitrogen are given for a series of Dutch experiments. Simulations were satisfactory, except for the time course of soil mineral nitrogen.     

Fate of fertiliser N applied to winter wheat growing on a Vertisol in a Mediterranean environment

A field study using 15N was conducted on a Vertisol in semi-arid Morocco to assess the fate and efficiency of fertiliser N split applied to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Splitting of fertiliser N is highly crucial in semi-arid regions, considering the increased moisture stress towards the end of the growing season. A N fertilisation rate of 100 kg N ha-1 was split according to two schemes: i) 25% at planting, 50% at tillering and 25% at stem elongation; or ii) 50% at tillering and 50% at stem elongation. The application of 100 kg N ha-1increased the vegetative dry matter production with more than 2000 kg dry matter ha-1 in comparison with the control treatment. Nitrogen fertilisation had no significant effect on the grain yield production. Moreover, the 1000 grain weight decreased from 32 to 26 g due to N fertilisation. Total N uptake was about 50 kg N ha-1 higher for the fertilised plants in comparison with the unfertilised plants, but it was not affected by the splitting pattern of the fertiliser N. Recoveries of 15N-labelled fertiliser by the plant (above-ground plant parts plus roots from the upper 20 cm layer) were low (31% and 24% for the 3-split and 2-split application, respectively). More N in the plant was derived from fertiliser when applied early in the growing season than when applied late in the season. About 13% of the N in the plants was derived from the 50 kg N ha-1 at tillering, while only 5% was derived from the N application (50 kg N ha-1) at stem elongation. At harvest, a high residual of fertiliser-derived N was found in the 0–90 cm profile (62% and 72%, for the 3-split and 2-split application, respectively). Less than 10% of the applied N could not be accounted for, the amount being highest for the application at tillering. This N not accounted for was mainly ascribed to denitrification after an important rainfall event. The application of fertiliser N led to an increase of about 20 kg N ha-1 in soil N uptake by the crop (positive ANI). The results suggested a dominant influence of moisture availability on the fertiliser N uptake by wheat.     

Effect of superphosphate and nitrogen on yield and take-all of wheat

Wheat was grown continuously in soil amended with 5 levels of superphosphate and with 4 levels of urea at 3 sites. The incidence and severity of take-all, caused byGaeumannomyces graminis var.tritici, declined with increasing rates of application of both superphosphate and urea.In both years, the severity of take-all on plants receiving neither superphosphate nor urea was about 40% while at the highest level of superphosphate and urea supply the take-all severity was approximately halved at 22%.There was an increase in grain yield in response to applied superphosphate and urea to the highest level of each nutrient. There was also an increase in the 1,000-kernal weights with superphosphate and urea fertilizer application.