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.     

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.     

Fertilization of millet cv. Souna III in Senegal: dry matter production and nutrient uptake

In a fertilizer and manure experiment, millet was grown under four treatments (no fertilizer or manure, farmyard manure, chemical fertilizer, and both). Grain yield and total aboveground biomass production of the unfertilized plot were relatively high. The observed differences in total dry matter production must be attributed to differences in nutrient availability, as amount of rainfall and its distribution were favourable. Results show only small differences in distribution of dry matter among the various plant organs between the best and the non-fertilized treatments.Nutrient supply from natural sources, defined as crop content of N, P, and K at maturity without fertilizer application, amounted to 104, 16 and 103 kg ha^–1, respectively, which are very high values.Total uptake of calcium and magnesium is related to that of potassium, as the combined content of these three elements is linearly related to total aboveground biomass production. Minimum removal of nitrogen and phosphorus per ton grain dry matter amounts to 29 and 4kg, respectively, and 9 kg potassium per ton total aboveground dry matter. A possible double function of phosphorus as element of structural biomass and for maintenance of electro-neutrality is discussed.     

Evaluation of different agronomic strategies to reduce nitrate leaching after winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) using a simulation model

Winter oilseed rape (OSR) demands high levels of N fertilizer, often exceeding 200 kg N ha⁻¹. Large amounts of residual soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) after harvest are regularly observed, and therefore N leaching during the percolation period over winter is increased. In this study agronomic strategies (fertilization level, crop rotation, tillage intensity) to control nitrate leaching after OSR were investigated by combining field measurements (soil mineral nitrogen, soil water content, crop N uptake) of a 2-year trial and another 5-year field trial with simulation modeling. The crop-soil model uses a daily time step and was built from existing and partly refined submodels for soil water dynamics, mineralization processes, and N uptake. It was used to reproduce the complex processes of the N dynamics and to calculate N concentration in the leachate and total volume of percolation water. Some parameters values were thereby newly identified based on the agreement between measured data and model results. Although SMN in the 60–90 cm layer was overestimated, the model could reproduce the measured data with an acceptable degree of accuracy. Overfertilization of OSR increased N leaching and therefore the precise calculation of N fertilizer doses is a first step towards prevent N leaching. Compared to ploughing, minimum tillage decreased N leaching when winter wheat was grown as the subsequent crop. Volunteer OSR and Phacelia tanacetifolia were grown as catch crops after OSR harvest. N leaching could be decreased especially when Phacelia was grown, but nitrate concentrations in the drainage water were higher and exceeded the European Union (EU) threshold for drinking water when volunteer OSR was grown. The results of this study provide strong evidence that reduced tillage or growing of noncruciferous catch crops decrease N leaching and may be used as an agricultural measure to prevent N pollution.     

Fate of fertilizer 15N in intensive ridge cultivation with plastic mulching under a monsoon climate

Reducing nitrogen (N) leaching to groundwater requires an improved understanding of the effect of microtopography on N fate. Because of the heterogeneity between positions, ridge tilled fields, frequently used in intensive agriculture, should be treated as two distinct management units. In this study, we measured N dynamics in plastic-mulched ridges and bare furrows with the goal of developing more sustainable agricultural practices with optimal gains, namely crop production versus limited impacts on water quality. We investigated: (1) biomass production; (2) crop N uptake; (3) N retention in soil; and (4) N leaching using ¹⁵N fertilizer in a radish crop. Broadcast mineral N fertilizer application prior to planting resulted in high total leaching losses (of up to 390 N kg ha^?1). The application of plastic mulch in combination with local fertilizer management did not help to reduce N leaching. At all fertilizer N rates, the mean NO₃ ^? concentrations in seepage water were found to be above the WHO drinking water standard of 50 mg NO₃ ^? l^?1. To reduce NO₃ ^? leaching, we recommend: (1) decreasing the fertilizer N rates to a maximum of 150 kg N ha^?1; (2) applying fertilizer N in 3–4 split applications according to the plant’s N needs; (3) applying fertilizer N to the ridges (after their formation) to avoid losses from the furrows; and (4) increasing the soil organic matter content to enhance the water and nutrient retention by covering the furrows with plant residues.     

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.     

Some results of nitrogen simulations with the model ANIMO

Simulation of the nitrogen behavior in the soil and the nitrogen uptake by winter wheat was performed using the model ANIMO. As input for the model ANIMO simulations of the hydrological conditions in the soil crop ecosystem were executed with the model SWATRE. Compared with measured data the simulation of nitrogen uptake by the crop was satisfactory. The simulation of mineral nitrogen in the soil agreed reasonably well with measured data for one of the experiments used for the analysis. The agreement was less for experiments with additional fertilizer applications in May and June.     

Simulating impact of seasonal climatic variation on the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to inorganic fertilizer in sub-humid Ghana

Under low input subsistence farming systems, increased pressure on land use and decreased fallow periods have led to a decline in soil productivity. The soils in sub-humid region of Ghana are generally poor and require mineral fertilizer to increase crop productivity. This paper presents the use of Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) to simulate the long term influence of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on maize (Zea mays L.) yield in Sub-humid Ghana. The APSIM model was evaluated at two sites in Ejura, on a rainfed experiment carried out on maize in 2008 major and minor seasons, under various nitrogen and phosphorus rates. The model was able to reproduce the response of maize to water, N and P, and hence simulated maize grain yields with a coefficient of correlation (R²) of 0.90 and 0.88 for Obatanpa and Dorke cultivars, respectively. A 21-year long term simulation, with different rates of N and P mineral fertilizer application, revealed that moderate application of N (60?kg?N?ha^?1) and 30?kg P ha^?1 improves both the long term average and the minimum yearly guaranteed yield. Variability in grain yield increased with increasing application of N fertilizer in both seasons. Treatments with P fertilizer application shows a similar trend for the major season and reverse trend for the minor season, thereby suggesting an interactive effect with rainfall amounts and distribution. Application of 30?kg P ha^?1 significantly increased the response to N. The response to mineral fertilizer (N and P) applications varied between seasons, suggesting the need to have a range of fertilizer recommendations to be applied based on seasonal weather forecast.     

A model to predict changes in soil moisture,NO3-N content and N uptake by wheat

A simulation model to predict fertilizer N behaviour in a soil-plant (wheat) system has been developed and tested. The model predicts components of field water balance (evaporation, transpiration, drainage and run-off) and changes in soil nitrogen amounts due to N transformations (urea hydrolysis, mineralization, nitrification and volatilization), N movement and plant N uptake using information on N transformation coefficients for the soil, atmospheric evaporative demand (E_pan), leaf area development and root growth characteristics of the crop. The model predicts N uptake by wheat through mass flow using a new simplified crop cover function. The coefficients of correlation between the measured and predicted N uptake by wheat grown under three different moisture regimes in the two years (1987–88 and 1988–89) approached unity. The computed amount of residual NO₃-N in the soil profile at wheat harvest matched well with the measured amount with a root mean square error of 13.7 percent. The close matching of the measured and model predicted components of nitrogen and water balances under three widely different set of irrigation treatments suggests of model's capabilities to help in on-farm N management both under irrigated and rainfed conditions.     

Simulation of nitrogen dynamics and biomass production in winter wheat using the Danish simulation model DAISY

A dynamic simulation model for the soil plant system is described. The model includes a number of main modules, viz., a hydrological model including a submodel for soil water dynamics, a soil temperature model, a soil nitrogen model including a submodel for soil organic matter dynamics, and a crop model including a submodel for nitrogen uptake. The soil part of the model has a one-dimensional vertical structure. The soil profile is divided into layers on the basis of physical and chemical soil characteristics. The simulation model was used to simulate soil nitrogen dynamics and biomass production in winter wheat grown at two locations at various levels of nitrogen fertilization. The simulated results were compared to experimental data including concentration of inorganic nitrogen in soil, crop yield, and nitrogen accumulated in the aboveground part of the crop. Based on this validation it is concluded that the overall performance of the model is satisfactory although some minor adjustments of the model may prove to be necessary.     

Simulation of soil nitrogen dynamics using the SOILN model

A model dealing with transport and transformations of nitrogen in soil is briefly described. The model has a one-dimensional layered structure and considers processes such as plant uptake, mineralization/immobilization, leaching and denitrification. A soil water and heat model provides daily values for abiotic conditions, which are used as driving variables in the nitrogen simulation. In this study, the model was run with data from a polder-soil area in the Netherlands, with winter wheat as the crop. The simulation results showed that if a measured time course of crop nitrogen uptake throughout the growing season is available, mineral-N dynamics in soil can be satisfactorily described with this model. The main problems identified in the simulations were related to the partitioning between above- and below-ground plant-N, and supplying the crop with sufficient N, as given by the measurements.     

Biological nitrogen fixation potential by soybeans in two low-P soils of southern Cameroon

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potential of 12 soybean genotypes was evaluated in conditions of low and sufficient phosphorus (P) supply in two acid soils of southern Cameroon. The P sources were phosphate rock (PR) and triple superphosphate (TSP). The experiment was carried out during two consecutive years (2001 and 2002) at two locations with different soil types. Shoot dry matter, nodule dry matter, and nitrogen (N) and P uptake were assessed at flowering and the grain yield at maturity. Shoot dry matter, nodule dry matter, N and P uptake, and grain yield varied significantly with site and genotypes (P < 0.05). On Typic Kandiudult soil, nodule dry matter ranged from 0.3 to 99.3 mg plant^?1 and increased significantly with P application (P < 0.05). Total N uptake of soybean ranged from 38.3 to 60.1 kg N ha^?1 on Typic Kandiudult and from 18 to 33 kg N ha^?1 on Rhodic Kandiudult soil. Under P-limiting conditions, BNF ranged from ?5.8 to 16 kg N ha^?1 with significantly higher values for genotype TGm 1511 irrespective of soil type. Genotype TGm 1511 can be considered as an important companion crop for the development of smallholder agriculture in southern Cameroon.     

Nitrogen uptake efficiency in maize production using irrigation water high in nitrate

In order to achieve efficient use of nitrogen (N) and minimize pollution potentials, producers of irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) must make the best use of N from all sources. This study was conducted to evaluate crop utilization of nitrate in irrigation water and the effect N fertilizer has on N use efficiencies of this nitrate under irrigated maize production. The study site is representative of a large portion of the Central Platte Valley of Nebraska where ground water nitrate-N (NO₃-N) concentrations over 10 mg L^–1 are common. Microplots were established to accommodate four fertilizer N rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha^–1) receiving irrigation water containing three levels of NO₃-N (0, 10, 20 mg L^–1). Stable isotope¹⁵N was applied as a tracer in the irrigation water for treatments containing 10 and 20 mg L^–1 NO₃-N. Plots that did not receive nitrate in the irrigation water where tagged with¹⁵N fertilizer as a sidedress treatment. Sidedressed N fertilizer significantly reduced irrigation-N uptake efficiencies. When residual N uptake is added to first year plant usage, total irrigation NO₃-N uptake efficiencies are similar to total sidedress N fertilizer uptake efficiencies for our cropping system over the two year period. Efficiency of irrigation-N use depends on crop needs and availability of N from other sources during the irrigation season.     

Intercropping of Wheat and Pea as Influenced by Nitrogen Fertilization

The effect of sole and intercropping of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on crop yield, fertilizer and soil nitrogen (N) use was tested on a sandy loam soil at three levels of urea fertilizer N (0, 4 and 8 g N m⁻²) applied at sowing. The ¹⁵ N enrichment and natural abundance techniques were used to determine N accumulation in the crops from the soil, fertilizer and symbiotic N₂ fixation. Intercrops of pea and wheat showed maximum productivity without the supply of N fertilizer. Intercropping increased total dry matter (DM) and N yield, grain DM and N yield, grain N concentration, the proportion of N derived from symbiotic N₂ fixation, and soil N accumulation. With increasing fertilizer N supply, intercropped and sole cropped wheat responded with increased yield, grain N yield and soil N accumulation, whereas the opposite was the case for pea. Fertilizer N enhanced the competitive ability of intercropped wheat recovering up to 90% of the total intercrop fertilizer N acquisition and decreased the proportion of pea in the intercrop, but without influencing the total intercrop grain yield. As a consequence, Land Equivalent Ratios calculated on basis of total DM production decreased from a maximum of 1.34 to as low as 0.85 with increased fertilizer N supply. The study suggests that pea–wheat intercropping is a cropping strategy that use N sources efficiently due to its spatial self-regulating dynamics where pea improve its interspecific competitive ability in areas with lower soil N levels, and vice versa for wheat, paving way for future option to reduce N inputs and negative environmental impacts of agricultural crop production.     

Dissolved organic nitrogen fluxes and crop yield after long-term crop straw incorporation

The transportation of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from croplands to aquatic ecosystems potentially negatively influences water quality. Sustaining crop yields while decreasing the environmental impacts of the DON from nitrogen fertilizer application is a key challenge in sustainable agriculture. However, few field datasets have measured the lateral transportation of DON via hydrological routes under different nitrogen fertilizer applications, particularly in sloping croplands. Using lysimeter plots (8?×?4 m²), we measured DON loss via overland flow, interflow, and soil erosion under different fertilizer applications under a long-term field experiment. There were four treatments, including no fertilizer (CK), mineral fertilizer (NPK), mineral fertilizer combined with swine manure (MNPK), and mineral fertilizer combined with crop straw (CNPK). In comparison to the NPK treatment, the annual DON loss fluxes via overland flow, interflow, and soil erosion for the MNPK treatment were significantly (P?<?0.05) increased by 68.8, 100.6, and 63.7%, respectively. Conversely, this was significantly decreased by 182.6, ??14.1, and 49.4%, respectively, under the CNPK treatment. Correspondingly, the yield-scaled total DON losses for the MNPK and CNPK treatments were significantly increased by 78.8 and ??18.2% compared to the NPK treatment (0.33?±?0.04 kg N t^?1 grain). Therefore, long-term continuous manure application is associated with an increased risk of DON environmental pollution. Alternatively, the incorporation of crop straw can be recommended as a means of decreasing DON pollution while maintaining crop yield.     

Recovery of 15N-ammonium-15N-nitrate in spring wheat as affected by placement geometry of the fertilizer band

The time course of crop ¹⁵N recovery as affected by placement geometry of nitrogen fertilizer was studied in a field experiment. In frames of30 × 40 cm¹⁵N-ammonium-¹⁵N-nitrate was applied in bands parallel to a single row of growing spring wheat. The fertilizer was banded in nine treatments to a depth of 1.5, 5 or 10 cm combined with a distance from the crop row of 1, 5, 10 or 15 cm, or broad spread on the soil surface. The crop recovery of applied ¹⁵N was calculated on each of 9 sampling dates during the elongation phase. A sigmoid growth function was fitted, and the estimated parameters were analysed statistically. The maximum uptake rate was5.5–6kg N ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, and during an almost linear uptake phase of 7 days the crop recovered 68%of the maximum crop ¹⁵N recovery. Neither the maximum uptake rate nor the maximum crop ¹⁵N recovery was significantly affected by the treatments, whereas the start of the linear uptake phase was affected. By fertilizer placement at 5 cm depth the course of ¹⁵N uptake was delayed 0.5 day cm⁻¹ increase in distance from the crop row. Uptake of ammonium nitrate placed on the soil surface or at a depth of 1.5 cm was delayed approximately 3 days compared to banding at 5 cm depth. This delay corresponded to the time until the first precipitation event. Maximum crop ¹⁵N recovery was obtained before anthesis and 20% of the recovered ¹⁵N was lost during the grain-filling period. In conclusion, the uptake rate of applied nitrogen was unaffected by placement geometry. However, the uptake course of applied nitrogen was delayed both by shallow injection and by increased distance between the crop row and the fertilizer band. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of data from long-term fertilizer experiments to model plant nitrogen uptake

Correct values for plant N-uptake are particularly important when correctly modelling the dynamics of nitrate leaching from agricultural soils. The general abundance of grain yield statistics represent a potential source of information for modelling plant N-uptake, provided that grain yield dry weight can be used to predict the total plant N-uptake (Vold & Søreng, 1997). In this paper, a nonlinear relationship for plant N-content as a function of grain yield dry weight and fertilizer N-level is derived. Data from long-term field experiments of grain dry weight (g N m^-2) and N-content in grains plus straw (g N m^-2) at harvest was used with nonlinear regression to estimate the parameters of the function. The parameters of a linear function were estimated similarly. Both models obtained could equally well describe the harvested N as a function of fertilizer N-level and grain dry weight, but the year-to-year variation of each fertilizer level was best described by the nonlinear model. An independent dataset, consisting of series of dry weight and N-content of grain yield from farm level experiments conducted in the same region (southeast Norway), was used to validate the nonlinear model.     

Modeling nitrogen leaching from Andosols amended with different composted manures using LEACHM

Andosols, distributed widely around the Pacific basin, have unique soil–water and solute transport properties because of their stepwise water retention curves and high anion-adsorption capacity. The model modification and verification for these properties are crucial for evaluating the potential for improved agricultural management (e.g., using organic matter instead of inorganic fertilizer) to reduce N loss from the soils. Here, we improved an existing biogeochemical model, LEACHM, to predict long-term N leaching from Andosols amended with composted manure, without optimization to fit measured field data. The modified model was verified by observations from a 5.6-year lysimeter experiment with different rates of inorganic N fertilizer plus composted manure (100 + 0, 75 + 25, or 25 + 75%) of two different types (cattle, swine) on lettuce, sorghum (as a catch crop), and Chinese cabbage in rotation. Incorporation of Durner’s bimodal model dramatically improved predictions of drainage water volume and evapotranspiration. The non-linear Langmuir adsorption isotherms for soil NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^? improved model performance in simulating crop N uptake and N leaching loss. The RMSE, R², and index of Agreement were evaluated as satisfactory in all lysimeters. Our model explained reasonably well that improved agricultural management decreased in current available N addition rates by 8.82–35.6% and reduced in the yearly averaged NO₃ leaching by 8.70–41.8%. A modified model relating soil hydraulic properties and N adsorption properties could thus accurately predict N leaching under different long-term N application rates/types, and could be useful for supporting agricultural management decisions in cropped Andosols.     

Simulating water and nitrogen behaviour in soils cropped with winter wheat

The SWATNIT model [26], predicting water and nitrogen transport in cropped soils, was evaluated on experimental data of winter wheat for different N treatments. The experiments were monitored at three different locations on different soil types in the Netherlands. Crop growth was simulated using the SUCROS model [11] which was integrated in the SWATNIT model. Both water and nitrogen stress were incorporated. Except for the soil hydraulic properties, all model parameters were taken from literature. The model performance was evaluated on its capability to predict soil moisture profiles, nitrate and ammonia profiles, the time course of simulated total dry matter production and LAI; and crop N-uptake. Results for the simulations of the soil moisture profile indicate that the soil hydraulic properties did not reflect the actual physical behaviour of the soil with respect to soil moisture. Good agreement is found between the measured and simulated nitrate and ammonia profiles. The simulation of the nitrate content of the top layer at Bouwing was improved by increasing the NH ₄ ⁺ -N-distribution coefficient thereby improving the simulation of the NH ₄ ⁺ -N-content in this layer. Deviations between simulated and measured nitrate concentrations also occurred in the bottom layers (60–100 cm) of the soil profile. The phreatic ground water might influence the nitrate concentrations in the bottom layers. Concerning crop growth modelling, improvements are needed with respect to the partitioning of total dry matter production over the different plant organs in function of the stress, the calculation of the nitrogen stress and the total nitrogen uptake of the crop through a better estimate of the N-demand of the different plant organs.     

Measured and simulated nitrogen dynamics in winter wheat and a clay soil subjected to drought stress or daily irrigation and fertilization

The temporal dynamics of N in above- and below-ground parts of winter wheat and the dynamics of soil mineral-N were measured in the field in four treatments in wheat and a grass ley (L). The wheat treatments were: control (C), drought (D), daily irrigation (I), and daily irrigation and fertilization (IF). Nitrogen (20 g m^–2) was supplied as single doses in spring in C, D, and I, and according to a logistic N uptake function in IF. L, which was under establishment, was irrigated and fertilized in the same way as IF, but the total amount applied was only 5.6 g N m^–2. A soil nitrogen simulation model, SOILN, was used to combine crop and soil N data with measured litter decomposition rates and other major parts of the nitrogen cycle to calculate annual N budgets, based on daily model calculations. The dynamic patterns of crop N uptake and soil mineral N were similar in C, D, and I, although different in magnitude, but different in IF. Plant N uptake in C, D, and I was almost nil after anthesis, whereas it continued in IF until harvest. Generally, simulated soil mineral N levels (0–90 cm) agreed reasonably well with measurements on a yearly time scale, whereas their short-term dynamics were less well described by the simulations. We tested the hypothesis that the short-term variations were due to processes not included in the model,i.e., the loss of recently taken up plant N via roots during the growing season, and microbial N immobilization and remineralization processes induced by root-derived carbon. A simulated input to the soil of 150 g C m^–2 in IF, mimicking root-derived C, resulted in an improved agreement between simulated and measured short-term mineral N dynamics. Because of irrigation, net N mineralization of soil organic material in I and IF was about twice that in C and D, while that in L was about three times higher due to irrigation and high soil temperatures. Simulated N leaching during the following winter was highest in L, followed by I, IF, C and D. Measurements and simulations of N amounts in the system indicated that daily fertilization decreased N leaching compared with single-dose fertilization.