Relationship between grain yield and the nitrogen and excess base contents of young barley plants

The usefulness of the organic anion level, measured as excess base (EB), and of the nitrogen content of young barley plants as indices of ultimate grain and dry-matter yields has been examined with several barley cultivars during two seasons at three field sites. One site was unresponsive and the results accordingly showed no relationship between plant N or EB and grain yield in either year. At the other two sites, correlation coefficients of 0.6–0.7 for both N and EB were obtained, indicating that neither was particularly good as a single index of final grain yield. In another experiment where sequential age samples of young plants were taken, much higher correlation coefficients of 0.8–0.9 were obtained. Here EB gave high coefficients at a rather earlier growth stage than did N content. This could be an advantage in any overall scheme, based on soil and plant analyses, for maximising cereal yields by predicting and adjusting N fertiliser requirements.     

The effect of the previous crop on the growth,nitrogen uptake and yield of winter barley intended for malting

Winter barley which received a range of nitrogen rates, was grown at Rothamsted as a test crop after winter oats, winter barley, winter beans, oilseed rape or potatoes, to compare the effects of previous crop on growth and N uptake. In the autumn following the first year crops, the largest amount of residual inorganic N found in the soil was after potatoes, the smallest after oats. Throughout the second season the heaviest crops of barley, which also contained the most N, were after potatoes, and the lightest were after barley. To produce grain with a N concentration of less than 1.8% N (w/w, dry wt), acceptable for malting, it was found that not more than 75 kg N ha⁻¹ after barley and 125 kg N ha⁻¹ after oats, 100 kg N ha⁻¹ after beans and 50 kg N ha⁻¹ after rape or potatoes could be applied. The results demonstrated that barley of acceptable quality for malting can be grown after a break crop, providing that the rate of N fertiliser is suitably adjusted to take account of the residual fertility, but the results do not suggest that residual soil N affects the grain N concentration differently to N applied as fertiliser early in the season.     

Assessment of nitrogen status of soils for cereal crops: Use of plant and soil analysis to diagnose nitrogen status of spring barley

The results of field experiments with spring barley at two locations in 1978 and 1979 were used to evaluate early season measurement of soil mineral N, plant N and chlorophyll, and nitrogen stress as indicators of straw and grain yields and N uptake at maturity. A new definition of N stress based upon rates of N uptake is proposed. Plant N and chlorophyll contents early in the season were positively related (P< 0.001) to final N uptake. Early season N stress (based on growth rate) was negatively related (mainly P< 0.001) to grain yield and, less strongly, to N uptake. There appeared to be some advantage in using rate of N uptake rather than growth rate to define N stress for the purpose of predicting crop final N uptake.     

Chemical tests for potentially available nitrogen in soil

Previous work on the distribution of radioactivity in the organic matter of soils incubated with ¹⁴C labelled ryegrass suggested that the amount of organic matter extracted by barium hydroxide might serve as an index of potentially available N in soil. This suggestion was tested on a set of soils for which the amounts of N mineralised during incubation, and the amounts of N taken up by ryegrass grown in the soils, were known. The amounts of organic C and non-nitrate N extracted by barium hydroxide were correlated fairly closely with the amounts of N released by the soils; polysaccharide (measured as the glucose equivalent) extracted by barium hydroxide was more closely correlated with release of N. The amount of ‘glucose’ extracted was significantly correlated with the yield of unfertilised barley in 36 field experiments (r = 0.83**); the correlation with response of barley to N was smaller (r = ?0.54**). The amount of ‘glucose’ extracted from soil by barium hydroxide increased during air-drying, but once air-dry no further change occurred, even on prolonged storage. Barium hydroxide-extractable ‘glucose’ is proposed as an index of potentially available N in soil. The correlation coefficients between uptake of N by ryegrass grown in pots (14 soils) and soil measurements were 0.70**, 0.65**, 0.70**, 0.67**, and 0.28, respectively, for barium hydroxide-extractable ‘glucose’, N extractable by boiling water, or sodium bicarbonate, ammonia released by hot aqueous calcium hydroxide, and ammonia released by alkaline permanganate. None of the chemical tests were correlated as closely with uptake of N by grass, as the N mineralised when the re-wetted air-dried soil was incubated.     

Supplementary concentrate type affects nitrogen excretion of grazing dairy cows

These experiments were designed to investigate nutritional means of reducing urine N excretion by grazing cows. In experiment 1, 36 Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 92 d in milk were fed either 1 or 6 kg of a high protein concentrate or 6 kg of a low protein concentrate. Pasture dry matter (DM) intake was higher for cows fed 1 kg of high protein concentrate (15.4 +/- 0.62 kg/d) than for cows fed 6 kg of low protein concentrate (13.4 +/- 0.55) but not for cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate (13.9 +/- 0.96). The reduction in pasture intake per kg of concentrate DM ingested amounted to 0.35 and 0.47 kg of pasture DM for cows fed 6 kg of high protein and 6 kg of low protein concentrate, respectively. Milk yield and milk protein yield were higher for cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate than for cows fed 1 kg of high protein concentrate. Cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate had the highest levels of N intake, total N excretion, and urine N excretion. The proportion of N excreted in the urine was lowest for cows fed 6 kg of low protein concentrate. Milk N excretion as a proportion of ingested N was higher for cows fed 6 kg of low protein concentrate than for cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate but not for cows fed 1 kg of high protein concentrate. In experiment 2, 24 Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 211 d in milk were supplemented with 4 kg of rolled barley or 4.32 kg of NaOH-treated barley. Milk yield and milk protein yield tended to be higher for cows fed rolled barley than for cows fed NaOH-treated barley. There was no difference in N intake, fecal N excretion, urinary N excretion, or milk N output between diets. Milk urea N concentration was lower for cows fed rolled barley. Significant positive linear relationships were found between N intake and fecal N excretion, urine N excretion, and milk N excretion in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the relationships between N intake and fecal N excretion and urine N excretion were curvilinear, with urine N excretion increasing at a decreasing rate, and fecal N excretion increasing at an increasing rate, as N intake increased. The N excreted by dairy cows may be partitioned to fecal N if supplements based on high concentrations of fermentable organic matter and low concentrations of N are fed. Refinement of this nutritional strategy may allow reduced N excretion without reducing animal performance.     

Interactions between barley grain processing and source of supplemental dietary fat on nitrogen metabolism and urea-nitrogen recycling in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of methods of barley grain processing and source of supplemental fat on urea-N transfer to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the utilization of this recycled urea-N in lactating dairy cows. Four ruminally cannulated Holstein cows (656.3 ± 27.7 kg of BW; 79.8 ± 12.3 d in milk) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods and a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. Experimental diets contained dry-rolled barley or pelleted barley in combination with whole canola or whole flaxseed as supplemental fat sources. Nitrogen balance was measured from d 15 to 19, with concurrent measurements of urea-N kinetics using continuous intrajugular infusions of [¹⁵N¹⁵N]-urea. Dry matter intake and N intake were higher in cows fed dry-rolled barley compared with those fed pelleted barley. Nitrogen retention was not affected by diet, but fecal N excretion was higher in cows fed dry-rolled barley than in those fed pelleted barley. Actual and energy-corrected milk yield were not affected by diet. Milk fat content and milk fat yield were higher in cows fed dry-rolled barley compared with those fed pelleted barley. Source of supplemental fat did not affect urea-N kinetics. Urea-N production was higher (442.2 vs. 334.3 g of N/d), and urea-N entering the GIT tended to be higher (272.9 vs. 202.0 g of N/d), in cows fed dry-rolled barley compared with those fed pelleted barley. The amount of urea-N entry into the GIT that was returned to the ornithine cycle was higher (204.1 vs. 159.5 g of N/d) in cows fed dry-rolled barley than in pelleted barley-fed cows. The amount of urea-N recycled to the GIT and used for anabolic purposes, and the amounts lost in the urine or feces were not affected by dietary treatment. Microbial nonammonia N supply, estimated using total urinary excretion of purine derivatives, was not affected by diet. These results show that even though barley grain processing altered urea-N entry into the GIT, the utilization of this recycled urea-N for microbial production was unaffected as the additional urea-N, which entered the GIT was returned to ureagenesis.     

三种氮素营养快速诊断方法在油菜上的适宜性分析

通过大田试验研究SPAD仪（叶绿素仪）法、硝酸盐反射仪法和光谱仪法在油菜氮素营养快速诊断上的适宜性。试验设施氮0、60、120、180、240、300和400kg/hm2处理,在八叶期、十叶期和蕾薹期对各处理SPAD值、冠层归一化植被指数（NDVI值）和硝酸盐含量进行检测,并测定各时期油菜生物量和收获期籽粒产量。对不同施氮量下的油菜产量进行显著性检验及方程拟合,并对三种诊断方法各测定指标与氮肥用量、籽粒产量进行相关分析。结果表明,油菜施氮量与籽粒产量具有较好的相关关系,满足进行氮素营养快速诊断要求。三种诊断方法中,硝酸盐反射仪法能在一定程度上反映油菜氮素营养状况,但受油菜生理特性（苗期生物量小、蕾薹期氮素奢侈性吸收等）影响,诊断结果的可信度和稳定性不高。光谱仪法比较适宜于油菜蕾薹期氮素营养诊断,但存在追肥时期过晚、操作不方便等缺点。综合分析认为,SPAD仪法诊断结果稳定,并且具有快速、简便、低耗等优点,适合于油菜氮素营养快速诊断。     

The interaction of nitrogen and potassium nutrition on dry matter and nitrogen yields of the graminae: Spring wheat

Spring wheat was grown in three experiments in controlled environments. Various levels of N and K in factorial combination were given at sowing and at later stages of development. An ancillary experiment, also described here, showed that the main contribution to dry matter yield and N uptake after stem extension was from the ears, much of the latter being at the expense of the leaves and stems. Dry matter and grain yields at maturity reached a maximum at an (N/K)_s atom ratio in the soil of between 2 and 2.5 (where N=total N given and K=total K given + exchangeable K in the soil). The relationships suggest that at (N/K)_s values higher than the optimum, yields would decrease, as with perennial ryegrass (page 999). Comparing the relationships between grain yield g^?-1 N given and N given, and between grain yield and (N/K)_s, shows the importance of balancing the K status of the growth medium (i.e. K given + soil exchangeable K) with N given. Split N and K combinations did not result in increased yields except at the highest levles and when given at or after anthesis (Feekes stage 10.5).     

Assessment of plant biomass and nitrogen nutrition with plant height in early-to mid-season corn

BACKGROUND: The physiological basis for using non‐destructive high‐resolution measurements of plant height through plant height sensing to guide variable‐rate nitrogen (N) applications on corn (Zea mays L.) during early (six‐leaf growth stage, V6) to mid (V12) season is largely unknown. This study was conducted to assess the relationships of plant biomass and leaf N with plant height in early‐ to mid‐season corn under six different N rate treatments. RESULTS: Corn plant biomass was significantly and positively related to plant height under an exponential model when both were measured at V6. This relationship explained 62–78% of the variations in corn biomass production. Leaf N concentration was, in general, significantly and positively related to plant height when both were measured at V6, V8, V10 and V12. This relationship became stronger as the growing season progressed from V6 to V12. The relationship of leaf N with plant height in early‐ to mid‐season corn was affected by initial soil N fertility and abnormal weather conditions. CONCLUSION: The relationship of leaf N concentration with plant height may provide a physiological basis for using plant height sensing to guide variable‐rate N applications on corn. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of ammoniated barley silage on ruminal fermentation, nitrogen supply to the small intestine, ruminal and whole tract digestion, and milk production of Holstein cows

The effect of ammonia on barley silage fermentation characteristics, and the digestion and utilization of ammoniated barley silage by lactating Holstein cows fed three isonitrogenous diets (14.5% CP, DM basis) were examined. Whole plant barley was chopped and treated with anhydrous ammonia (1%, DM basis) at ensiling. Untreated barley silage was supplemented with either canola meal or urea. Cows were fed complete mixed diets (50% silage and 50% concentrate mixture, DM basis). Addition of ammonia increased total N, water-insoluble N, lactic acid, and pH in silage. Based on the application rate, 77.7% of the added ammonia N was recovered, and increased water-insoluble N was equal to 49.8% of added ammonia N. Addition of ammonia to barley silage increased ruminal concentrations of ammonia and propionate, and supplies of nonammonia N, microbial N, and total N to the small intestine. Ruminal effective degradabilities of DM and CP of barley silage and complete mixed diets, and whole tract digestibility of DM and CP of complete mixed diets were not affected by supplemental N source. Milk yield and milk composition of cows fed the ammoniated barley silage were similar to those of cows fed the diets supplemented with canola meal or urea.     

Changes in saccharide,amino acid and S‐methylmethionine content during malting of barley grown with different nitrogen and sulfur status

BACKGROUND: Changes in saccharide, amino acid and S‐methylmethionine (SMM) concentrations and enzyme activities during the malting of barley grown with different nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) supplementation were investigated in order to clarify their relationship with N and S fertiliser levels. RESULTS: Concentrations of N and S in barley grain were significantly increased by the addition of N to the culture soil. Application of N decreased the starch concentration in grain. On the other hand, higher N fertilisation increased the β‐glucan concentration in grain and malt, thus decreasing the accessibility of β‐glucanase to its substrates. Proteolytic enzyme activity was significantly higher in the absence (?N treatment) than in the presence (+N treatment) of N fertiliser, making the concentration of the majority of amino acids in malt slightly higher in the ? N treatment. SMM was synthesised in grain after imbibition, and application of N increased the SMM content in malt. CONCLUSION: Although SMM can be controlled to a certain extent during kilning, a balanced supply of N and S during cultivation can also be helpful for the production of malt with lower SMM concentration. Adequate soil management is desirable to maintain the balance between good agronomic performance and high malt quality. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

The fertiliser nitrogen requirement of cereals grown on sandy soils

The responses to fertiliser‐N of winter wheat and winter barley grown on sandy soils were measured in 72 experiments in England from 1990 to 1994. Yield without fertiliser‐N (Y₀) was c 1.1 t ha⁻¹ greater following root crops than following cereals. Following potato crops given organic manures, Y₀ was c 1.2 t ha⁻¹ greater than following unmanured potato crops, but Y₀ was no greater following sugarbeet to which organic manures had been applied. Only after the two driest winters was there sufficient variation in soil N supply in spring (SNS_s) for this to show a relationship with Y₀. However, Y₀ increased with increasing N mineralisation during the growing season (AM) in the three years it was measured. There was no consistent effect of sowing date on Y₀. Following potatoes, yield at optimum fertiliser‐N (Y_opt) decreased as sowing date was delayed, but this was not so after cereals, sugarbeet or overall. There was no increase in Y_opt with SNS_S or AM, but Y_opt decreased with increasing moisture stress (S) in June. The mean yield response to N_opt (Δ_Y) was c 0.4 and 0.8 t ha⁻¹ smaller following potatoes and sugarbeet respectively than following cereals, but not consistently so as there were large interactions between site, year and previous crop. Following root crops, Δ_Y was c 0.6 and 1.4 t ha⁻¹ less after sugarbeet and potatoes respectively that had been given organic manures. Without the addition of organic manures, Δ_Y following potatoes was similar to that following cereals. Regression on SNS_S and AM accounted for 28 and 15% respectively of the variance in Δ_Y. The optimum economic fertiliser‐N application (N_opt) was similar, at c 140 kg ha⁻¹, following cereals and potatoes. Following sugarbeet, cereal N_opt was only c 110 kg ha⁻¹. The differences according to previous crop reported here are consistent with mineralisation of crop residues on sandy soils being more rapid than on other soils; the potato residues were rapidly mineralised in autumn and lost by leaching over winter. Residues from later‐harvested sugarbeet were mineralised during the growing season of the subsequent cereal crop. Fertiliser‐N requirements were, at c 110–140 kg ha⁻¹, smaller than has been found on other soil types, and less than current recommendations for wheat. Requirements were significantly reduced in years of drought stress. No differences were found in N_opt between wheat and barley. These data do not justify the current advice to invariably reduce fertiliser‐N to cereals following potatoes by 20–25 kg ha⁻¹ on these sandy soils. On average a reduction of c 20 kg ha⁻¹ could be made following sugarbeet, with a further reduction of c 40 kg ha⁻¹ N if manures had been applied to the previous sugarbeet crop. A reduction of 40 kg ha⁻¹ N could also be made where cereals followed a potato crop to which manures had been applied. Further refinements on the basis of measurements of soil mineral N could not be justified. Seasonal variation in N response due to drought stress makes recommendations difficult on these soils. Adopting the fertiliser‐N recommendations proposed here would produce N surpluses to the soil of c 37, 10 and 27 kg ha⁻¹ respectively following cereals, sugarbeet and potatoes when cereal grain is removed but straw incorporated. On farms where straw is removed, N surplus would be largely eliminated. Our recommendation that no reduction in fertiliser‐N application to cereal crops grown on sandy soils should be made following potatoes will not increase fertiliser‐N use and is not expected to increase nitrate leaching. Some reduction in nitrate leaching may be achieved if recommendations following cereal crops and sugarbeet are made in accordance with the results reported here. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Carbon and nitrogen isotope variations in tree-rings as records of perturbations in regional carbon and nitrogen cycles

Increasing anthropogenic pollution from urban centers and fossil fuel combustion can impact the carbon and nitrogen cycles in forests. To assess the impact of twentieth century anthropogenic pollution on forested system carbon and nitrogen cycles, variations in the carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of tree-rings were measured. Individual annual growth rings in trees from six sites across Ontario and one in New Brunswick, Canada were used to develop site chronologies of tree-ring delta 15N and delta 13C values. Tree-ring 615N values were approximately 0.5% per hundred higher and correlated with contemporaneous foliar samples from the same tree, but not with delta 15N values of soil samples. Temporal trends in carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of these tree-rings are consistent with increasing anthropogenic influence on both the carbon and nitrogen cycles since 1945. Tree-ring delta 13C values and delta 15N values are correlated at both remote and urban-proximal sites, with delta 15N values decreasing since 1945 and converging on 1% per hundred at urban-proximal sites and decreasing but not converging on a single delta 15N value in remote sites. These results indicate that temporal trends in tree-ring nitrogen and carbon isotopic compositions record the regional extent of pollution.     

Interactions between soil and fertiliser in the supply of nitrogen to ryegrass grown on 21 soils

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown in pots on 21 UK soils, both with and without fertiliser N. The fertiliser N was applied in six equal applications of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate, each at the rate of 120 mg N per pot. The first application was mixed thoroughly with the soil, while subsequent applications were made in solution to the soil surface, after each of the first five of the six harvests of herbage. In the absence of fertiliser N, the proportion of the total soil N taken up by the plants, including stubble and roots at the sixth harvest, varied between 1.5 and 4.0%. In the presence of fertiliser N, the proportion varied between 2.1 and 4.7%. The apparent recovery of the fertiliser N was calculated from the difference between the amounts of N in the plants that received fertiliser N and in those that did not, expressed as a percentage of the amount applied. The actual recovery of the applied fertiliser N was determined by analysis of the plant material for ¹⁵N. With all soils at the first harvest, the apparent recovery was greater than the actual recovery. When calculated over all six harvests, apparent recovery of the total amount of fertiliser N was generally close to the actual recovery. This difference from the first harvest probably reflected (i) a reduction in the extent of turnover between fertiliser N and soil N when the fertiliser N was applied to the surface and (ii) a virtually complete uptake of available soil N by the end of the experiment, in both the absence and presence of fertiliser N. Differences between the 21 soils in actual recovery were not closely related, either positively or negatively, to a range of measured soil properties. A mean of 17.2% of the labelled fertiliser N was retained in the soil (excluding visible roots) at the end of the experiment. The lowest retention (6.2%) occurred with the soil which had the lowest contents of organic matter and silt plus clay but, with the other soils, the extent of retention varied only between 14.7 and 22.0% of that applied, and was not closely related to contents of total organic matter or macro-organic matter, or to the C:N ratio of the whole soil or the macro-organic matter.     

Prediction by leaf analysis of nitrogen fertilizer required for winter wheat

In 1966 and 1967, 12 experiments on winter wheat tested five rates of N applied in spring as NH₄NO₃. Leaf samples comprising all the above ground vegetation were taken on two dates in spring between 31 March and 18 May from a fixed area of crop grown without fertiliser N; the dry matter yield (DM, kg/ha) and N content (%) were determined. Between the two dates, DM increased and leaf N content decreased. From the response curves for N applied and grain yield, the optimum rate of fertilizer N required for maximum grain yield was obtained. The latter was used as a test of soil N availability and compared with the following values (i) content of N (%) in leaves at each sampling and its rate of decrease—no significant correlation, (ii) yield of leaf DM (kg/ha) at first sampling—no significant correlation, (iii) leaf DM yield at second sampling, significant (r= -0.678), and also rate of increase in DM (kg/ha per day, r= -0.711), (iv) leaf N offtake (kg/ha N) significant at first sampling (r= -0.607), second sampling (r= -0.744) and also rate of increase in N offtake (kg/ha N per day, r= -0.670). Crop growth in spring was related to N supply and it was shown that DM yield, leaf N offtake and their respective rates of increase could be used to assess the availability of N in the soil and to predict the amount of N fertilizer required in spring to obtain maximum grain yield.     

Low nitrogen losses with a new source of nitrogen for cultivation of conifer seedlings

Losses of nitrogen (N) when cultivating plants may cause a number of adverse environmental effects. N losses from conifer nurseries, for instance, may have a considerable impact on the local environment, and studies indicate that the bulk of added N is not recovered in the cultivated plants. This study was conducted to obtain insight into the causes of the low recovery and to test an alternative N fertilizer. Hence, growth of the economically important Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L).) seedlings and the recovery of different forms of added nitrogen (N) were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Containerized seedlings were grown in peat for one summer, with two different N fertilizers, one organic (arginine) and one inorganic (a commercial fertilizer (CF) containing a mixture of ammonium and nitrate) each at an N concentration of 3 mM. At the end of the growth period, some seedlings were labeled with solutions containing either U-[13C6], [15N4]-arginine, (15NH4)2SO4, or K15NO3 supplied to the growth substrate. Labeled seedlings were harvested 1 h, 5 days, and 19 days after tracer addition, and the recovery of each added nitrogen source in both the seedlings and the growth substrate was measured. The retention of the three N forms during discharge of solutions from the growth substrate, peat, was tested in a separate experiment. Arginine-fed seedlings grew better and had higher needle N concentrations than the CF-fed seedlings. Isotopic data showed that the arginine treatment gave significantly higher N recoveries (80%) compared to the CF treatment (50%). The low recovery of N in the CF treatment was largely due to very low recovery (30%) of NO3- -N. The retention of the different N forms during discharge of solutions from the growth substrate was highest for arginine, somewhat lower for NH44+, and very low for NO3-. The high rate of seedling growth and the small nitrogen losses observed when using arginine suggest that this amino acid may be an efficient and environmentally favorable N source for cultivating conifer seedlings.     

Yield of white clover and its fixation of nitrogen as influenced by nutritional and soil factors under controlled environment conditions

White clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Blanca) was grown in 21 UK soils. Yield and N concentration in the herbage (leaf + petiole) were determined at six successive harvests and were related to the supplies of major nutrient elements (as indicated by analysis of the herbage) and to various soil properties. The amount of N₂ fixed was estimated by subtraction of the soil N supply from the total amount in the clover. The results suggest that critical concentrations (i.e. concentrations just less than those required for maximum growth) of K, Ca and S in the leaf + petiole after 4 weeks regrowth were approximately 1.4%, 1.3% and <0.16% respectively. The relationship between herbage yield and concentration of N suggests a critical concentration in leaf + petiole of about 3.5% N; lower values probably reflect sub-optimum rates of N₂ fixation and higher values, a restriction of clover growth per se. A reduction in herbage yield attributable to deficiency of K and/or Ca appeared to occur on some soils at harvests 5 and 6, but for any one soil, yield changed little between harvests 2 and 4 inclusive. Differences in herbage yield and in the amount of N₂ fixed over this period were, therefore, examined in relation to various soil properties. Significant positive correlations were obtained between herbage yield and contents of clay, organic matter, water content at 100 cm tension and cation exchange capacity. The amount of N₂ fixed was less closely correlated than was herbage yield with these soil properties.     

Quantification of uncertainty using Bayesian and bootstrap models to simulate the impact of nitrogen fertilisation on β‐glucan levels in barley

BACKGROUND: β‐Glucans have enjoyed renewed interest as a functional food ingredient, with current attention focused on optimising β‐glucan levels in finished products without compromising final product quality. In order to measure the uncertainty about the level of β‐glucans in barley, two different statistical methods (Bayesian inference and Bootstrap technique) were applied to measured levels of β‐glucan in three different varieties of barley grain (n = 83). RESULTS: The resulting probability density distributions were similar for the full data set and also when applied to smaller sample sizes, highlighting the potential for either method in quantifying the total uncertainty in β‐glucan levels. Bayesian inference was used to model the effect of nitrogen treatment on β‐glucan and protein contents in barley. The model found that a low level of fertilisation (50 kg N ha^?1) did not have a significant effect on β‐glucan or protein content. However, fertilisation above this level did result in an increase in β‐glucan and protein levels, the effect seeming to plateau at 100 kg N ha^?1. In addition, the uncertainty distributions were significantly different for two consecutive years of data, highlighting the potential environmental influence on β‐glucan content. CONCLUSION: The model developed in this study could be a useful tool for processors to quantify the uncertainty about the initial level of β‐glucan in barley and to evaluate the influence of environmental factors, thus enabling them to formulate their ingredient base to optimise levels of β‐glucan without compromising final product quality. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of long-term herbicide use,irrigation and nitrogen fertiliser on soil fertility in an apple orchard

In 1972 an experiment was set up to investigate the long-term effects of herbicide, irrigation and two rates of nitrochalk fertiliser application on soil fertility in a Cox's Orange Pippin apple orchard. Samples taken in 1986 showed that uncultivated soil which had been maintained bare by herbicide had much lower organic C, total N and extractable K and Mg concentrations than soil which had been maintained under grass. Extractable P concentrations were lower in soil under grass than in soil under herbicide. In the absence of grass, soil pH was slightly lower than in its presence. All these effects were much greater at depths above 7·5 cm than below. Irrigation of the grass slightly increased organic C and total N levels at 0–7·5 cm compared with unirrigated grass but had no effect on extractable P, K and Mg. Increasing the fertiliser rate from 63 to 189 kg N ha^?1 had no effect on organic C, total N, extractable P and K. Yet, throughout the soil profile, extractable Mg concentrations were greater at the low than at the high N fertiliser rate. In a seedling growth test on soil taken from the orchard in 1988 (and confirmed to be free from residual herbicide), apple seedlings grown in soil which had previously been under grass grew significantly better than those in soil which had been bare. These differences were ascribed to a greater rate of N mineralisation in the soil formerly under grass. The results of this trial indicate that to safeguard soil fertility it is necessary to maintain a grass cover in the orchard. In addition, fertiliser application on newly planted trees should be adjusted to take account of the presence or absence of grass in the previous soil management treatment.