Efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use under rainfed maize and irrigated wheat at Kadawa,northern Nigeria

Field trials were conducted at Kadawa, northern Nigeria, during 1975–77 to study the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use under maize (Zea mays L.)—wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation; the study also examined the impact of continuous N use on some soil properties. Grain and straw dry matter yields, grain N content, crop N uptake and whole plant N concentration of wheat at different growth stages increased significantly with increasing levels of N application. Per cent increases in mean grain yield of N treated plots over control were 77, 131 and 141 for maize and 195, 308 and 326 for wheat at 60, 120 and 180 kg N per ha levels, respectively. The calculated N rates for maximum yield were 177.5 and 164.0 kg N per ha for maize and wheat, respectively. Short-term beneficial effect of dung on maize yield was ascribed to its additional N supply. Urea and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) were equally good for both maize and wheat; full and split N application gave no significant difference in yield. The values for mean fertilizer N recovery over all the crops were 64, 58 and 44% respectively, at 60, 120 and 180 kg N per ha levels.Nitrogen application at the highest rate (180 kg per ha) reduced the soil pH significantly in the top 40 cm of the soil profile. The magnitude of soil acidification at levels of N below 120 kg per ha was not appreciable in this study. High N application also depleted the soil of its cations at differential rates. Other factors such as N source, time of N application and addition of dung along with N fertilizer did not have much influence on the rate of short-term soil acidification due to N fertilizer use.     

Growth,grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of Mediterranean wheat in soils amended with municipal sewage sludge

The application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural land can improve soil fertility and physical properties, and enhance crop production. This field study was conducted for two consecutive growing seasons to investigate the influence of SS application on winter wheat growth, grain yield, N accumulation, translocation and use, and on trace elements concentrations in soil and wheat plants under Mediterranean conditions. Treatments consisted of three rates of SS, i.e. 20, 40, and 60 Mg dry weight ha^?1 year^?1, one rate of inorganic fertilizer (IF, 120 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 plus 80 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 year^?1), and an unamended control. The application of SS resulted in tall plants with high early dry matter and N accumulation similar to or significantly higher than those obtained with IF. The lowest SS application rate resulted in grain yield similar to that obtained with IF. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in SS treatments was mainly determined by uptake efficiency, which decreased with increasing SS application rate. Values of NUE and biomass production efficiency with the lowest SS rate were similar to those obtained with IF. SS application resulted in increased concentrations of total and DTPA-extractable trace elements in the soil after the first year, but concentrations were much lower than the regulation limits. Concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn in wheat plants did not exceed those obtained with IF. Overall, SS could be considered for use as a fertilizer in wheat production systems in the area, serving also as an alternative method of SS disposal.     

Seeding,nitrogen and irrigation management optimize rice water and nitrogen use efficiency

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Adoption of appropriate agronomic practices, such as optimum seeding and nitrogen (N) rates, in synchronization with proper water management practice could help...     

包裹型缓／控释肥对冬小麦产量、土壤无机氮和氮肥利用效率的影响

采用超大区田间试验,以不施氮、传统氯素管理方式和优化氮素管理方式为对照,研究冬小麦施用包裹型缓／控释肥（包裹肥料）对产量、土壤无机氮和氮肥利用效率的影响,并对冬小麦施用包裹型缓／控释肥效果进行评价,结果表明：与传统氮素管理方式相比,优化氮素管理方式和包裹肥料处理在分别节省了78％和67％的氮肥的条件下,获得了和传统氮素管理方式相似的冬小麦子粒产量;采用氮素优化管理模式和施用包裹肥料显著降低了土壤无机氮残留和氮素表观损失,从而显著提高了氮肥利用率;与优化氮素管理方式相比,施用包裹肥料可一次性基施,省时省力,提高了经济效益。     

钙镁磷肥复式包膜尿素对冬小麦产量和氮肥效率的影响

通过连续 3年 ( 1999～ 2 0 0 0年 )大田试验 ,研究了钙镁磷肥复式包膜尿素对冬小麦产量、氮效率〔包括 :氮素效率比 ( NER) ,氮吸收效率 ( NUp E) ,氮素使用效率 ( NUE)和氮肥利用效率 ( Nf UE)〕的影响。结果表明 ,钙镁磷肥复式包膜尿素与普通尿素的生物量、籽粒和秸秆量均显著大于对照处理 ;氮素使用效率 ( NUE)和氮肥利用率均显著高于对照。包膜尿素处理的产量和氮效率最高 ,其籽粒、秸秆、生物量平均值比普通尿素处理分别高 9.0 9%～15 .0 6 %、13.11%～ 14 .96 %、11.73%～ 14 .99% ,氮肥利用率高 15～ 16个百分点。在本试验条件下 ,相对于通常氮肥施用量 ( 15 0 kg N/hm2 ) ,少量增加氮肥施用量 (氮肥用量增加 8% )对产量和氮效率 ( NE)没有显著影响 ;而大量增加氮肥施用量 (增加 2 0 % ) ,能明显增加小麦产量、吸氮量和氮肥利用率     

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on yield,oil content,nitrogen accumulation and water use of canola (Brassica napus L.)

Effects of N application and water supply on yield, oil content and N accumulation by canola, cultivar Marnoo, grown on a heavy clay soil in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation Region were investigated. Treatments were rainfed (R_f) or watered at a deficit of 50 mm (40–60 mm, I₅₀) beginning in the spring. N treatments were 0, 50, 100 or 200 kg N ha^–1 at sowing or as split applications of 20/80, and 50/50 kg N ha^–1 at sowing and rosette, respectively.Yield (Y_g) ranged from 170 to 520 g m^–2. Irrigation and N increased yield in both years. Grain yields were increased by N application on the irrigated treatments when 100 or 200 kg N ha^–1 was applied. Oil concentrations ranged from a maximum of 46.4% in treatment N₀ to a minimum of 40.6% in treatment N₂₀₀ and was inversely related to seed N concentration. Although fertilizer N decreased oil concentration, it increased the yield of oil.Nitrogen accumulation (N_b) limited yield of all treatments and was described by the equation, Y_g = 806[1-EXP(–0.039*N_b)]. This implied a decrease in yield per unit of N_b at the higher rates of fertilizer addition with consequent increases in grain N concentration.The efficiency of water use in the production of grain (WUE_g) and biomass (WUE_b) were 7.5 and 23 kg ha^–1 mm^–1 respectively. Nitrogen additions increased WUE_g and WUE_b in both seasons. Maximum values of 8.9 (WUE_g 1986) and 26.8 (WUE_b 1987) were measured from treatment N₂₀₀. These data suggest that the crops made efficient use of the applied water.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of boron and nitrogen fertilization on cowpea nodulation,mineral nutrition and grain yield

A two year field study on the effect of nitrogen N and boron B fertilization on the nodulation, mineral nutrition and grain yield of cowpea was carried out in the Nigerian savanna where fairly widespread B deficiency has been reported. Treatments consisted of four levels of N (0, 15, 30 and 60 kg/ha in 1986 and 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg/ha in 1987) and three levels of B (0, 1.5 and 3.0 kg/ha). Cowpea responded positively though nonsignificantly to N fertilization up to 30 kg N/ha. However, N had no effect on the N, P, K and B content of index leaves. Boron application consistently reduced grain yield. Like N, applied B had no effect on the N, P, K concentration of index leaves but increased B concentration highly significantly (P < 0.001). The critical level of B toxicity in index leaves was approximated to be 21pm under field condition. Application of N and B depressed nodulation.     

Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of winter wheat with different soil fertility

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Both the existing soil fertility and fertilizer application have important influences on crop yield and nitrogen (N) use efficiency, but knowledge about their...     

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.     

控释尿素对小麦增产效果与提高氮肥利用率的研究

采用控释尿素和普通尿素两种氮素肥料进行优质小麦郑麦366肥效试验研究。两地试验结果表明：100％控释尿素处理产量最高,为7980kg／hm^2和8290kg／hm^2,与同等氮素用量的普通尿素相比增产12．0％、14．0％;产量随氮肥用量的增加而增加;用量70％控释尿素处理与用量100％普通尿素处理之间相比,产量差异不大,没有达到显著性差异,说明施用控释尿素可以比普通尿素减少1／3的纯氮用量。     

Effects of rate and timing of nitrogen dressings on grain yield formation of winter wheat (T. aestivum L.)

A field experiment with the winter wheat cultivar Donata was carried out on a fine-textured river clay soil in 1978. The rates of nitrogen dressing ranged from 0 to 160 kg N per ha and were split over from one up to three application times: autumn, early spring and late spring.Total above-ground dry matter and grain dry-weight yields ranged from 9.1 to 13.7 tons per ha and from 4.17 to 6.35 tons per ha, respectively. Late top-dressings increased the harvest-index, whereas an autumn dressing had the opposite effect. Number of culms per m², grain weight (mg) and grain number per m² increased from 350 to 430, from 35.5 to 36.8 and from 11 680 to 16 980, respectively, as the nitrogen dosage was raised from 0 to 160 kg N per ha.The linear rate of grain growth ranged from 111 to 172 kg dry matter per ha per day with nitrogen doses from 0 to 160 kg N per ha. Differences in rate of grain growth per unit area were mainly related to number of grains per m². The association between grain number and grain yield was reflected by a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (n = 32). A higher level of nitrogen dressing enhanced the leaf area index and leaf area duration. However, we could not derive an effect of nitrogen on the duration of grain growth.Total nitrogen yield ranged from 71 to 166 kg N per ha and grain nitrogen yield from 54 to 122 kg N per ha with nitrogen dosages of 0 and 160 kg N per ha, respectively. The nitrogen concentration of the grains varied between 1.3 and 2.0 N.An autumn dressing of 40 kg N per ha generally showed only minor effects on yield and yield components. Top dressings during spring resulted in a higher recovery and efficiency of the applied nitrogen. Therefore, it may be concluded from this experiment and literature that on fertile soils an autumn dressing of nitrogen will not be economical, but split-dressings in spring are very beneficial. In particular, a late nitrogen application during the boot stage increased grain number, harvest-index and grain yield as well as protein concentration of the grain.     

小麦高产高效施肥技术研究进展

综述了目前我国在基于地力水平的区域施肥、基于品种特性的作物施肥、基于肥料特性的科学施肥、基于水肥一体化的灌溉施肥、基于精准管理的变量施肥、基于规模化生产的机械施肥等方面的研究进展,以期为现代小麦高产高效施肥技术体系建立提供理论依据。提出现代高效施肥技术应是依据种植区地力水平和作物品种特性,在节水灌溉模式下,采用资源高效利用和环境友好型新型肥料的精准变量机械施肥技术。     

Potential nutrient supply, nutrient utilization efficiencies, fertilizer recovery rates and maize yield in northern Nigeria

Potential N (SN) and P (SP) supplies, N and P utilization efficiencies and fertilizer recovery rates for the northern Guinea Savanna (NGS) agro-ecological zone of Nigeria were derived from data collected on farmers’ fields, and used as input in the QUantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model. The potential N supply ranged from 7 to 56 kg N ha⁻¹, with a mean of 25 kg N ha⁻¹, while SP ranged from 2 to 12 kg P ha⁻¹ with a mean of 5 kg P ha⁻¹. Both SN (CV = 42%) and SP (CV = 57%) were highly variable between farmers’ fields. Deriving potential nutrient supply from ‘a’ values gives lower estimates. The empirical equation in QUEFTS that estimates SN ( ) sufficiently predicted the SN of soils in the NGS (RMSE = 8.0 kg N ha⁻¹ index of agreement (IOA) = 0.81). The SP equation () predicted moderately potential P supply (RMSE = 6.80 kg P ha⁻¹, IOA = 0.54). When N or P is maximally accumulated in the plant (i.e., least efficiently utilized), the utilization efficiency was 21 kg grain kg⁻¹ N taken up and 97 kg grain kg⁻¹ P taken up. When these nutrients were maximally diluted in the plant (i.e., most efficiently utilized), the utilization efficiency was 70 kg grain kg⁻¹ N taken up and 600 kg grain kg⁻¹ P taken up. The range in N recovery fraction (NRF) of N fertilizer applied was from 0.30 to 0.57, with a mean of 0.39, while the P recovery fraction (PRF) ranged from 0.10 to 0.66 with a mean of 0.24. Although SP was moderately predicted, when QUEFTS model input parameters were adjusted for the NGS, the model sufficiently (IOA = 0.83, RMSE = 607 kg DM ha⁻¹) estimated maize grain yield in the NGS of Nigeria. The original QUEFTS model however, gave better predictions of maize grain yield as reflected by the lower RMSE (IOA = 0.84, RMSE = 549 kg DM ha⁻¹). Consequently, QUEFTS is a simple and efficient tool for making yield predictions in the NGS of northern Nigeria.     

Effect of a new nitrification inhibitor (wax coated calcium carbide) on transformations and recovery of fertilizer nitrogen by irrigated wheat

The effectiveness of wax coated calcium carbide to provide a slow release of acetylene to inhibit nitrification and denitrification in soil was evaluated in a field experiment with irrigated wheat (cv. Condor) grown on a red brown earth in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation Region. The effect of the inhibitor treatments on biomass and grain yield was determined in 25 m × 3 m plots, and the effect on recovery, in the plant-soil system, of urea-N applied at sowing was determined in 0.3 m × 0.3 m microplots using a¹⁵N balance technique. The inhibitor limited ammonium oxidation, prevented nitrogen loss by denitrification for 75 days, increased N accumulation by the wheat plants, increased grain N and resulted in a 46% greater recovery of applied nitrogen in the plant-soil system at harvest. However, the inhibitor treatment did not increase grain yield because of waterlogging at the end of tillering and during stem elongation.     

Initial and residual effects of nitrogen fertilizers on grain yield of a maize/bean intercrop grown on a Humic Nitosol and the fate and efficiency of the applied nitrogen

Initial and residual effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizers on grain yield of a maize/bean intercrop grown on a deep, well-drained Humic Nitosol (66% clay, 3% organic carbon) were evaluated. Enriched (¹⁵N) N fertilizer was used to study the fate of applied N in two seasons: using urea (banded) at 50 kg N ha^–1 in one season, and¹⁵N-enriched urea (banded), calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN, banded), and urea supergranules (USG, point placement) were applied in the other season (different field) at 100 kg N ha^–1. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly (P = 0.05) increased equivalent maize grain yield in each season of application with no significant differences between N sources, i.e., urea, CAN, and USG. Profitmaximizing rates ranged from 75 to 97 kg N ha^–1 and value: cost ratios ranged from 3.0 to 4.8. Urea gave the highest value: cost ratio in each season. Most (lowest measurement 81%) of the applied N was accounted for by analyzing the soil (to 150 cm depth) and plant material. Measurements for urea, CAN, and USG were not significantly different. The high N measurements suggest low losses of applied N fertilizer under the conditions of the study. Maize plant recovery ranged from 35 to 55%; most of this N (51–65%) was in the grain. Bean plant recovery ranged from 8 to 20%. About 34–43% of the applied N fertilizer remained in the soil, and most of it (about 70%) was within the top soil layer (0–30 cm). However, there were no significant equivalent maize grain increases in seasons following N application indicating no beneficial residual effect of the applied fertilizers.     

Effect of different nitrogen levels,plant population and soil nutrient status on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) in different ecological zones of Nigeria

Field studies on the effect of nitrogen levels, plant population and soil nutrient status on maize yield and yield components at eight different sites representing six different ecological maize growing zones of Nigeria conducted during 1976, 1977 and 1978 indicated that N significantly influenced yield at six of the eight sites, NIFOR, Umudike and Uyo (rain forest zone), Mokwa and Samaru (Savanna zone) and Riyom (derived savanna zone). Optimum N required for maize varies between 50 and 100 kgN in the different zones. There was no response to spacing except at Umudike, Uyo and Riyom, and no significant interaction between N and spacing at any location. Nitrogen application significantly influenced earweight at Ikenne, NIFOR, Umudike, Uyo and Mokwa. Nitrogen application had a significant effect on the number of cobs at NIFOR, Uyo and Mokwa, while spacing significantly influenced number of cobs at all locations except Uyo. Husk weight was significantly increased by nitrogen application at four locations, NIFOR, Uyo, Mokwa and Samaru, but spacing had no effect on this yield component in any of the other locations except Umudike. There was an N by spacing interaction on husk weight at Umudike and Mokwa. Nitrogen application significantly influenced lodging at tasseling at Uyo, Mokwa and Riyom, whilst there was a significant effect of spacing at Uyo and Samaru. At harvest, lodging was not influenced by N application but spacing significantly affected lodging at Ibadan and NIFOR. Both N application and spacing had no significant effect on shelling percentage at any location. The high correlation between relative yield and available Zn(r = 0.77), Cu (r = 0.63) and Fe (r = ? 0.66) of the soil at all the locations has shown that:

1. other nutrients besides N, P and K affected maize yield, therefore the inclusion of other nutrients besides N, P and K in the fertilizer recommendation for maize should be encouraged;
2. different levels of NPK fertilizer plus other nutrients are required in each ecological zone and this can be determined by soil testing.