Yield responses of crops to changes in environment and management practices: Model sensitivity analysis. I. Maize

YIELD, a parametric crop production model, employs climatic data to calculate actual and potential yield for various crops and includes formulations for specific crop and growth stage effects. The objective was to demonstrate the sensitivity of YIELD for grain corn (maize) to changes in various environmental and decision-making inputs. Five temperature, five solar radiation, six relative humidity regimes, five water application schemes, and four irrigation frequencies were included in this study. The effects of different soil types and wind regimes on crop water requirements were investigated. The model output includes crop yield, water use efficiency, and management efficiency. Among the results, yield decreased on the average by 3.9% per one degree (C) increase in air temperature. A 1% change in solar radiation resulted in an average of 1% change in yield. Similar changes in relative humidity caused a yield change of about 0.8%.     

Spatial and technological variability in the carbon footprint of durum wheat production in Iran

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to quantify the spatial and technological variability in life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, also called the carbon footprint, of durum wheat production in Iran.

Methods

The calculations were based on information gathered from 90 farms, each with an area ranging from 1 to 150 ha (average 16 ha). The carbon footprint of durum wheat was calculated by quantifying the biogenic GHG emissions of carbon loss from soil and biomass, as well as the GHG emissions from fertilizer application and machinery use, irrigation, transportation, and production of inputs (e.g., fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides). We used Spearman’s rank correlation to quantify the relative influence of technological variability (in crop yields, fossil GHG emissions, and N₂O emissions from fertilizer application) and spatial variability (in biogenic GHG emissions) on the variation of the carbon footprint of durum wheat.

Results and discussion

The average carbon footprint of 1 kg of durum wheat produced was 1.6 kg CO₂-equivalents with a minimum of 0.8 kg and a maximum of 3.0 kg CO₂-equivalents. The correlation analysis showed that variation in crop yield and fertilizer application, representing technological variability, accounted for the majority of the variation in the carbon footprint, respectively 76 and 21%. Spatial variation in biogenic GHG emissions, mainly resulting from differences in natural soil carbon stocks, accounted for 3% of the variation in the carbon footprint. We also observed a non-linear relationship between the carbon footprint and the yield of durum wheat that featured a scaling factor of ?2/3. This indicates that the carbon footprint of durum wheat production (in kg CO₂-eq kg^?1) typically decreases by 67% with a 100% increase in yield (in kg ha^?1 year^?1).

Conclusions

Various sources of variability, including variation between locations and technologies, can influence the results of life cycle assessments. We demonstrated that technological variability exerts a relatively large influence on the carbon footprint of durum wheat produced in Iran with respect to spatial variability. To increase the durum wheat yield at farms with relatively large carbon footprints, technologies such as site-specific nutrient application, combined tillage, and mechanized irrigation techniques should be promoted.

     

Analysis of a large dataset of mycorrhiza inoculation field trials on potato shows highly significant increases in yield

An increasing human population requires more food production in nutrient-efficient systems in order to simultaneously meet global food needs while reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to enhance crop yield, but their efficiency has yet to be demonstrated in large-scale crop production systems. This study reports an analysis of a dataset consisting of 231 field trials in which the same AMF inoculant (Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198) was applied to potato over a 4-year period in North America and Europe under authentic field conditions. The inoculation was performed using a liquid suspension of AMF spores that was sprayed onto potato seed pieces, yielding a calculated 71 spores per seed piece. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant increase in marketable potato yield (ANOVA, P?<?0.0001) for inoculated fields (42.2 tons/ha) compared with non-inoculated controls (38.3 tons/ha), irrespective of trial year. The average yield increase was 3.9 tons/ha, representing 9.5 % of total crop yield. Inoculation was profitable with a 0.67-tons/ha increase in yield, a threshold reached in almost 79 % of all trials. This finding clearly demonstrates the benefits of mycorrhizal-based inoculation on crop yield, using potato as a case study. Further improvements of these beneficial inoculants will help compensate for crop production deficits, both now and in the future.     

Carbon isotope discrimination at vegetative stage as an indicator of yield and water use efficiency of spring wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum)

A field experiment was conducted to investigate if carbon isotope (¹³C) discrimination () measured at the vegetative stage of spring wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) is related with the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) at ripening. A line source sprinkler irrigation system exposed the wheat genotypes to different watering regimes, from rainfed to full irrigation and thereby increased the range in yield and WUE attainable in the four genotypes studied. The results indicated that values measured at the late stem elongation stage 60 days after planting (DAP), showed strong positive correlation with total dry matter yield (r=0.732^***), and a highly significant negative correlation with WUE (r=–0.755^***) measured at ripening 105 DAP. The data suggest that the imprints of measured at vegetative growth stage persists throughout the entire growth period, until maturity. Subject to confirmation from additional studies in other crops and locations, early measurements of may prove a useful tool for rapid and early screening of cultivars, for high yield and high WUE.     

Grain zinc, iron and protein concentrations and zinc-efficiency in wild emmer wheat under contrasting irrigation regimes

Micronutrient malnutrition, and particularly deficiency in zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), afflicts over three billion people worldwide, and nearly half of the world’s cereal-growing area is affected by soil Zn deficiency. Wild emmer wheat [Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn.) Thell.], the progenitor of domesticated durum wheat and bread wheat, offers a valuable source of economically important genetic diversity including grain mineral concentrations. Twenty two wild emmer wheat accessions, representing a wide range of drought resistance capacity, as well as two durum wheat cultivars were examined under two contrasting irrigation regimes (well-watered control and water-limited), for grain yield, total biomass production and grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations. The wild emmer accessions exhibited high genetic diversity for yield and grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations under both irrigation regimes, with a considerable potential for improvement of the cultivated wheat. Grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations were positively correlated with one another. Although irrigation regime significantly affected ranking of genotypes, a few wild emmer accessions were identified for their advantage over durum wheat, having consistently higher grain Zn (e.g., 125 mg kg^?1), Fe (85 mg kg^?1) and protein (250 g kg^?1) concentrations and high yield capacity. Plants grown from seeds originated from both irrigation regimes were also examined for Zn efficiency (Zn deficiency tolerance) on a Zn-deficient calcareous soil. Zinc efficiency, expressed as the ratio of shoot dry matter production under Zn deficiency to Zn fertilization, showed large genetic variation among the genotypes tested. The source of seeds from maternal plants grown under both irrigation regimes had very little effect on Zn efficiency. Several wild emmer accessions revealed combination of high Zn efficiency and drought stress resistance. The results indicate high genetic potential of wild emmer wheat to improve grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations, Zn deficiency tolerance and drought resistance in cultivated wheat.     

未来10年黄土高原气候变化对农业和生态环境的影响

利用区域气候模式PRECIS输出的未来A2和B2气候情景及基准气候时段逐日资料,选择生态环境极其脆弱的黄土高原为研究区,分析了未来10a黄土高原气候变化特征及其对主要农作物和生态环境的影响。结果表明,未来10a,黄土高原光热资源增加,降水量减少。增温将对冬小麦和春玉米产量影响较大,对马铃薯产量的影响程度可能较小,但降水量减少对主要农作物的产量都有较大影响。在主要作物品种不发生较大变化的前提下,作物生育期太阳辐射和积温增加可能导致生育期需水量增加10%-15%,冬小麦、春玉米和马铃薯的播期分别延迟或提前1-3d,收获期提前1-2d,生育期缩短3-5d,可能引起冬小麦和春玉米气候产量下降50%-100%。未来10a,降水量减少可能导致草地盖度的增幅下降和人工林地稀疏化,引起黄土高原片状水力侵蚀程度下降。但突发性暴雨洪水和土地利用现状改变可能增强切沟溯源冲蚀能力,增加了黄土高原水土流失和农田及道路被冲毁的风险。     

滴灌频率和灌水量对榆林沙土马铃薯产量、品质和水分利用效率的影响

针对陕北榆林沙土马铃薯农田灌溉不合理的问题,采用滴灌水肥一体化技术,设置4 d(D₁)、8 d(D₂)和10 d(D₃)3个滴灌频率及60%ET_c(W₁,ET_c为作物需水量)、80%ET_c(W₂)和100%ET_c(W₃) 3个灌水量水平,共9个处理,在生育期内对马铃薯生长、产量和品质等指标进行观测,分析马铃薯各指标对不同灌水处理的响应规律.结果表明: 同一滴灌频率下,W₃处理的株高、叶面积指数、干物质、产量和经济效益高于W₁和W₂处理;W₁处理的灌溉水利用效率(IWUE)最高,而水分利用效率受灌水量的影响不显著;W₃处理下产量达43442 kg·hm^-2,比W₁和W₂处理分别高23.3%和11.6%;W₃处理下纯收益达23492元·hm^-2,比W₁和W₂分别高40.4%和18.7%;W₃处理的块茎淀粉和维生素C含量最大,还原糖含量最小,分别为14.4%、18.54 mg·(100 g)^-1 FW和0.7%.相同灌水量下,低、中灌水水平下D₁处理的产量、IWUE、淀粉和维生素C含量最高,还原糖含量最低;高灌水水平下D₂处理的产量、IWUE、纯收益、淀粉和维生素C含量最高,还原糖含量最低,分别为46572 kg·hm^-2、23.04 kg·m^-3、26622元·hm^-2、14.6%、19.53 mg·(100 g)^-1 FW和0.7%.从滴灌频率和灌水量的交互作用来看,D₂W₃的产量和品质均达到最高;主成分分析法得出D₂W₃处理得分最高.因此,D₂W₃(8 d,100%ET_c)处理高产优质,且水分利用效率较高,为最佳滴灌频率和灌水量.研究结果可为陕北榆林沙土马铃薯高产高效优质生产中灌溉制度的制定提供依据.     

灌水模式对冬小麦光合特性、水分利用效率和产量的影响

试验于2013—2014和2014—2015年连续2个生长季在自动控制干旱棚内的隔离池中进行,拔节期设3个灌水梯度,灌水量分别为0(J_0)、37.5(J_1)、75 mm(J_2),扬花期设3个灌水梯度,灌水量分别为0(F_0)、37.5(F_1)、75 mm(F_2),灌浆期所有处理均按75 mm灌溉,共9个处理,研究不同灌溉模式对小麦中后期不同生育阶段植株生长、耗水量、水分利用效率、光合特性和产量构成因素的影响.结果表明:拔节期干旱(0和37.5 mm)显著降低了小麦扬花期的净光合速率和拔节后的叶面积,扬花期的灌水量直接影响扬花期后的旗叶净光合速率;拔节期干旱扬花期补水和扬花期干旱灌浆期补水都可以有效提高植株的干物质量;拔节期灌水量越多,全生育期耗水量越大;除J_1F_2外,全生育期灌水量越大,耗水量越大,产量也越高;J_1F_2处理产量和水分利用效率最高.扬花期充足的灌水量使J_1F_2处理具有较高的花后旗叶净光合速率,此期补偿性灌溉加快了干物质积累,也保证了较高的穗粒数,使其最终产量高于J_2F_2处理或与之持平,同时J_1F_2拔节期较低的灌水量降低了小麦生育中后期的耗水量,其水分利用效率也显著高于其他处理.综上,J_1F_2是小麦生育中期理想的水分处理组合.     

施氮量对滴灌冬小麦冠层垂直结构特征、粒叶比及经济效益的影响

为进一步优化新疆滴灌小麦施肥技术,在大田滴灌条件下,采用单因素随机区组设计,共设置0 (N₀)、104(N₁)、173(N₂)、242 kg·hm^-2(N₃)4个施氮水平,研究不同施氮量对冬小麦花期叶、茎垂直分布及形态特征、冠层温湿度、粒叶比、产量及经济效益的影响.结果表明: 施氮处理较未施氮处理冬小麦各叶位叶长、叶宽均显著增加,株高变幅为65.57～81.58 cm;随施氮水平的提高,叶面积指数、各茎节粗均呈先升后降的变化趋势,在N₂处理达到峰值,分别为5.48和0.49 cm;冠层温、湿度日变化分别呈“凸”、“凹”型变化,温度表现为N₀>N₁>N₂>N₃,湿度变化趋势相反,≥35 ℃高温日持续时数随施氮量增大而缩短(缩短1～3.5 h不等);各施氮处理间粒叶比仅N₁、N₃间差异显著;产量及经济效益均以N₂处理最高,较N₀、N₁、N₃处理分别高32.8%、12.6%、5.2%和77.7%、5.4%、4.2%.本试验条件下,滴灌冬小麦施氮量控制在173 kg·hm^-2左右,冬小麦叶型、株型特征良好,冠层温湿度适宜,产量、经济效益高.     

Infrared Warming Reduced Winter Wheat Yields and Some Physiological Parameters,Which Were Mitigated by Irrigation and Worsened by Delayed Sowing

Winter wheat has a central role in ensuring the food security and welfare of 1.3 billion people in China. Extensive previous studies have concluded that winter wheat yields would decrease with higher temperatures, owing to warming-induced soil drying or shortening of phenophase. Temperature in China is predicted to increase by 1–5°C by 2100, which may greatly impact plant production and cause other negative effects. We performed a manipulative field experiment, creating diverse growth regimes for wheat by infrared radiation (IR) warming day and night, including IR warming only (DW), IR warming + delayed sowing dates (DS), IR warming + increased irrigation (IW), and a control (CK). The results show that IR warming increased daily average wheat canopy and soil temperatures by 2.0°C and 2.3°C, respectively. DW was associated with an advanced maturity of 10 days and yield reduction of 8.2%. IR-warming effects on the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat varied with season as well as significant differences were found in the booting stage. DS represented a worsened situation, lowering yield per plant by 16.4%, with a significant decline in aboveground biomass and functional leaf area. Wheat under DS showed double-peak patterns of diurnal gas exchange during booting stages and, consequently, lower photosynthetic capacity with high transpiration for cooling. Significantly lower actual water use efficiency and intrinsic water use efficiency from jointing to anthesis stages were also found under DS. However, IW had no significant difference from CK, irrespective of yield and photosynthesis. Therefore, we concluded that delayed sowing date may not be a good choice for winter wheat, whereas a thoroughly-watered wheat agroecosystem should be promoted in the context of global warming.     

太阳辐射减弱对水稻光合生理特性和中微量元素积累的影响

近年来雾霾等大气环境污染问题突出,气溶胶导致到达地表的太阳辐射强度降低,对农作物生长造成了较大影响。为了探讨太阳辐射强度降低对粮食作物生理特性和矿质元素营养的影响,本研究以‘南粳5055’水稻品种为供试材料,采用田间随机区组设计,通过不同程度遮光处理模拟弱光环境(CK,不遮光对照;Y₁、Y₂遮光率分别为19%、45%),研究了在水稻关键生育期(拔节期、抽穗期、灌浆期)内叶绿素含量(SPAD)、叶面积指数(LAI)、叶片净光合速率、产量和籽粒中、微量金属元素(Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn、Mn、Cu)含量的响应特征。结果表明: 全生育期内遮光处理抑制了水稻光合作用产物的合成,降低了叶面积指数;但在生育前期对叶绿素含量无显著影响,在生育后期则显著增加。两种遮光处理下水稻的千粒重较CK分别降低了14.4%和18.4%,结实率降低了4.3%和12.9%,从而导致水稻产量下降,且随着遮光程度增加,水稻减产率加大,产量分别下降了58.5%和66.4%。遮光处理籽粒糙米和颖壳中金属元素含量升高,尤其微量元素含量显著上升。可见,遮光对水稻生长产生了不利影响,最终使其减产,并使Cu、Mn等重金属元素含量增加,这可能造成污染风险进而对人体健康造成威胁,因此,太阳辐射减弱对作物产量和品质的影响需要综合评价。     

Effect of crop residue management on the yields of different crops and on soil properties

The effects of chopped (6–9 cm) and unchopped (long) crop residues of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) in corn (Zea mays L.)— wheat and rice-wheat rotations on grain yield and soil properties were investigated in 27 field experiments during 9 years. Experiments on chopped wheat residue involved the treatments of two main plots with residue incorporation at 0 and 4 t/ha before sowing of corn and wheat and having subplots with 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha. The results obtained for 4 years showed that the incorporation of wheat residue not only improved the soil physicochemical properties but also increased the grain and stover yields of corn significantly. The yield obtained with 80 kg N in conjunction with 4 t/ha chopped wheat residue was identical to that with 120 kg N/ha alone. But the wheat yield was depressed significantly upon the incorporation of wheat residue before the sowing of wheat in all the years of investigation.The experiments on the management of unchopped wheat residue in corn-wheat rotation and of unchopped wheat (6 t/ha) and rice (12 t/ha) residues in rice-wheat rotation, involved three main treatments: physical removal, in-situ incorporation and in-situ burning of residues. Main treatments were tested at 60, 120 and 180 kg N/ha level over 5 years. Irrespective of N application, the residue management treatments had non-significant effects on the succeeding crop yield in all the years. Burning of residue improved the yield by about 0·2 t/ha, whereas residue incorporation did not affect the yield either of corn or rice. On the other hand, the wheat yield was depressed by 0·1–0·2 t/ha in both the rotations.The effect of applied N irrespective of residue management was significant in some years up to the level of 120 kg and in others, 180 kg N/ha.     

Optimization of water and nitrogen application to menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) through sugarcane trash mulch in a sandy loam soil of semi-arid subtropical climate

Studies were carried out to optimize the use of water and nutrients by the crop with three moisture regimes [0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 irrigation water:cumulative pan evaporation (IW:CPE) ratios], two variables of organic mulch (control and sugarcane trash at 7 t/ha) and three levels of nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg/ha). Soil moisture regimes maintained at 1.2 IW:CPE ratio significantly increased the crop growth and herb and essential oil yields as compared with that of 0.9 IW:CPE ratio. The increase in herb yield due to 1.5 and 1.2 IW:CPE ratios was recorded to be 28.5% and 19%, respectively, over the irrigation given at 0.9 IW:CPE ratio, with the corresponding increase in essential oil yield to the extent of 23.5% and 15.5%. Interaction effect of moisture regimes and nitrogen rates indicated that increasing levels of irrigation at the highest level of N (200 kg/ha) improved essential oil yield of the crop. Application of N at 200 kg/ha in the mulched plots significantly enhanced the N uptake by the crop and essential oil yield over the control and 100 kg N/ha applied in the mulched/or unmulched plots and 200 kg N/ha applied in the unmulched plots. Application of organic mulch and nitrogen at 200 kg/ha improved the water use efficiency (WUE) in menthol mint crop. Higher moisture regimes maintained up to 1.2 IW:CPE ratio increased the WUE. The quality of essential oil in terms of its major constituent, menthol, improved slightly with 1.2 IW:CPE ratio as compared to 0.9 and 1.5 IW:CPE ratios at first and second harvests of the crop. It is recommended that menthol mint crop could be grown profitably by providing 16 irrigations, that is 80 cm water (based on 1.2 IW:CPE ratio) and nitrogen at 200 kg/ha in the sugarcane trash mulched plots, which could give a highest benefit:cost ratio from menthol mint cropping.     

不同水肥耦合下双季稻氮磷吸收、利用与流失差异

为优化双季稻水肥管理措施,在福建省东部双季稻区设置田间径流小区试验,研究了T₀(对照,未施肥+常规灌溉)、T₁[习惯施肥(273 kg N·hm^-2, 59 kg P·hm^-2, 112 kg K·hm^-2)+常规灌溉]、T₂[优化施肥(240 kg N·hm^-2, 52 kg P·hm^-2, 198 kg K·hm^-2)+常规灌溉]和T₃(优化施肥+节水灌溉)4种水肥耦合处理下双季稻产量、养分吸收利用及田面水氮、磷流失变化。结果表明: 与T₀相比,T₁、T₂和T₃处理早稻稻谷产量显著提高了0.7、1.0和1.1倍,晚稻稻谷产量显著提高了0.9、1.1和1.0倍;T₁、T₂和T₃处理早、晚稻植株地上部分,尤其稻谷氮、磷吸收量增加显著,早稻稻谷氮吸收量分别增加1.1、1.2和1.2倍,磷吸收量增加0.9、1.4和1.6倍,晚稻稻谷氮吸收量增加0.8、1.0和1.0倍,磷吸收量增加0.7、0.9和0.9倍。T₃比T₁处理早稻氮、磷肥农学利用率分别显著增加71.1%和69.2%,晚稻分别显著增加26.4%和25.0%,但田面水可溶性总氮流失量减少了16.0%,并以硝态氮流失为主;T₂与T₃处理早晚稻氮、磷肥农学利用率差异均不显著。本试验中的优化水肥管理措施(T₃)既能促进水稻氮、磷吸收利用,提高双季稻产量,又能降低早稻田面水氮素尤其是硝态氮的流失。本研究可为福建省东部双季稻区水肥利用管理和氮、磷面源污染防治提供理论支持。     

Recovery of 15N-labeled urea and soil nitrogen dynamics as affected by irrigation management and nitrogen application rate in a double rice cropping system

A sophisticated soil microcosm system and ¹⁵N-labeled urea were used to investigate nitrogen (N) use efficiency and soil N dynamics in a rice monoculture system in two successive seasons. Topsoil (0 cm?C20 cm) and subsoil (20 cm?C50 cm) samples were collected from a traditional double rice cropping field in the Jiangxi Province, China, and these soil samples were derived from Quaternary red clay. Treatments were randomly assigned with two irrigation regimes and three N application rates (no application control, 80% traditional rate and 100% traditional rate noted as N0, N1 and N2, respectively). The levels of ¹⁵N recovery of plants, ¹⁵N and N remaining in soil were determined. Moreover, the N dynamic of soil solution from different layers of the soil profile was surveyed. The results showed that the effects of irrigation management and N application rate varied in different rice growing seasons. Irrigation regimes had remarkable effects on grain yield and chemical ¹⁵N fertilizers (CF-¹⁵N) uptake. When compared to flood irrigation (FI), the shallow water depth with wetting and drying (WD) increased grain yield up to 5.7%?C20%. Although the highest grain yield was obtained with reduced N application level, both N apparent recovery (NAR) and ¹⁵N use efficiency (the percentage of plant N uptake derived from applied N, %Ndfan) significantly decreased with increasing N inputs. However, the interaction between irrigation management and N application rate on grain yield and N use efficiency (NUE) of CF-¹⁵N were not significant. A survey of soil solutions every 5 days indicated that NH ₄ ⁺ -N was the main residual form of N, and high NH ₄ ⁺ -N leaching was observed. When compared to FI, WD decreased vertical NH ₄ ⁺ -N and TN leaching, especially at 10?C50 cm depths of soil profile in the second season. NH ₄ ⁺ -N was the main N residual form in the soil profile. Therefore, in this study, the WD irrigation regime and reduced rate (N1) was the optimal irrigation and fertilizer management strategy to increase the NUE of CF-N, increase the after effects of CF-¹⁵N, decrease leaching loss of CF-¹⁵N and minimize the shallow groundwater pollution risk, which were all beneficial for the ecological environment.     

Effect of coupled reduced irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on soil mite community composition in a wheat field

Groundwater and nitrogen fertilizer overuse severely threatens crop productions; thus, current ecological agriculture requires low irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer inputs. The effects of combined reduced irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer addition on soil organism (e.g., mite) community and biodiversity remain poorly understood. We analyzed soil mite community composition, wheat grain yield, and soil characteristics in a 10‐year manipulation experiment with two levels of irrigation (reduced and conventional irrigation) and five nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 70, 140, 210, and 280 kg N/ha). Reduced irrigation (20% reduction, from 280 to 220 mm) and nitrogen fertilizer (25% reduction, from 280 to 210 kg N/ha) addition did not significantly influence soil mite community and wheat yield. The relative abundances of fungivores and predators showed negative quadratic relationships with wheat yield, while that of plant parasites showed a positive relationship. The relationships between soil mite trophic groups and wheat yield revealed that we can evaluate the impacts of reduced irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer addition from the perspective of soil fauna. Soil mite community composition was altered by soil abiotic factors prior to reduced irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer addition. Overall, moderate reductions of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer may not threaten to soil mite community and diversity or decrease crop production; in contrast, such reductions will benefit mite community development and the sustainable agriculture.     

Nutrient management programs,nitrogen fertilizer practices,and groundwater quality in Nebraska's Central Platte Valley (U.S.), 1989-1998

Given the societal concern about groundwater pollution from agricultural sources, public programs have been proposed or implemented to change farmer behavior with respect to nutrient use and management. However, few of these programs designed to change farmer behavior have been evaluated due to the lack of detailed data over an appropriate time frame. The Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) in Nebraska has identified an intensively cultivated, irrigated area with average groundwater nitrate-nitrogen (N) levels about double the EPA"s safe drinking water standard. The CPNRD implemented a joint education and regulatory N management program in the mid-1980s to reduce groundwater N. This analysis reports N use and management, yield, and groundwater nitrate trends in the CPNRD for nearly 3000 continuous-corn fields from 1989 to 1998, where producers faced limits on the timing of N fertilizer application but no limits on amounts. Groundwater nitrate levels showed modest improvement over the 10 years of this analysis, falling from the 1989-1993 average of 18.9 to 18.1 mg/l during 1994-1998. The availability of N in excess of crop needs was clearly documented by the CPNRD data and was related to optimistic yield goals, irrigation water use above expected levels, and lack of adherence to commercial fertilizer application guidelines. Over the 10-year period of this analysis, producers reported harvesting an annual average of 9729 kg/ha, 1569 kg/ha (14%) below the average yield goal. During 1989-1998, producers reported annually applying an average of 162.5 kg/ha of commercial N fertilizer, 15.7 kg/ha (10%) above the guideline level. Including the N contribution from irrigation water, the potential N contribution to the environment (total N available less estimated crop use) was estimated at 71.7 kg/ha. This is an estimate of the nitrates available for denitrification, volatilization, runoff, future soil N, and leaching to groundwater. On average, between 1989-1993 and 1994-1998, producers more closely followed CPNRD N fertilizer recommendations and increased their use of postemerge N applications--an indication of improved synchrony between N availability and crop uptake.     

The yields of extracted protein and of residual fiber from potato haulm taken as a by-product.

In July the yield of protein extractable from potato haulm could be 600 kg/ha and the beginning of September it is 200 kg/ha. The yield of fiber containing 1 to 2% N is less affected by maturity. The annual waste of extractable protein, suitable for feeding nonruminants, is about 60,000 tons. The contribution that some small changes in conventional potato husbandry might make to minimizing this waste is discussed.     

限水减氮对关中平原冬小麦氮素利用和氮素表观平衡的影响

研究限水减氮对冬小麦产量、氮素利用率和氮素表观平衡的影响,探讨限水减氮管理模式在关中平原冬小麦生产中的可行性,可为实现关中平原灌区冬小麦生产的稳产高效和环境友好发展提供科学依据。本研究于2017—2018和2018—2019年连续2年在陕西杨凌地区进行小麦田间裂区试验,灌水量为主处理,设置两个灌溉水平,1200 m³·hm^-2(常规灌溉,在越冬期和拔节期灌溉, W₂)和600 m³·hm^-2(限水灌溉,仅在越冬期灌溉, W₁);施氮量为副处理,设置4个施氮水平,300 kg·hm^-2(关中地区常规施氮量,N₃₀₀)、225 kg·hm^-2(减量施氮25%,N₂₂₅)、150 kg·hm^-2(减量施氮50%,N₁₅₀)和0 kg·hm^-2(不施氮,N₀),分析冬小麦产量、氮素利用效率、收获后土壤硝态氮积累量和氮素表观平衡。结果表明: 限水减氮能显著增加冬小麦植株和籽粒氮素含量,提升产量和氮素携出量,提高氮素利用效率、氮素收获指数、氮肥表观利用率和氮肥农学效率,减少硝态氮的淋失,降低氮素盈余量,维持氮素平衡。2017—2019年在W₁N₁₅₀处理基础上增加了灌溉量和施氮量,冬小麦产量和氮素携出量不会显著增加。2017—2018年和2018—2019年,与W₂N₃₀₀相比,W₁N₁₅₀同时期植株氮素含量分别提高0.1%～25.5%和14.0%～31.6%,籽粒氮素含量分别提高0.1%和4.6%。氮素利用效率、氮素收获指数、氮肥表观利用率和氮肥农学效率平均提高95.3%、4.2%、81.7%和33.0%,氮素盈余量分别减少97.2%和95.1%,有效减少了土壤硝态氮的淋失。综合各项指标,越冬期灌溉600 m³·hm^-2配合施氮量150 kg·hm^-2的限水减氮组合能够保证关中平原冬小麦高产、高效和环境友好发展。     

稻麦两熟系统适期晚播对周年产量和资源利用效率的影响

受气候变化影响,江淮地区稻麦两熟种植模式周年资源配置不合理、资源利用效率低,限制了该区域作物周年高产高效协同发展。通过播期调整优化两季资源配置是提高资源利用效率,挖掘周年产量潜力的重要途径。本研究于2013—2015年进行大田试验,设置不同稻麦播期组合,对其周年产量和资源配置与利用特征进行了比较。结果表明: 与常规种植模式(T₂)相比,稻麦双季适期晚播模式(T₃)通过播期调整协调了两季间资源配置,将小麦季冗余的温光水资源转移给高贡献率作物水稻,水稻季积温、辐射、降雨资源分别占60.5%、46.5%和56.7%,小麦季分别占36.3%、50.0%和40.9%,两季间比值为1.67、0.94和1.39;水稻产量显著提高,并提高了水稻在周年产量中的占比;小麦产量显著降低,但变幅小于水稻;周年总产量提高了336.3 kg·hm^-2。水稻季温度生产效率、光能生产效率和降雨生产效率分别提高了9.8%、5.6%和8.3%,小麦季资源利用效率无显著差异,T₃模式周年温、光、水生产效率分别提高了4.8%、3.1%和6.0%。稻麦双季早播模式(T₁)或双季过晚模式(T₄)均不利于周年产量形成和资源利用。综上所述,充分挖掘水稻季的光温水资源利用潜力是进一步提升江淮地区稻麦周年产量潜力的关键,研究结果可为区域粮食作物周年种植模式产量潜力的挖掘及种植结构调整提供依据。