氮肥运筹对晚播冬小麦氮素和干物质积累与转运的影响

氮素平衡对干物质积累与分配的影响是农业生态系统研究的重要内容,在保障产量前提下减少氮肥施用量可减少环境污染与温室气体排放。以晚播冬小麦为研究对象,设置4个施氮量水平:0 kg/hm2(N0)、168.75 kg/hm2(N1)、225 kg/hm2(N2)、281.25 kg/hm2(N3),每个施氮量水平下设置2个追氮时期处理:拔节期(S1)、拔节期+开花期(S2),研究了氮肥运筹对晚播冬小麦氮素和干物质积累与转运及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明:拔节期追施氮肥(S1)条件下,在225 kg/hm2(N2)基础上增施25%氮肥(N3)对开花期氮素积累总量和营养器官氮素转运量无显著影响;拔节期+开花期追施氮肥(S2)条件下,随施氮量增加,开花期氮素积累总量和花后营养器官氮素转运量升高;S2较S1显著提高成熟期籽粒及营养器官氮素积累量、花后籽粒氮素积累量及其对籽粒氮素积累的贡献率。同一施氮量条件下,S2较S1提高了成熟期的干物质积累量、开花至成熟阶段干物质积累强度和花后籽粒干物质积累量。同一追氮时期条件下,籽粒产量N2与N3无显著差异,氮肥偏生产力随施氮量增加而降低;同一施氮量条件下,S2较S1提高了晚播冬小麦的籽粒产量和氮肥吸收利用率。拔节期+开花期追施氮肥,总施氮量225kg/hm2为有利于实现晚播冬小麦高产和高效的最优氮肥运筹模式。     

Nitrogen Fixation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Interacting with a Non-legume in Two Contrasting Intercropping Systems

A field experiment was carried out to quantify biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) using the ¹⁵N isotope natural abundance method in maize (Zea mays L.)/faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/faba bean intercropping systems. Faba bean was yielding more in the maize/faba bean intercropping, but not in the wheat/faba bean intercropping. Biomass, grain yield and N acquisition of faba bean were significantly increased when intercropped with maize, and decreased significantly with wheat, irrespective of N-fertilizer application, indicating that the legume could gain or lose productivity in an intercropping situation. There was yield advantage of maize/faba bean intercropping, but no in wheat/faba bean intercropping. The grain yield of the faba bean intercropped with maize was greater than that of faba bean monoculture due to increases of the stems per plant and the pods per stem of faba bean. N fertilization inhibited N fixation of faba bean in maize/faba bean and wheat/faba bean intercropping and faba bean monoculture. The responses of different cropping systems to N-fertilizer application, however, were not identical, with competitive intercropping (wheat/faba bean) being more sensitive than facilitative intercropping (maize/faba bean). Intercropping increased the percentage of N derived from air (%Ndfa) of the wheat/faba bean system, but not that of the maize/faba bean system when no N fertilizer was applied. When receiving 120 kg N/ha, however, intercropping did not significantly increase %Ndfa either in the wheat/faba bean system or in the maize/faba bean system in comparison with faba bean in monoculture. The amount of shoot N derived from air (Ndfa), however, increased significantly when intercropped with maize, irrespective of N-fertilizer application. Ndfa decreased when intercropped with wheat, albeit not significantly at 120 kg N/ha. Ndfa was correlated more closely with dry matter yield, grain yield and competitive ratio, than with %Ndfa. This indicates that that total dry matter yield (sink strength), not %Ndfa, was more critical for the legume to increase Ndfa. The results suggested that N fixation could be improved by yield maximization in an intercropping system.     

施氮对关中还田玉米秸秆腐解和养分释放特征的影响

在陕西关中平原的冬小麦-夏玉米轮作区,采用尼龙网袋田间填埋与¹⁵N同位素标记玉米秸秆相结合的方法,设置不施氮和施氮200 kg·hm^-2两个处理,研究施氮对小麦生长期内还田玉米秸秆腐解的影响以及腐解过程中秸秆碳、氮、磷、钾的养分释放.结果表明: 从小麦播种到越冬期,施用氮肥对秸秆碳和干物质分解无显著影响,但可促进秸秆中磷的释放,抑制氮和钾的释放.灌浆到成熟期,氮肥对秸秆腐解及其N、P、K养分的释放无显著影响,但秸秆碳的释放显著增加.不同生育期,玉米秸秆碳的释放与干物质分解变化趋势一致,C/N逐渐下降.种植一季小麦后,秸秆干物质累计腐解率不足50%;秸秆碳释放率为47.9%～51.1%,不施氮和施氮处理的秸秆C/N分别由32.2降低到20.2和17.9.小麦收获时,秸秆氮、磷、钾均为净释放,氮释放量为7.2～9.4 kg·hm^-2,占秸秆氮的12.7%～16.6%;磷释放量为1.29～1.44 kg·hm^-2,占29.0%～32.4%;钾的释放量大、释放快,越冬前超过80%,成熟时释放量为51.8～52.5 kg·hm^-2,占90.5%～91.7%.在秸秆还田条件下,应考虑秸秆归还的钾,减少小麦钾肥用量,适量补充氮、磷.     

分期施氮与CO2浓度升高对小麦光合及其物质积累和产量的互作效应

采用开顶式气室和盆栽方法,以冬小麦品种‘小偃22’为材料,探讨了分期施氮与CO2浓度升高对小麦抽穗期和灌浆中期旗叶光合、地上部物质积累和产量的互作效应.结果显示:(1)不施氮条件下CO2浓度升高对小麦旗叶叶绿素含量(SPAD)和可溶性蛋白含量、光合能力、地上部花后干物质和氮素累积量、籽粒产量的影响不明显(P>0.05)或产生显著负效应;在施氮(300mg/kg土)条件下各指标均不同程度增加,且大多数达到显著水平.(2)与氮肥全部基施相比,分期施氮时CO2浓度升高使灌浆期旗叶光合能力、地上部花后干物质和氮素累积以及产量增加的幅度较大,其中以播前、返青期和孕穗期施氮比例为5∶3∶2时最明显.研究表明,适当分期施氮可能更有利于发挥CO2浓度升高对冬小麦的增产作用.     

Fate and effects on yield components of extra applications of nitrogen on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in solution culture

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown with daily additions of nitrate-N. The relative addition rate of nitrate-N was decreased stepwise, and after 125 days of growth, 58 mg N plant^-1 had been introduced. The fate and effect of an extra addition of nitrate (20 mg N plant^-1) at six different times during the ontogeny (37, 54, 66, 79, 94 and 108 days from sowing) on grain yield and grain protein concentration was investigated. The plants absorbed all or most of the extra nitrate at all stages of development evaluated. Dry matter production of both aerial vegetative parts and grains, but not roots, generally increased as a result of the extra nitrate addition. The increase in grain dry matter was mainly an effect of an increased number of grains per plant. Extra nitrate applications had large effects on grain nitrogen content at all stages, but the effect on main shoot and tiller ears varied depending on the time of application. Early applications, i.e. before anthesis, mainly led to increased yield with unchanged protein concentration whereas late applications also led to increased grain protein concentration. The largest effect on grain nitrogen concentration (25–30% increase) was obtained when the extra nitrate was applied late after sowing, i.e. less than four weeks before final harvest. As the extra dose of nitrate was labelled with ¹⁵N, it was possible to follow the movement of the extra nitrogen addition within the plant. Samples were taken at one and five days after ¹⁵N-addition and at final harvest. There were differences in the movement of ¹⁵N depending on when it was introduced. Generally, net movement of the ¹⁵N-labelled N into the grain increased with age at application until 94 days after sowing when a maximum of 90% of the added ¹⁵N ended up in the grain.Abbreviations RN Relative increase in nitrogen content - RA Relative nitrogen addition rate - RG Relative growth rate - N nitrogen     

Sources of N uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and N transformations in soil treated with a nitrification inhibitor (nitrapyrin)

Rates of N uptake by spring wheat as ammonium and as nitrate, and rates of nitrification, gross N immobilization and gross N mineralization were measured in a pot experiment during 84 days of growth in a clay soil. Soil treatments included an unfertilized control and addition of ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ or NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ in the absence and presence of N-serve 24E. Incorporation of ammonium into the soil organic N pool was considerably higher in the presence compared to the absence of nitrapyrin, but the processes contributing to this effect could not be positively identified. Both dry matter and grain yield as well as N uptake by wheat were enhanced in the presence of the inhibitor in N fertilized soil, despite the increased immobilization of N. On the other hand, inhibitor application had a detrimental effect on yield and N uptake by wheat in unfertilized soil. Both ammonium and nitrate forms of inorganic N were absorbed by wheat, but nitrate uptake was dominant in the absence of the inhibitor. The uptake of N as ammonium was higher and the uptake of N as nitrate was less, both in absolute and proportional terms, in the presence compared to the absence of inhibitor. In addition, the proportion of N taken up as ammonium was higher than the proportion of N as ammonium in the available N pool up to day 56 in the inhibitor treatment, which indicated a preference for ammonium uptake by wheat. Evidence was obtained which suggested that several factors may have contributed to the positive response of wheat to inhibitor application in N fertilized soil, including reduced N losses, higher gross N mineralization and a physiological response due to the proportional increase in uptake of inorganic N as ammonium.     

不同磷浓度对玉米生长及磷、锌吸收的影响

在不同磷水平(0.1、1.0、5.0、10和100μmol·L^-1P)的水培液中培养玉米苗,测定不同培养时期玉米的生长和玉米植株对P、Zn吸收和利用效率.结果表明,玉米在100μmol·L^-1P的溶液中生长速率最大,而根冠比在0.1μmol·L^-1P的溶液中为最大.随着水培液中P水平的增加,植株对P的吸收速率增加,而利用效率降低;玉米根系含Zn量增加,而冠层含Zn量变化不大,说明增P使Zn在根内富集,Zn向冠层转移速率较小,玉米幼苗根系中P和Zn的浓度呈正相关关系.     

Chemical evaluation of partially acidulated phosphate rocks and their impact on dry matter yield and phosphorus uptake of maize

Previous studies investigated the direct application of phosphate rock and its partially acidulated to enhance its solubility compared to soluble fertilizers. However, the interaction between the effect of particles diameter and partial acidulation of phosphate rock on phosphorus (P) availability and its effect on dry matter yield and P uptake is still elusive. This study was conducted to assess the effect of partially acidulated Egyptian phosphate rocks with different particle size diameters on P availability and its effect on dry matter yield and P uptake of maize (Zea mays L.). A pot experiment was conducted on maize plants grown on light clay soil for 42 days. Acidulation was done by mixing phosphate rock with single superphosphate or triple superphosphate at a total rate of 200 mg P kg^?1 with five acidulation mix ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100). Different particle size diameters of phosphate rocks (500, 212, 75, and <45 µm included nano-particles ranged from 69.3 to 25.7 nm) were used. We found that dry matter yield and P uptake increased significantly due to the use of partially acidulated phosphate rocks especially when triple superphosphate was used for acidulation and the mixing ratio of 50:50 was the best. We also found that maize yield and P uptake increased significantly with decreasing particle size. It is recommended to use finely grounded partially acidulated phosphate rocks with particles diameter less than 45 µm at acidulation ratio 50% and no need to increase acidulation ratio above that as a slow-release phosphate fertilizer.     

播期对春小麦生长发育及产量的影响

为了给陇中半干旱区春小麦高产栽培提供依据,2010年在甘肃定西进行了春小麦分期播种试验,并对不同播期条件下春小麦生长发育及产量形成进行了分析。结果表明:随着播期的推迟,春小麦播种-抽穗期日数减少、全生育期明显缩短;5月下旬之前,越早播种的春小麦LAI越大,5月下旬之后,播种愈晚春小麦LAI越大。早播春小麦LAI峰值靠前,晚播峰值滞后;6月下旬之前,播期早的春小麦叶绿素含量高于播期晚的,6月下旬之后播期愈早叶绿素含量下降愈快;不同播期春小麦群体生长率和净同化率在孕穗-抽穗期后差异显著,表现为3月18日播期最大,4月7日播期最小。各播期干物质累积在拔节期后表现为快速递增趋势。在拔节期前,早播处理的干物质积累速率较慢。随着播期的推迟,单株干物质最大积累速率出现时间提前,籽粒最大灌浆速率出现时间推迟,千粒重表现为先升后降;灌浆3个阶段各参数受播期影响比较显著;早播春小麦产量最高。     

VA-mycorrhiza mediated P effect on growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) at different P levels

A field trial was conducted to study the response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to different phosphorus levels (16, 24 or 32 kg P ha^–1) and inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus fasciculatum on vertisol during summer 1993. At the vegetative stage of sunflower, percent mycorrhizal root colonization, spore count, dry biomass and P uptake did not differ significantly between inoculated and uninoculated control plants. However, at later stages (flowering and maturity) percent root colonization, spore count, total dry biomass and total P uptake were significantly higher in inoculated plants than in uninoculated control plants. The total dry biomass, P content and seed yield increased with increasing P level in uninoculated plants, whereas no significant difference was observed between 16 and 32 kg P ha^–1 in inoculated plants. The positive effect of mycorrhizal inoculation decreased with increasing P level above 16 kg P ha^–1, due to decreased percent root colonization and spore count at higher P levels.     

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.     

Early phosphorus nutrition,mycorrhizae development,dry matter partitioning and yield of maize

We conducted a field experiment to test the hypothesis that improved phosphorus nutrition occurs in maize plants with rapid arbuscular (AM) mycorrhizae development at early developmental stages and that this also is reflected in dry matter allocation and final yield. A split-split plot design was used with previous crop (Zea mays L.-maize and Brassica napus L.-canola), tillage practices (no-tillage or conventional tillage) and P fertilization (5 levels) as factors chosen to modify mycorrhizae development at early developmental stages of maize. Previous cropping with canola resulted in decreased shoot-P concentration and shoot growth of maize at early stages. No-tillage resulted in higher shoot-P concentration but lower shoot weight than conventional tillage. Greater shoot-P uptake was related to a rapid intraradical development of mycorrhizae (previous crop of maize) or rapid connection to a mycorrhizal mycelium network (no-tillage treatments). Maize yield and harvest index were lower after cropping with canola. The yield for conventional tillage was higher than that for no-tillage but the harvest index was lower. The hypothesis was supported at early stages of maize growth by the effect of previous crop but not by results of tillage, because an unknown factor reduced growth in the no-tillage system. The hypothesis was supported at maturity by increased biomass allocation to grain relative to total shoot weight in treatments with greater shoot-P concentration at early stages.     

水稻生长及其体内C、N、P组成对开放式空气CO2浓度增高和N、P施肥的响应

采用FACE（Free Air Carbon-dioxide Enrichment)技术,研究了不同N、P施肥水平下,水稻分蘖期、拔节期、抽穗期和成熟期根、茎、穗生长,C/N比、N、P含量及N、P吸收对大气CO2浓度升高的响应,结果表明,高CO2促进水稻茎、穗和根的生长,增加分蘖期叶干重,对拔节期、抽穗期的成熟期叶干重没有显著增加,降低茎、叶N含量;增加抽穗期穗N含量;降低成熟期穗N含量;对分蘖期根N含量影响不显著,而降低拔节期,抽穗期和成熟期根N含量,增加拔节期、抽穗期和成熟期叶P含量,对茎、穗、根P含量影响不显著,水稻各组织C含量变化不显著,C/N比增加,显著增加水稻地上部分P吸收;增加N吸收,但没有统计显著性,N、P施用对水稻各组织生物量没有显著影响,高N（HN）比低N（LN）增加组织中N含量,而不同P肥水平间未表现出明显差异,高N条件下高CO2增加水稻成熟期地下部分/地上部分比,文中还讨论了高CO2对N、P含量及地下部分/地上部分比的影响机制。     

Effects of land preparation and maize cultivar on efficiency of N-fertilizer applied at different times and by different methods in maize—mungbean association using15N

Summary A field experiment was conducted using¹⁵N-labelled urea on a Reddish Brown Lateritic (Peleustult) soil. Growing two crops on flat land and on soil ridges of 15 cm height produced similar comparative effects from fertilizer on maize. However, fertilizer applied by broadcasting on maize with a 50 cm effective band followed by incorporating was more useful to mungbean than that applied by banding below the cereal seed rows when crops were grown on flat land. The reverse was observed when crops were grown on ridges. It was deduced that the maize cultivar was not likely to affect comparative efficiencies of fertilizer. For fertilizer application at sowing, broadcasting in 50 cm maize effective band followed by incorporating was slightly superior to banding below maize seed rows. Side-dressing of fertilizer to maize at 4 weeks after sowing was superior to application at sowing. Evenly-split application, at sowing and at 4 weeks after sowing, was either only slightly superior or comparable to non-split application by banding below maize seed rows at sowing, depending on placement method of the first application. Soil moisture status as a possible factor rendering discrepancy in the comparative efficiencies obtained by different authors is discussed.     

Bioavailability of different phosphorus forms in freshwater systems

The recent literature on the bioavailability of different forms of P in freshwater systems is reviewed. Bioavailable P is defined as the sum of immediately available P and the P that can be transformed into an available form by naturally occurring processes. Methods used to estimate the bioavailable P pool, which vary between studies largely depending on the time perspective applied, are critically evaluated. Most studies on particulate P aim to determine the potentially available P pool. Potential bioavailability of particulate P is normally analysed in bioassays with algal yield determinations and the available P fraction is characterized from interpretations of results of sequential chemical extractions. NaOH-extractable P is in most studies the most algal-available P fraction. For soil samples and tributary water particulate matter, NaOH-P has often been found to be equal to algal extractable P. In other studies depletions of NaOH-P have accounted for the algal P uptake, but only a minor proportion of the fraction has been utilized. Organic P in lake water particulate matter and bed sediments of eutrophic lakes can also be algal-available to a significant extent.Studies on the bioavailability of dissolved P have often been concerned with immediate availability, or the minimum amount of available P. Such studies need other types of experimental design and normally assays with radiotracers are used. Immediately available P is frequently found to be less than P chemically assessed as dissolved reactive P (DRP) at low (< 10 µg DRP·l^-1) concentrations. However, immediate availability may also approach or exceed DRP concentrations, especially at higher concentrations. Potential bioavailability, assayed as for particulate P, may generally render higher bioavailability than P assayed as immediately available. Large fractions of dissolved P remain unutilized and are primarily found in the high molecular weight fraction of dissolved P.     

Yields and nitrogen nutrition of intercropped maize and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb.] Ohwi and Ohashi)

Maize (Zea mays L.) and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb.] Ohwi and Ohashi) were grown in intercrop and monoculture on Tropaqualf soils under rainfed conditions in Northern Thailand yearly from 1983 to 1986. De Wit's replacement design was used to compare intercrops and monocultures with a constant plant density equivalent to 80 000 maize or 160 000 ricebean plants ha⁻¹. Combined nitrogen was applied at varying levels to 200 kg N ha⁻¹. In the final two seasons the intercrop ratio of maize: ricebean was also varied. At the time of maize maturity intercrops yielded upt 49 kg ha⁻¹ more N in the above ground plant parts than the best monoculture. Dry matter, grain and nitrogen yield of maize and ricebean in intercrop relative to their monoculture yields (RY, relative yield) were significantly greater than their respective share of the plant population. Relative yield totals (RYT) for grain, dry matter and nitrogen were always greater than 1. Nitrogen uptake per maize plant increased with progressive replacement of maize by ricebean plants. This increase was similar to that obtained by applying combined N. Available soil nitrogen tended to decrease with increasing maize:ricebean ratio. Increasing the maize:ricebean ratio increased the % of nitrogen derived from fixation in ricebean, the increase being equivalent to that obtained by decreasing combined nitrogen application. Approximately the same amount of fertilizer and soil nitrogen was taken up by maize plus ricebean in intercrop as the maize monoculture. The results suggest that the improved nitrogen economy of the intercrop resulted from the strong competitiveness of maize in the use of mineral nitrogen and the enhancement of nitrogen fixation in intercropped ricebean which made it less dependent on the depleted pool of soil nitrogen.     

Effect of phosphorus fertilizer on A values for soils cropped with winter wheat

The effect of successive annual fertilizer P applications (30 kg P ha⁻¹yr⁻¹) on A values (plant availability) for four soils cropped with winter wheat, was investigated over a four-year period under field conditions in the Southern Plains, USA, using P-32 as a tracer. With successive annual fertilizer P applications, winter wheat dry matter yield and A value increased. This increase was linear for wheat yield on each soil (r²=0.77 to 0.97). For A value, the increase was a positive linear function of residual Bray-I P (r²=0.99 to 1.00) and a negative linear function of P-sorption index of the soil (r²=0.94 to 0.98). This was attributed to the fact that continued fertilizer P applications, by decreasing P-sorption index, increased amounts of available P. Consequently, utilization of fertilizer P decreased with successive applications and A value, thus, represents total soil P availability, including native and residual (carry over) fertilizer P. These results confirm earlier suggestions that the A value may be used as a quantitative measurement of environmental and soil factors influencing P availability.     

Phosphorus benefits from grain-legume crops to subsequent maize grown on acid soils of southern Cameroon

We conducted field experiments over 2 years on two acid soils of southern Cameroon to test whether efficient uptake and use of phosphorus (P) from less available sources by grain legume genotypes could benefit subsequent rotational maize. We grew two crops each year. For the first crop we grew 4 genotypes of soybean and of cowpea, plus maize. For the second crop we grew maize. The first crops were fertilized with 0, 90 kg P ha⁻¹ as phosphate rock (PR) or 30 kg P ha⁻¹ as triple super phosphate (TSP). P application highly significantly increased shoot dry matter, P uptake, N₂ fixation and grain yields of the grain legumes with TSP generally more effective than PR. Two of the soybean and two of the cowpea genotypes were more efficient at using P. Only the P-efficient soybean and cowpea genotypes increased subsequent maize yields. Yields of the subsequent maize grown in rotation were significantly correlated with shoot P uptake for which the quantity of P applied with the crop residues of the pre-crop appeared to be a major factor. We also grew the grain legumes in nutrient solutions and measured organic acid-anion exudation from roots, root-surface phosphatase-activity, and root morphological characteristics. Enhanced exudation of organic acid anions from roots of P-deprived plants might have contributed to the P acquisition efficiency under field conditions of the P-efficient cowpea genotypes and one of the P-efficient soybean genotypes. A higher activity of root-surface acid phosphatase might have been important for the other P-efficient soybean genotype. The results show, that the potential positive rotational effect of cowpea and soybean on the acid, highly P-sorbing soils of southern Cameroon depends on breeding and using P-efficient genotypes when sparingly soluble and suboptimal rates of soluble P fertilizers are used. Section Editor: N. J. Barrow     

Nitrogen uptake in relation to water availability in wheat

Nitrogen uptake and distribution in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are dependent on environmental conditions and in particular on the water regime. Under Mediterranean conditions, where high water stress at the end of the crop cycle is frequent, nitrogen uptake can be reduced, affecting yield and quality of the grain. To disclose these relations a field experiment was carried out in Central Portugal. Wheat was grown on a clay soil (Vertisol) at three water treatments: rainfed (WO), with 80 mm of irrigation (W1) and with 50 mm and 70 mm irrigations (W2). All treatments received 50 kg ha^–1 of N prior to sowing and were top-dressed with 140 kg ha^–1 of N, splitted in two applications, Kjeldahl N was determined in green leaves (GL), yellow leaves (YL), stems (ST), chaff (CH) and grain (GR). N uptake after anthesis was 40% of the total in W2, but was not noticeable in the other two treatments. N concentrations in the total above-ground plant dry matter, and in both YL and ST were not very different according to treatment, but water availability increased grain-N concentration. It seems, therefore, that grain protein concentration and N uptake can be substantially increased by late irrigations.     

Phosphorus efficiency and phosphorus remobilization in two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivars

With two sorghum cultivars differing in P efficiency a P uptake experiment (³²P/³³P labelling) was carried out followed by a period of P deficiency. The tendency of the total P distribution and redistribution pattern was rather similar in both sorghum cultivars. Although in the cultivar with a greater P absorbing capacity per unit root weight a higher proportion of the P was found in the inorganic P soluble fraction this is not necessarily an indication of a higher vacuolar affinity for P. Under P deficiency in both cultivars a rapid decrease of the TCA soluble P fraction in the leaves was observed. Before complete exhaustion of this fraction the TCA insoluble P fraction was also markedly reduced. In the roots the total P content was maintained fairly constant with a distinct shift in favour of the insoluble fraction occurring during the period of P deficiency. It is assumed that in the P efficient sorghum cultivar producing more dry matter per increment of P absorbed, rather inherent growth promoting factors contribute to the intraspecific P efficiency by a stimulation of the intensity of P redistribution and thus compensate for the lower P absorbing capacity of its roots.