Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on N-use by wheat under different irrigation frequencies

A field trial was established in Errachidia, southern Morocco, to investigate the interaction between wheat residue management and mineral 15N-labelled ammonium sulphate, under different irrigation treatments, applied to wheat (Triticum durum var. Karim). In treatments I1, I2, I3 and I4, plots were irrigated every 10, 15, 21 and 30 days. Each plot contained three sub-plots that received three fertilization treatments: T1 received 42 kg N ha-1 of ammonium sulphate before seedling, 42 kg N ha-1 of ammonium sulphate labelled with 9.764 at % 15N excess at tillering and 84 N kg ha-1 of ammonium sulphate at flowering; T2 received 42 kg N ha-1 of ammonium sulphate labelled with 9.764 at % 15N excess at seedling, 42 kg N ha-1 at tillering and 42 kg N ha-1 at flowering; T3 received 4800 kg ha-1 of wheat residue labelled with 1.504 at % 15N excess and 42 kg N ha-1 of ammonium sulphate before seedling and 42 kg N ha-1 of ammonium sulphate at flowering. Nitrogen fertilization with 168 kg N ha-1 did no significantly increase grain and straw yields in comparison to the 126 kg N ha-1 application. The combination of the organic input and supplementary application of mineral fertilizer N has been found as a more attractive management option. For all irrigation treatments, the % recovery of N in the whole plant was higher in plants that received 15N at tillering (63%, 49% respectively for irrigation intervals between 10 and 30 d) than in plants that received 15N just after seeding (28% for irrigation each 10- and 30-d intervals). For the irrigation treatment each 10 and 15 days, the 15N was mainly recovered by the grain for all fertilization treatments, whereas for irrigation treatment each 30 days, the grain and straw recovered nearly equal amounts of fertilizer. For grain and straw of wheat, nitrogen in the plant derived from the fertilizer was low, while most of the N was derived from the soil for all irrigation and fertilization treatments. The % nitrogen in the plant derived from the fertilizer values showed no significant difference between the different plant parts. The results suggested a dominant influence of moisture availability on the fertilizer N uptake by wheat. Under dry conditions the losses of N can be allotted to denitrification and volatilisation.     

Relationship between rate of crop growth at date of fertiliser N application and fate of fertiliser N applied to winter wheat

To investigate the relationship between the timing of fertiliser N applications and the N use efficiency of wheat, three field experiments with ¹⁵N were set up on winter wheat, on three different soils in France. Different crop N demands on the day of fertiliser application were obtained by varying either crop densities or date of fertiliser application. Labelled ¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ was applied at tillering and during stem elongation. The ¹⁵N recovered from plant and soil at different dates after ¹⁵N addition and at maturity of wheat was measured. The fate of fertiliser N was rapidly determined, most of the fertiliser N accumulated in the wheat at maturity having been taken up within a few days of application. ¹⁵N recovery by the crop at final harvest (%) varied greatly (19–55% N applied) according to crop density, soil type and date of application. It was linearly related to the instantaneous crop growth rate calculated at the day of ¹⁵N application. The amount of fertiliser N immobilised in the soil was constant at 20 kg N ha⁻¹, for all soil types and crop densities. Because residual mineral ¹⁵N in the soil at harvest was negligible and immobilisation was constant, the level of total ¹⁵N measured in the different N pools (soil+plant) reflected the% ¹⁵N uptake by the plant. There was consequently a negative linear relationship between the percentage of ¹⁵N not recovered for measurement, and crop growth rate (i.e. crop N demand) at date of fertiliser application. These results suggest that crop N demand at the time of N application determines the ability of the crop to compete for N with other processes, and may be a major factor determining the division of N between soil and crop. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Immobilisation, remineralisation and residual effects in subsequent crops of dairy cattle slurry nitrogen compared to mineral fertiliser nitrogen

About 50–60% of dairy cattle slurry nitrogen is ammonium N. Part of the ammonium N in cattle slurry is immobilised due to microbial decomposition of organic matter in the slurry after application to soil. The immobilisation and the remineralisation influence the fertiliser value of slurry N and the amount of organic N that is retained in soil. The immobilisation and the remineralisation of 15 N-labelled dairy cattle slurry NH₄-N were studied through three growing seasons after spring application under temperate conditions. Effects of slurry distribution (mixing, layer incorporation, injection, surface-banding) and extra litter straw in the slurry on the plant utilisation of labelled NH₄-N from slurry were studied and compared to the utilisation of ¹⁵N-labelled mineral fertiliser. The initial immobilisation of slurry N was influenced by the slurry distribution in soil. More N was immobilised when the slurry was mixed with soil. Surface-banding of slurry resulted in significant volatilisation losses and less residual ¹⁵N in soil. Much more N was immobilised after slurry incorporation than after mineral fertiliser application. After 2.5 years the recovery of labelled N in soil (0–25 cm) was 46% for slurry mixed with soil, 42% for injected slurry, 22% for surface-banded slurry and 24% for mineral fertiliser N. The total N uptake in a ryegrass cover crop was 5–10 kg N/ha higher in the autumn after spring-application of cattle slurry (100–120 kg NH₄-N/ha) compared to the mineral fertiliser N reference, but the immobilised slurry N (labelled N) only contributed little to the extra N uptake in the autumn. Even in the second autumn after slurry application there was an extra N uptake in the cover crop (0–10 kg N/ha). The residual effect of the cattle slurry on spring barley N uptake was insignificant in the year after slurry application (equivalent to 3% of total slurry N). Eighteen months after application, 13% of the residual ¹⁵N in soil was found in microbial biomass whether it derived from slurry or mineral fertiliser, but the remineralisation rate (% crop removal of residual ¹⁵N) was higher for fertiliser- than for slurry-derived N, except after surface-banding. Extra litter straw in the slurry had a negligible influence on the residual N effects in the year after application. It is concluded that a significant part of the organic N retained in soil after cattle slurry application is derived from immobilised ammonium N, but already a few months after application immobilised N is stabilised and only slowly released. The immobilised N has negligible influence on the residual N effect of cattle slurry in the first years after slurry application, and mainly contributes to the long-term accumulation of organic N in soil together with part of the organic slurry N. Under humid temperate conditions the residual N effects of the manure can only be optimally utilised when soil is also covered by plants in the autumn, because a significant part of the residual N is released in the autumn, and there is a higher risk of N leaching losses on soils that receive cattle slurry regularly compared to soils receiving only mineral N fertilisers.     

The fate of labelled15N urea and ammonium nitrate applied to a winter wheat crop

Labelled urea or ammonium nitrate was applied to winter wheat growing on a loamy soil in Northern France. Two applications of fertilizer were given: 50 kg N ha^–1 at tillering (early March) and 110 kg N ha^–1 at the beginning of stem elongation (mid-April). The kinetics of urea hydrolysis, nitrification of ammonium and the disappearance of inorganic nitrogen were followed at frequent intervals. Inorganic nitrogen soon disappeared, mainly immobilized by soil microflora and absorbed by the crop. Net immobilization of fertilizer N occured at a very similar rate for urea and ammonium nitrate. Maximum immobilization (16 kg N ha¹) was found at harvest for the first dressing and at anthesis for the second dressing (23 kg N ha¹). During the nitrification period, the labelled ammonium pool was immobilized two to three times faster than the labelled nitrate pool. No significant net¹⁵N remineralization was found during the growth cycle.The actual denitrification and volatilization losses were probably more important than indicated from calculations made by extrapolation of fluxes measured over short intervals. However microbial immobilization was the most important of the processes which compete with plant uptake for nitrogen.     

Nitrogen uptake by crops,soil distribution and recovery of urea-N in a sorghum—wheat rotation in different soils under Mediterranean conditions

The N uptake by crops, soil distribution and recovery of 15N labelled urea-N (100 kg N ha-1) were investigated in a sorghum-wheat rotation in two silty clay soils (Foggia and Rieti Casabianca) and one silt loam soil (Rieti Piedifiume) under different mediterranean conditions. Non-exchangeable labelled NH4-N represented an important pool at both Rieti sites with higher values (p<0.05) under sorghum (14.0 and 24.6% of the urea N in the 0-20 cm layer at the end of the cropping season) than wheat whereas it was much less important in the Foggia soil (10.0% in the surface soil under sorghum). This is probably related to the clay minerals composition of the three soils; because vermiculite was present in both Rieti sites but not in the Foggia soil. At harvest from 4.4 to 5.3% of the urea N initially applied was present as microbial biomass N in the surface soil layer with no generally significant differences due to location and type of crops. Both sorghum and wheat N yields were higher in the driest site (Foggia) probably due to better light conditions, higher temperatures and irrigation during summer of the sorghum cropping period. The recovery of plant fertilizer N (about 21% for sorghum and 27% for wheat) and the percentage of N in the plant derived from the fertilizer (NDFF) were the lowest at Rieti-Casabianca probably as the result of the protection of immobilized fertilizer N against microbial mineralization by the swelling clays. The fertilizer N unaccounted for was nil or very low (10.8% at Rieti-Casabianca under wheat and 11.8 and 4.9% at Rieti-Piedifiume under sorghum and wheat, respectively). Urea-N losses occurred when Rieti Piedifiume and Rieti Casabianca soils were kept bare. In this case the urea N unaccounted for ranged from 12 to 56% of the urea N with higher losses in Rieti-Piedifiume than in Rieti-Casabianca. The higher recoveries in the latter soil were probably confirmed by the stabilizing effect of clays on the immobilized urea N. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The partitioning of fertilizer-N between soil and crop: Comparison of ammonium and nitrate applications

Field experiments were carried out in 1987 on winter wheat crops grown on three types of soil. ¹⁵N-labelled urea, ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ or NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ (80 kg N ha^-1) was applied at tillering. The soils (chalky soil, hydromorphic loamy soil, sandy clay soil) were chosen to obtain a range of nitrogen dynamics, particularly nitrification. Soil microbial N immobilization and crop N uptake were measured at five dates. Shortly after fertilizer application (0–26 days), the amount of N immobilized in soil were markedly higher with labelled urea or ammonium than that with nitrate in all soils. During the same period, crop ¹⁵N uptake occurred preferentially at the expense of nitrate. Nitrification differed little between soils, the rates were 2.0 to 4.7 kg N ha^-1 day^-1 at 9°C daily mean temperature. The differences in immobilization and uptake had almost disappeared at flowering and harvest. ¹⁵N recovery in soil and crop varied between 50 and 100%. Gaseous losses probably occurred by volatilization in the chalky soil and denitrification in the hydromorphic loamy soil. These losses affected the NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^- pools differently and determined the partitioning of fertilizer-N between immobilization and absorption.     

缺水与补水对小麦氮素吸收及土壤残留氮的影响

通过温室培养试验,研究了不同生长期缺水和补充灌水对冬小麦氮素吸收利用和土壤残留的影响．结果表明,在不同生长期缺水及分蘖期补充灌水均能显著降低冬小麦的氮素吸收,增加矿质态氮的土壤残留,土壤残留氮含量介于79．8～113．7mg·kg^-1;越冬、拔节、灌浆期补充灌水可显著提高冬小麦对土壤氮素的吸收能力,不同程度地降低氮素残留,土壤残留氮介于47．2～60．3mg·kg^-1．补充灌水引起的小麦吸氮能力提高与其对氮素的有效利用并不一致．越冬期补水,小麦籽粒吸氮量无显著变化;灌浆期补水,籽粒吸氮量相应提高20．9％;拔节期补水反而使籽粒吸氮量降低19．6％．     

Transformation of14C labelled plant components in soil in relation to immobilization and remineralization of15N fertilizer

Summary Uniformly¹⁴C labelled glucose, cellulose and wheat straw and specifically¹⁴C labelled lignin component in corn stalks were aerobically incubated for 12 weeks in a chernozem soil alongwith¹⁵N labelled ammonium sulphate. Glucose was most readily decomposed, followed in order by cellulose, wheat straw and corn stalk lignins labelled at methoxyl-, side chain 2-and ring-C. More than 50% of¹⁴C applied as glucose, cellulose and wheat straw evolved as CO₂ during the first week. Lignin however, decomposed relatively slowly. A higher proportion of¹⁴C was transformed into microbial biomass whereas lignins contributed a little to this fraction.After 12 weeks of incubation nearly 60% of the lignin¹⁴C was found in humic compounds of which more than 70% was resistant to hydrolysis with 6N HCl. Maximum incorporation of¹⁵N in humic compounds was observed in cellulose amended soil. However, in this case more than 80% of the¹⁵N was in hydrolysable forms.Immobilization-remineralization of applied¹⁵N was most rapid in glucose treated soil and a complete immobilization followed by remineralization was observed after 3 days. The process was much slow in soil treated with cellulose, wheat straw or corn stalks. More than 70% of the newly immobilized N was in hydrolysable forms mainly reepresenting the microbial component.Serial hydrolysis of soil at different incubation intervals showed a greater proportion of 6N HCl hydrolysable¹⁴C and¹⁵N in fractions representing microbial material.¹⁴C from lignin carbons was relatively more uniformly distributed in different fractions as compared to glucose, cellulose and wheat straw where a major portion of¹⁴C was in easily hydrolysable fractions.     

Crop uptake and leaching losses of15N labelled fertilizer nitrogen in relation to waterlogging of clay and sandy loam soils

Summary Ammonium nitrate fertilizer, labelled with¹⁵N, was applied in spring to winter wheat growing in undisturbed monoliths of clay and sandy loam soil in lysimeters; the rates of application were respectively 95 and 102 kg N ha⁻¹ in the spring of 1976 and 1975. Crops of winter wheat, oilseed rape, peas and barley grown in the following 5 or 6 years were treated with unlabelled nitrogen fertilizer at rates recommended for maximum yields. During each year of the experiments the lysimeters were divided into treatments which were either freelydrained or subjected to periods of waterlogging. Another labelled nitrogen application was made in 1980 to a separate group of lysimeters with a clay soil and a winter wheat crop to study further the uptake of nitrogen fertilizer in relation to waterlogging. In the first growing season, shoots of the winter wheat at harvest contained 46 and 58% of the fertilizer nitrogen applied to the clay and sandy loam soils respectively. In the following year the crops contained a further 1–2% of the labelled fertilizer, and after 5 and 6 years the total recoveries of labelled fertilizer in the crops were 49 and 62% on the clay and sandy loam soils respectively. In the first winter after the labelled fertilizer was applied, less than 1% of the fertilizer was lost in the drainage water, and only about 2% of the total nitrogen (mainly nitrate) in the drainage water from both soils was derived from the fertilizer. Maximum annual loss occurred the following year but the proportion of tracer nitrogen in drainage was nevertheless smaller. Leaching losses over the 5 and 6 years from the clay and sandy loam soil were respectively 1.3 and 3.9% of the original application. On both soils the percentage of labelled nitrogen to the total crop nitrogen content was greater after a period of winter waterlogging than for freely-drained treatments. This was most marked on the clay soil; evidence points to winter waterlogging promoting denitrification and the consequent loss of soil nitrogen making the crop more dependent on spring fertilizer applications.     

Cyanobacterial inoculation and nitrogen fertilization in rice

During three rice-growing seasons in Uruguay, field experiments were conducted to study the contribution of cyanobacterial inoculation and chemical N fertilization to rice production. Neither grain yield nor fertilizer recovery by the plant were affected by inoculation with native cyanobacterial isolates. A low fertilizer use efficiency (around 20%) was observed when labelled (NH₄)₂SO₄ was applied at sowing. Recovery of applied ¹⁵N by the soil–plant system was 50%. Inoculation did not modify ¹⁵N uptake by the plant when the fertilizer was three-split applied either. The total N-fertilizer recovery was higher when the fertilizer was split than when applied in a single dose. Plant N-fertilizer uptake was higher when the fertilizer was applied at tillering. Uptake of ¹⁵N from cyanobacteria by rice was studied in a greenhouse pots experiment without chemical nitrogen addition. Recovery of ¹⁵N from labelled cyanobacteria by rice in greenhouse growth conditions was similar to that of partial recovery of (NH₄)₂SO₄ applied at sowing in the field. Cyanobacterial N mineralization under controlled conditions was fast as cyanobacterial N was detected in plants after 25 days. Moreover 40 days after inoculation non-planted and inoculated soil had more inorganic N than the non-inoculated one.     

Transformations of residual 15N in a coniferous forest soil humus layer in northern Vancouver Island,British Columbia

We studied the effect of ¹⁵N labelling duration on the mineralisation and immobilisation of native and applied (residual) N in the humus layer of a Humo-Ferric Podzol. Ammonium sulphate, labelled with ¹⁵N, was applied to 1 m² plots at a rate of 200 kg N ha^–1. Fertiliser application was timed so that when samples were collected they had been labelled with ¹⁵N for 24 hours, 7 months and 31 months. In a 42-day aerobic incubation of the samples, net mineralisation of total and applied N was greatest in the 24-hr treatment followed by those from the 31-month treatment (p<0.05), indicating that immobilised ¹⁵N was more remineralisable in the samples with ¹⁵N labelled for 24 hours. The percentage of applied N found in the total N mineralised (net) ranged from 76.6 to 87.4%, 13.1 to 42.0% and 10.6 to 14.0% in samples from the 24-hr and 7- and 31-month treatments, respectively, showing reduced relative availability of residual N with increased labelling duration. The carbon mineralisation rate had the following order: 7-month > 24-hr > 31-month treatment. Net mineralisation of C and N was poorly correlated with each other (r=-0.02, p=0.89). Anaerobic incubation showed net mineralisation for the 7- and 31-month treatments but net immobilisation for the 24-hr treatment for both total and applied N, suggesting that immobilisation of inorganic N was encouraged when there was a large pool of mineral N in the soil. Both total and applied N in the extractable organic N fraction and in the N flushed after fumigation with chloroform had the following order: 24-hr > 7-month > 31-month treatment. The results confirmed that N fertiliser was being immobilised within hours after application by the humus material through the microbial population and that the immobilised N had a low mineralisation potential after one growing season.     

Pattern of dry-matter accumulation,and nitrogen concentration and uptake as influenced by levels and methods of nitrogen application in rainfed-upland rice

Summary Dry-matter accumulation, and concentration and uptake of nitrogen increased with increasing level of nitrogen at all the stages of crop growth. The differences in nitrogen concentration due to nitrogen levels were greatest at panicle initiation stage and started becoming narrower with the advancement in crop age. Split application of nitrogen with its heavier fractions at tillering and panicle initiation stages either through soil alone or soil+foliage (1/3+1/3+1/3) resulted in higher dry-matter accumulation, and higher nitrogen concentration and uptake than other methods. The crop, on an average, removed 61 kg N/ha. Plants accumulated nearly 15% of the total absorbed nitrogen, up to tillering, 50% up to panicle initiation and 85–90% up to heading. Proportionately lesser nitrogen uptake and dry-matter accumulation at post-heading stage is an indicative of a major constraint for production efficiency of rainfed-upland rice culture.     

Nitrogen use efficiency of rice reconsidered: What are the key constraints?

Recent field studies on irrigated rice at the IRRI research farm indicate efficient use of fertilizer-N based on plant uptake of applied N, (estimated by N difference), and utilization of acquired N for increased grain yield. These findings contrast with ¹⁵N uptake in microplot studies which underestimate the actual increase in plant N from added fertiliser. Constraints other than uptake efficiency, however, may govern fertiliser-N efficiency in farmers fields. In a study of 44 farmers' fields in Central Luzon, rice yields ranged from 2.5 to 6.2 t ha^-1 and N uptake from 35 to 95 kg N ha^-1 in plots without fertiliser-N addition. Farmers applied from 35 to 240 kg N ha^-1, but there was no relationship between the N rate used by each farmer and the effective soil N supply. Mean N uptake efficiency from fertiliser by N difference was only 36%. We conclude that improved fertiliser-N efficiency by farmers will require a more information-intensive management strategy that makes N fertiliser inputs better fitted to the seasonal pattern of crop N demand and soil N supply.     

内蒙古典型草原羊草群落氮素去向的示踪研究

 在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站的羊草样地,采用15N同位素示踪技术研究了羊草（Leymus chinensis）群落标记氮素的去向。结果表明：在我国典型草原羊草群落,植物对标记氮素的回收率为31.61%,氮素添加显著影响植物对标记氮素的回收,随着氮素添加量的增加,地上和地下植物器官对标记氮素的回收量均显著提高。标记氮素被凋落物的回收率为2.92%,地下凋落物的回收率显著高于地上凋落物。标记氮素的土壤存留率为36.16%,主要分布在地表0～40 cm的土层范围内;各土层存留的标记氮素量均随着氮素添加量的增加而显著提高。标记氮素的当季损失率为21.77%～43.38%。风险/收益比分析表明,在该试验条件下,添加5.25 g N•m-2与28 g N•m-2的处理风险大于收益,添加17.5 g N•m-2的处理风险最低,收益最高,在草原生态系统的管理中可供参考。     

The fate of residual 15N-labelled fertilizer in arable soils: its availability to subsequent crops and retention in soil

An earlier paper (Macdonald et al., 1997; J. Agric. Sci. (Cambridge) 129, 125) presented data from a series of field experiments in which ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizers were applied in spring to winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, potatoes, sugar beet and spring beans grown on four different soils in SE England. Part of this N was retained in the soil and some remained in crop residues on the soil surface when the crop was harvested. In all cases the majority of this labelled N remained in organic form. In the present paper we describe experiments designed to follow the fate of this `residual' <sup>15</sup>N over the next 2 years (termed the first and second residual years) and measure its value to subsequent cereal crops. Averaging over all of the initial crops and soils, 6.3% of this `residual' ¹⁵N was taken up during the first residual year when the following crop was winter wheat and significantly less (5.5%) if it was spring barley. In the second year after the original application, a further 2.1% was recovered, this time by winter barley. Labelled N remaining after potatoes and sugar beet was more available to the first residual crop than that remaining after oilseed rape or winter wheat. By the second residual year, this difference had almost disappeared. The availability to subsequent crops of the labelled N remaining in or on the soil at harvest of the application year decreased in the order: silty clay loam>sandy loam>chalky loam>heavy clay. In most cases, only a small proportion of the residual fertilizer N available for plant uptake was recovered by the subsequent crop, indicating poor synchrony between the mineralization of ¹⁵N-labelled organic residues and crop N uptake. Averaging over all soils and crops, 22% of the labelled N applied as fertilizer was lost (i.e., unaccounted for in harvested crop and soil to a depth of 100 cm) by harvest in the year of application, rising to 34% at harvest of the first residual year and to 35% in the second residual year. In the first residual year, losses of labelled N were much greater after spring beans than after any of the other crops.     

Nitrogen mineralization and crop uptake of N from decomposing 15N labelled red clover and yellow sweetclover plant fractions of different age

Nitrogen mineralization from 15N labelled red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis Lam.) plant fractions of three different ages (8-, 14- and 20-week old) was studied in an out-door pot experiment during 8.5 months. Individual plant fractions (leaves/stems/roots/flowers), 23 g dry matter pot-1 (corresponding to 7300 kg ha-1), were incorporated into a sandy soil. The net mineralization of N was measured as 15N recovery in spring wheat (Triticum æstivum L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) following the wheat and in the soil mineral N pool. Dry matter and N yields of the wheat crop were largest in pots receiving the legume leaf materials and the oldest root fractions. The largest amount of net N mineralized was obtained after application of sweetclover leaves, 381 mg N pot-1 (38% of added N), and a smaller amount was measured from red clover leaves, 215 mg N pot-1 (26% of added N). The N release was much smaller from the stems, being on average 63 mg N pot-1 (15% of added N), with intermediate values obtained from roots, 152 mg N pot-1 (26% of added N). The effects of age of the legume fractions on net N mineralization were more pronounced for sweetclover than for red clover materials. Greater net N release was obtained from sweetclover leaves and roots with inceasing age, but the opposite was valid for stems. At final harvest of the ryegrass, an additional 2.8% of added legume N was mineralized, compared with at wheat harvest. The net N mineralized proportion of added N was significantly related to concentrations of N and cell wall constituents in the plant material. Differences in net N mineralization estimates were generally larger between plant fractions than between materials of different age, implying that leaf proportion of the above-ground biomass is of great importance when predicting net N mineralization from green-manure plant materials. In addition, the contribution from roots to net mineralized legume N could be substantial.     

Nitrogen assimilation in field-grown winter wheat: Direct measurements of nitrate reduction in roots using15N

Summary Nitrate fertiliser labelled with¹⁵N was applied to a field grown crop of winter wheat. Uptake and assimilation of fertiliser nitrate was studied by monitoring the appearance of labelled nitrate and labelled amino acids in the xylem sap. Shortly after applying¹⁵N-nitrate to the soil about 30 per cent of recently absorbed¹⁵N was in the reduced form, indicating that roots of cereal crops can make a substantial contribution in reducing nitrate. Seasonal changes in crop growth andin vivo NRA are also described.     

Decomposition and nitrogen dynamics of wheat residues and impact on wheat growth stages

N mineralisation and immobilisation were quantified in field conditions in the presence or in the absence of wheat residues. The incubation study was conducted in cylinders placed in microplots (no plants were grown in cylinders), and the rest of each microplot was sowed with the wheat crop (Triticum durum var. Massa). N mineralisation and immobilisation depend on the presence or the absence of wheat residues. In absence of residues, a linear model of regression was developed to follow the clear nitrogen mineralisation at different soil levels. Nitrogen mineralisation (mg kg-1), during the five months of wheat development, showed the following decreasing order: 0-15 cm (132.6) > 15-30 cm (120.6) > 30-45 cm (91.3). The mineralisation rate was 24.1, 22.9 and 18.9 mg kg-1 d-1 for 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm levels, respectively. The supply of wheat residues resulted in a five months N immobilisation process. At level 0-15 cm the immobilisation (mg kg-1) showed the following decreasing order: (61.6) > (46.4) > (30.0) for the supply of wheat residues at seeding time, and 15 and 30 d before seeding respectively. At the other levels, the same decreasing order was recorded. The supply of 8 t ha-1 of wheat residues at seeding time, and 15 or 30 d before seeding, decreased the dry matter yield and N accumulation in wheat crop. In consequence, there was no synchronism between the nitrogen liberated by wheat residues decomposition and the wheat growth.     

Development of a low input system for growing wheat (Triticum vulgare) in a permanent understorey of white clover (Trifolium repens)

In three field experiments carried out during 1989-91, a permanent sward of pure white clover (Trifolium repens) was established to provide a source of N for winter or spring wheat crops (Triticum vulgare) directly drilled into the legume. Spring-sown wheat failed to compete with the clover, but wheat sown in the autumn established successfully. N fertiliser was applied to all three experiments at rates of 0, 50 and 100 kg N ha“¹ measurements of grain and whole-crop silage yields were made. Yields were low for all treatments, probably because of the dry conditions prevailing and the low soil N status of the site used. Yield responses to fertiliser were significant, despite the contribution to plant nutrition that the clover was intended to make. A key feature of the work was that the clover survived successive cereal crops and could be grazed and used as an understorey for later crops. Further, response to fertiliser N diminished with a successive crop implying a build-up of available soil N, which measurements confirmed had occurred. Use of the system obviated the need to use pesticides, although reasons for the lack of pest damage were not clear.     

Nitrogen incorporation and remobilization in different shoot components of field-grown winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) as affected by rate of nitrogen application and irrigation

The seasonal course of nitrogen uptake, incorporation and remobilization in different shoot components of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was studied under field conditions including three rates of ¹⁵N labelled nitrogen application (0, 100 or 200 kg N ha^-1) and two irrigation treatments (rainfed or watered at a deficit of 20 mm). The total amount of irrigation water applied was 260 mm, split over 13 occasions in a 7-week-period ranging from 1 week before onset of flowering until 4 weeks after flowering.Nitrogen application and irrigation increased plant growth and nitrogen accumulation. Irrespective of N and irrigation treatment more than 50% of total shoot N was present in the stem when flowering started. At the end of flowering, pod walls were the main N store containing about 30–40% of shoot N. The quantities of N remobilized from stems and pod walls amounted in all treatments to about 70% of the N present in these organs at mid-flowering. At harvest, stem and pod walls each contained about 10% of total shoot N, the remaining 80% being incorporated into seeds. The main component contributing to the response of seed N accumulation to nitrogen application and irrigation was pods in axillary racemes. Up to 20 kg N ha^-1, corresponding to about 10% of final shoot N content, was lost from the plants by leaf drop.Irrigation increased the recovery at harvest of applied N from 30% to about 50%, while the level of N application did not affect the N recovery. ¹⁵N labelled (fertilizer derived) nitrogen constituted a greater proportion of the N content in old leaves than in young leaves and increased with age in the former, but not in the latter. Relative to soil N, fertilizer derived N also contributed more to the N content of vegetative than to that of reproductive shoot components. Small net changes in shoot N content after flowering reflected a balance between N import and export, leading to continuous dilution of ¹⁵N labelled N with unlabelled N.