A Calculation Tool for Analyzing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Annual and Perennial Crops

Weih, Martin

doi:10.3390/agronomy4040470

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…We calculated growth parameters at the genotype level and for each pot using classical growth analysis as described in Table 1 ( Fisher, 1921 ; Evans, 1972 ; Hunt, 1982 ). Plant N economy was calculated based on the methodology by Weih et al (2011) and Weih (2014) ; using the N content of the cutting as perennial N (i.e., N s ), and the N contents of the plants from the two destructive harvests for the calculation of the mean plant N content during major growth period ( N’ ). As we had controlled N inputs and N fate in the plant biomass, it was also possible to evaluate the community level N retention efficiency (η) as the fraction of N retained in the system by the end of the growing period.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two Salix Genotypes Differ in Productivity and Nitrogen Economy When Grown in Monoculture and Mixture

et al. 2017

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Individual plant species or genotypes often differ in their demand for nutrients; to compete in a community they must be able to acquire more nutrients (i.e., uptake efficiency) and/or use them more efficiently for biomass production than their competitors. These two mechanisms are often complementary, as there are inherent trade-offs between them. In a mixed-stand, species with contrasting nutrient use patterns interact and may use their resources to increase productivity in different ways. Under contrasting nutrient availabilities, the competitive advantages conferred by either strategy may also shift, so that the interaction between resource use strategy and resource availability ultimately determines the performance of individual genotypes in mixtures. The aim was to investigate growth and nitrogen (N) use efficiency of two willow (Salix) genotypes grown in monoculture and mixture in a fertilizer contrast. We explored the hypotheses that (1) the biomass production of at least one of the involved genotypes should be greater when grown in mixture as compared to the corresponding monoculture when nutrients are the most growth-limiting factor; and (2) the N economy of individual genotypes differs when grown in mixture compared to the corresponding monoculture. The genotypes ‘Tora’ (Salix schwerinii ×S. viminalis) and ‘Loden’ (S. dasyclados), with contrasting phenology and functional traits, were grown from cuttings in a growth container experiment under two nutrient fertilization treatments (high and low) in mono- and mixed-culture for 17 weeks. Under low nutrient level, ‘Tora’ showed a higher biomass production (aboveground biomass, leaf area productivity) and N uptake efficiency in mixture than in monoculture, whereas ‘Loden’ showed the opposite pattern. In addition, ‘Loden’ showed higher leaf N productivity but lower N uptake efficiency than ‘Tora.’ The results demonstrated that the specific functional trait combinations of individual genotypes affect their response to mixture as compared to monoculture. Plants grown in mixture as opposed to monoculture may thus increase biomass and vary in their response of N use efficiency traits. However, young plants were investigated here, and as we cannot predict mixture response in mature stands, our results need to be validated at field scale.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two Salix Genotypes Differ in Productivity and Nitrogen Economy When Grown in Monoculture and Mixture

et al. 2017

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“…Techniques that favour long-term maintenance of the residual N in the system should be promoted, by allowing herbaceous vegetation to take it up in autumn and winter or favouring its immobilization soil by microorganisms during the decomposition of the soil organic matter. These practices will reduce the amount of N prone to be lost by leaching, runoff, or volatilization [ 7 , 37 ].…”

Section: Nitrogen Fertilization Of Fruit Treesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Nutrition of Fruit Trees to Reconcile Productivity and Environmental Concerns

Carranca

Brunetto

Tagliavini

2018

Plants

117

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Although perennial fruit crops represent 1% of global agricultural land, they are of a great economic importance in world trade and in the economy of many regions. The perennial woody nature of fruit trees, their physiological stages of growth, the root distribution pattern, and the presence of herbaceous vegetation in alleys make orchard systems efficient in the use and recycling of nitrogen (N). The present paper intends to review the existing literature on N nutrition of young and mature deciduous and evergreen fruit trees with special emphasis to temperate and Mediterranean climates. There are two major sources of N contributing to vegetative tree growth and reproduction: root N uptake and internal N cycling. Optimisation of the use of external and internal N sources is important for a sustainable fruit production, as N use efficiency by young and mature fruit trees is generally lower than 55% and losses of fertilizer N may occur with the consequent economic and environmental concern. Organic alternatives to mineral N fertilizer like the application of manure, compost, mulching, and cover crops are scarcely used in perennial fruit trees, in spite of the fact that society’s expectations call for more sustainable production techniques and the demand for organic fruits is increasing.

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“…Artificial nitrogen fertilization is one of the pillars of modern agriculture. However, it is widely recognized that its uptake by the roots of the crops features a medium-low efficiency, in spite of valuable research efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of the agricultural management of N fertilizers, manure, and crop residues [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Consequently, the leaching of nitrogen species from soils to aquifers represents one of the main environmental problems associated with agriculture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrates in Groundwater of Small Shallow Aquifers in the Western Side of Hoya de Huesca (NE Spain)

2019

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Nitrate is one of the most common groundwater contaminants in rural areas. In this work, the presence of high levels of nitrate in groundwater of the aquifers of the west part of Hoya de Huesca County (NE Spain) has been studied by coupling hydrogeological information with water sampling techniques through a wide areal sampling of 90 surface water and groundwater points belonging to several aquifers. The results showed a general hydrochemistry of calcium carbonate to calcium sulfate waters. Unlike other case studies in Mediterranean areas, in which nitrate pollution was associated with irrigated crops, the highest concentrations in the present study were found in dry farming areas in which winter cereal is grown. A monthly nitrate level monitoring, conducted in 21 selected points between 2016 and 2017, showed that the nitrate evolution pattern followed the N fertilizer application schedules in the sampling points in which the highest concentrations were recorded, whereas an annual regularity could be observed in the sampling points with low nitrate levels. The compilation of data for 16 selected points since 1990 shows that the problem is persistent and points to the need of implementing new aquifer pollution control measures, since the ones currently in force have not been successful.

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A Calculation Tool for Analyzing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Annual and Perennial Crops

Cited by 24 publications

References 14 publications

Two Salix Genotypes Differ in Productivity and Nitrogen Economy When Grown in Monoculture and Mixture

Two Salix Genotypes Differ in Productivity and Nitrogen Economy When Grown in Monoculture and Mixture

Nitrogen Nutrition of Fruit Trees to Reconcile Productivity and Environmental Concerns

Nitrates in Groundwater of Small Shallow Aquifers in the Western Side of Hoya de Huesca (NE Spain)

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