Determination of Nitrogen Status in Winter Wheat by Measuring Basal Stem Tissue Sap Nitrate Concentration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess a quick-test method determining nitrate in basal stem tissue sap for the prediction of nitrogen status in winter wheat (Triticum aesti6um L.). The nitrate content in plant stem tissue sap collected at Zadoks growth stages GS 31 and GS 49 of winter wheat in 11 annual field trials in south-east Norway in the years 1993-96 was measured with Merckoquant test strips with a Nitracheck Meter. Relationships between NO 3 − concentrations and final yields were good within individual trials, but when the results from all trials were pooled, the NO 3 − concentration was a poor predictor of final yields. This study suggests that the critical nitrate values required in plant stem sap for sufficient grain protein content for bread-baking quality are 4000 ppm NO 3 − at GS 31 and 2000 ppm at GS 49 in situations with a single N application in the spring. In situations with split N applications (25 kg N ha − 1 at GS 31 and 25 kg N ha − 1 at GS 49 in addition to spring application), 1000 and 500 ppm were found to be the critical values at GS 31 and 49, respectively. Because of the large between-site and between-year variability, this study does not indicate that the method can be recommended for extended practical use.

Opportunities for improved fertilizer nitrogen management in production of arable crops in eastern Canada: A review

“…Nitrate concentration is measured in a specific section of the corn stalk late in the growing season, and can be used to identify if crop N supply was yieldlimiting, adequate or excessive (Murdock and Schwab 2004;Wilhelm et al 2005). Similarly, basal stem tissue sap nitrate concentration has been used as a measure of N status in cereal crops (Hoel 1999).…”

Guiding fall fertilization of cool‐season turfgrass lawns with verdure tissue‐N tests

“…This is a routine test for many vegetable and fruit crops. Measurement of sap NO 3 can guide N fertilization of annual cereal grasses used for forage (Delgado & Follett, 1998; Ismail & Withers, 1984; Westcott, Cash, Jacobson, Carlson, & Welty, 1998; Zhang, Redmon, Fuhrman, & Springer, 1999); annual cereal grasses and maize used for grain (Palenski Brown & Kemp, 1989; Cornforth, 1980; Hoel, 1999; Jia et al., 2004; Justes, Meynard, Mary, & Plenet, 1997; Papastylianou, 1989; Shou, Jia, Cui, Chen, & Zhang, 2007; Thompson et al., 2004; Wang et al., 2020; Withers, 1982; Zhang et al., 1999); and for perennial or short‐lived grasses used for forage (Lyons, Hawley, & Jeffrey, 1992; Reddiex, Rowarth, & Searle, 1997; Viana et al., 2014). The most common routine use of fresh sap NO 3 measurements in grasses, however, is to prevent NO 3 poisoning in livestock consuming the herbage and not as a guide to optimize yields.…”