Little Potential of Spring Wheat Genotypes as a Strategy to Reduce Nitrogen Leaching in Central Europe

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) losses negatively impact groundwater quality. Spring wheat genotypes varying in N-fertilizer recovery were studied (by using lysimeters) for their potential to minimize NO 3 -N leaching during spring and summer, over a three-year period. Additionally, we examined to what extent root growth and NO 3 -N leaching explain the well-known difference found between apparent and isotopic N recovery. The genotypes were grown under low (2 g m´2) and high (27 g m´2) N fertilizer supply. On average, the apparent and isotopic recoveries of N fertilizer by wheat were 43% and 51%, respectively. The three genotypes varied in fertilizer N recovery but not in NO 3 -N leaching, which only accounted for 15% of the applied N fertilizer. The differences in N uptake, fertilizer N recovery and root growth among the genotypes were not associated with the leached NO 3 -N because root growth and N uptake were not well synchronized with NO 3 -N leaching. Already at stem elongation 70% to 98% of the season-long NO 3 -N leaching had already taken place. Thus, the ability to minimize in-season NO 3 -N leaching by using spring wheat genotypes with higher fertilizer N recovery was limited because maximum N leaching occurred in the early crop season.

Variation in nitrogen partitioning and reproductive stage nitrogen remobilization determines nitrogen grain production efficiency (NUEg) in diverse rice genotypes under varying nitrogen supply

“…However, excessive application of chemical fertilizers may have a negative environmental impact leading to pollution, biodiversity as well as yield loss (Cassman et al, 1998). It is estimated that ~60% of N inputs are in excess for major cereals including rice, and only 30%-50% of applied N is taken up, and the unused N is lost to the environment (West et al, 2014;Herrera et al, 2016). Enhancing crop N use efficiency (NUE) will help in increasing yield under limited N conditions with minimum environmental impact (Moll et al, 1982).…”

“…From a physiological point of view, NUE can be evaluated by the N utilization efficiency (NUtE) or N grain production efficiency (NUEg) (Ciampitti and Vyn, 2014). Of all the cereals, rice and wheat cropping systems have the lowest levels of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), less than 30-40% (Norton et al, 2015;Taulemesse et al, 2015;Herrera et al, 2016). An additional amount of N fertilizer is applied to compensate for the effect of a lower uptake rate and to achieve higher grain yield (Elbasyoni et al, 2019).…”

Towards a Better Understanding of Agronomic Efficiency of Nitrogen: Assessment and Improvement Strategies

“…The subject of nitrate leaching reduction was also faced by the paper of Herrera et al [10], reporting a study that was conducted by using lysimeters, as in Piccinni et al [7]. The aim was to determine whether three spring wheat genotypes have the potential to minimize nitrate leaching during spring and summer.…”

Modeling maize growth and nitrogen dynamics using CERES-Maize (DSSAT) under diverse nitrogen management options in a conservation agriculture-based maize-wheat system

“…Among the agricultural inputs, nitrogen (N) fertilizers play a crucial role in increasing the soil supply of N to crops, particularly cereal crops, which are highly responsive to N 1 . The use of nitrogen fertilizers in the production of food and fibre crops has grown significantly in recent decades, but the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) remains low in cereal-based agro-ecosystems, with cereals typically taking up only 40-60% of applied nitrogen [2][3][4] . To maintain or increase grain yield, farmers often apply more N, leading to its excessive losses and resulting in negative environmental and socio-economic impacts such as groundwater contamination and greenhouse gas emissions 5,6 .…”