The effect of ammonium sulphate treated with a nitrification inhibitor, and calcium nitrate, on growth and N-uptake of spring wheat, ryegrass and kale

Abstract

Wheat, ryegrass and kale were grown with ammonium sulphate (treated with a nitrification inhibitor) or calcium nitrate supplying 50 and 100 lb N/acre, and without fertilizer-N. Plants were sampled at various stages, dry weights measured, percentage N determined and N uptakes calculated.Initially wheat and ryegrass grew better and took up more N with ammonium fertilizer than with nitrate. Final yields of dry matter did not differ between forms. Kale produced more dry matter with calcium nitrate than with ammonium sulphate. All crops produced more dry matter with fertilizer-N than without. Fertilized crops contained greatest weights of N 109 days after sowing, when wheat and ryegrass had more with ammonium than with nitrate and kale had less. The 50 lb N/acre as calcium nitrate produced the most wheat grain/lb of fertilizer-N.During the period when growth and N uptake were fastest, wheat grew faster with ammonium than with nitrate, ryegrass grew similarly with both forms, and kale faster with nitrate; wheat and ryegrass took up N faster from ammonium sulphate and kale from calcium nitrate.Mature wheat recovered 58 % of the fertilizer-N from calcium nitrate and 43 % from ammonium sulphate. After 21 weeks of growth, kale recovered more N from calcium nitrate (50%) than from ammonium sulphate (24%), whereas grass recovered about 40 % from each.

Effects of fertiliser nitrogen and 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (‘n-serve’) on soil nitrification, yield, and nitrogen uptake of ‘arawa’ and ‘hilgendorf’ wheats

“…This result strongly suggests that' Arawa' wheat plants show a preference for the ammonium forms of fertiliser N over this period of growth (0-45 days). Several workers reported similar conclusions in other studies (Spratt & Gasser 1970;Dekock 1970;Zsoldos 1971;Fried et al 1965;Weissman 1951). According to Fried et al (1965) and Zsoldos (1971), the apparent preference for NH4 N in early stages of plant growth is because its uptake is faster and assimilation more complete and efficient than N03 N. Furthermore, the energy conserved by the utilisation of NH!…”

“…However, NOg N was also present in the presence of 'N-Serve' (Figs 2B, 3B, and 4B, (NH4) 2S04 + 'N-Serve' and NH4N03 + 'N-Serve' treatments), indicating that total inhibition of nitrification was not achieved at the rate used in this study (i.e., 4% of fertiliser N applied). Although this rate is substantially higher than that recommended by Spratt & Gasser (1970), only partial control of nitrification is to be expected, because the entire soil mass was not treated completely with the chemical. According to Prasad et al (1971), partial control of nitrification with 'N-Serve' is the rule in most reported experiments (e.g., Lakhdive & Prasad 1970;Goring 1962b).…”

Ammonium and Nitrate Nutrition of Plants

“…These losses were less severe, and the crop yield consequently greater, when an inhibitor of nitrification such as nitrapyrin was used (Warren, Huber, Nelson & Mann, Increased nitrogen uptake and grain yield have often been observed to follow the use of nitrification inhibitors on rice paddy (Prasad, Turkehede & Das, 1966;Prasad, 1975 Nishihara & Tsuneyoshi, 1968; Rajale & Prasad, 1975; Sahrawat & Mukerjee, Inhibitors of nitrification have also been used to study ammonium and nitrate nutrition of other plants growing in soil since, in most soils, applied ammonium is quickly nitrified to nitrate. They have been used in studies of wheat (T. aestivum), ryegrass (L. multi$orum) and kale (Brassicu oleraceu) (Spratt & Gasser, 1970), carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) (Green, Holley & Thaden, 1973) and China aster (Callistephus chinensis) (Haynes & Goh, 1977).…”

“…However, in wheat (T. aestivum) ammonium promotes more vegetative growth, (i.e. early leaves and stems) than does nitrate nitrogen (Spratt & Gasser, 1970). Nitrate applied to wheat as the heads emerge (boot stage) increases the protein in the grain more than does applied ammonium (Spratt, 1974).…”

Evaluation of potting media for commercial nursery production of container grown plants

“…Nitrate levels were lower than those of the fertilisers alone, although significantly greater than controls (Tables 1, 2), indicating that total inhibition of nitrification was not achieved, even though N-serve was added at the rate of 8% of fertiliser N, which is very much higher than the recommended rate (Spratt & Gasser 1970). Partial control has been reported by many workers (Goh & Young 1975;Lakhdive & Prasad 1970;Goring 1962), because the entire soil mass cannot be treated completely by the chemical.…”