Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether grain yield and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) could be improved by alternate furrow irrigation (AFI). During the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 crop seasons, the effects of AFI on grain yield, NUE (and its components), the recovery of 15N-labeled fertilizer, N uptake and distribution, and soil nitrate-N were evaluated under field conditions. The irrigation regimes were: W0, non-irrigated; W2, every furrow irrigated at jointing and anthesis; W3, every furrow irrigated before wintering and at jointing and grain filling; and AFI, each of two neighboring furrows irrigated either before wintering or at grain filling, and every furrow irrigated at jointing. Our results show that grain yield, above-ground nitrogen uptake (AGN; including N from fertilizers and soil), and NUE were lowest in the W0 treatment and tended to increase with increasing irrigation frequency. Grain yield, AGN (including N from fertilizers and soil), NUE, nitrogen uptake efficiency (UPE), 15N-recovery efficiency, and N accumulation in grains were significantly higher in the AFI treatment than in the W2 treatment. AGN increased due to a higher amount of N derived from both fertilizers and soil. More N was derived from soil than from fertilizers; thus, the proportion of N derived from fertilizers decreased. No significant differences in grain yield and NUE were observed between the AFI and W3 treatments. AGN decreased when soil N luxury uptake and N accumulation in stems and leaves decreased. Greater N utilization efficiency and a higher N harvest index were observed in the AFI treatment compared with the W3 treatment. In addition, AFI increased nitrate-N contents in the upper soil layer (0–60 cm) and reduced nitrate-N movement to deeper soil compared to the W2 and W3 treatments. Therefore, AFI may be an appropriate irrigation method for improving NUE and decreasing water consumption in winter wheat without reducing yield.
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