Economical nitrogen application rate of winter wheat under rice-wheat rotation in the Yangtze River basin of China

Abstract

To promote the rational application of nitrogen fertilizer for winter wheat under rice-wheat rotation in the Yangtze River Basin, we examined the effects of nitrogen application rates (0, 120, 210, 300 kg·hm-2, expressed as N0, N1, N2, and N3 respectively) on soil nitrate content, nitrogen balance of soil-plant system and yield. The results showed that soil nitrate content increased with increasing nitrogen application rates. Under different nitrogen application treatments, all the nitrate was significantly transfered to the 60 cm soil layer till jointing stage. After jointing stage, topdressing nitrogen significantly increased nitrate content in 0-40 cm soil layer under N1 and N2 treatments and that in the 0-60 cm soil layer under N3 treatment. Soil nitrate mainly accumulated in the 0-40 cm soil layer in the mature stage. Results from nitrogen balance analysis showed that nitrogen absorption, residue and loss varied across different growth stages of wheat, with the period from overwintering to jointing being the principal time of apparent nitrogen loss. The amount of plant nitrogen accumulation, inorganic nitrogen residue and soil nitrogen apparent loss all positively correlated with the nitrogen application rate. Based on the comprehensive analysis through Coase principle and marginal revenue of environmental economics, the optimum nitrogen application rate for production, ecology and economic benefits of winter wheat under rice-wheat rotation was 250 kg·hm-2, and the ratio of base fertilizer to jointing fertilizer was 5:5, while the corresponding grain yield was 6840 kg·hm-2.