Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen use efficiency and yield of rice under different soil conditions

Abstract

Four rice cultivars were used to study the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen use efficiency, yield and characteristics of nitrogen uptake under two soil conditions (sandy and clay soil) in soil culture pool. The results were as follows. First, yield of rice in sandy and clay soil was increased by nitrogen application, and that in clay soil was higher than that in sandy soil, but the effect of nitrogen on yield increment was greater in sandy soil than in clay soil. Second, nitrogen utilization of rice was different under different soil conditions. Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) and physiological Nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) were higher in sandy soil than in clay soil. Apparent Nitrogen recovery efficiency (ANRE), partial factor productivity for applied Nitrogen (PFP), and soil Nitrogen dependent rate (SNDR) were higher in clay soil than in sandy soil. Agronomic Nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE) was varied in different cultivars under different soil conditions. Third, N harvest index, agronomic N use efficiency, physiological N use efficiency, partial factor productivity for applied N, and soil N dependent rate were decreased significantly with the increment of the amount of nitrogen applied under two soil conditions. In sandy soil, ANRE was increased with the increasing nitrogen application and reached the highest value at high nitrogen level. However, in clay soil, ANRE was increased with the increasing of nitrogen application at first, and reached the highest value at medium nitrogen level, then decreased dramatically at high nitrogen level. Fourth, N uptake rate for rice straw and for rice grain and total N uptake rate for rice were higher in sandy clay soil than in sandy soil, but the difference between them was relatively small. Fifth, under different soil conditions, there were significant genotypic differences in the effects of applying nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen use efficiency, yield, and characteristics of nitrogen uptake.