Abstract
The optimization of nitrogen (N) fertilization has become an ever more important global challenge with the aim of achieving high crop yields and high N use efficiency (NUE) with low environmental risks. The North China Plain (NCP) is China’s most important wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn.) production region, and a global hotspot for N fertilizer use. How much nitrogen can be saved compared to the farmers’ level that would not influence wheat yield, and lead to high NUE with low N surplus? It is still challenging as there are not enough evidences from the long-term experiments. Thus, continuous detailed observations from an ongoing long-term experiment in the NCP since 2010 with five N rates, namely 0 (N0), 60 (N60), 120 (N120), 180 (N180) and 240 (N240) kg N ha−1, were included in the study. Our results indicated that stable high wheat yield cannot be achieved without enough N inputs from the long-term, because of severely depleted N pool in the N0 and N60 treatments seriously influenced root growth and wheat development thus damaged wheat yield. Though highest wheat yield was obtained in the N240 treatment, the high N rate caused lowest NUE and largest N surplus with high soil mineral N (SMN) with the mean value of 143 kg N ha−1 at the 0–60 cm layer at harvest. Besides, both root weight density (RWD) and root length density (RLD) were much lower in the N240 treatment compared to that in the N180 treatment. Our integrative analyses clearly indicate that the optimal N application for achieving high yield, high NUE and low environmental risks in wheat production was 180 kg N ha−1 based on long-term observations. Our results should be beneficial for promoting sustainable wheat production in the NCP and similar regions with wheat-based double cropping over the world.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.