Response of nitrogen use efficient sorghums to nitrogen fertilizer

Abstract

Little information is available on the response of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes differing in nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) (g DM g N‐1) to added N fertilizer. Such knowledge is important for reducing the reliance upon fertilizer N. A dryland field experiment was conducted in 1993 and 1994 at Mead, NE evaluating the agronomic responsiveness of 13 sorghum genotypes differing in NUE to three N rates (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha‐1) and also to determine physiological factors that contribute to improved NUE. The experiment was conducted on a fine montmorillonitic, mesic, Typic Argiudoll soil. Total N at maturity, dry matter, and grain yield were used to calculate NUE terms. Genotype differences were found for all measured variables both years, but no N rate by genotype effects were significant. Nitrogen fertilizer enhanced plant N contents and grain yield, but decreased NUE for total biomass and grain production. An early freeze in 1993 markedly reduced the later maturing genotype grain yields which, in turn, influenced NUE group comparisons. All genotypes in the study attained their full yield potential in 1994. The linear response to N rate of the N non‐responsive group was significantly less than the moderately responsive or N responsive group. High NUE sorghums had greater yields than low NUE types averaged over N levels only in 1994 since Naga White, a high NUE type, did not reach maturity in 1993. There was no difference in the linear response to N between these two groups. A linear increase in grain yield with increasing N rate was significantly greater for hybrids than lines. The results suggest that specific selection for high NUE sorghums will not diminish responsiveness to applied N.