Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effects of fertilization and precipitation on winter wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency on the Loess Plateau

Author(s):

Xiaoyan He ¹, Mingde Hao ^{2, 3}*, Lei Chen ⁴, Wenjun Li ², Xu Chen ¹

Recieved Date: 2013-04-30, Accepted Date: 2013-10-16

Abstract:

We analysed the effect of fertilization and precipitation on the yield of winter wheat from 1984 to 2012 and on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) from 1994 to 2012 were analyze in a southern region of the Loess Plateau in China. The study included six treatments with three replicates in a randomised complete block design. The fertilizer treatments were: unfertilized control (CK), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), nitrogen + phosphorus (NP), manure (M), and nitrogen + phosphorus + manure (NPM). Yield and NUE varied with precipitation. Yields were higher in normal and wet years than in years of drought. Drought decreased wheat yield by 7.2-53.6% relative to normal years. The use of M, NP and NPM significantly reduced the effects of drought, and the yield was maintained above 2000 kg ha^-1. The average NUE from 1994 to 2012 in the N, M and NPM treatments was 15.0-31.1%, but NUE was as high as 43.2% in the NP treatment. The NUE was low in extremely dry years, but exceeded 60% in the NP treatment in very wet years. Total N in the surface soil (0-20 cm) increased and the amount of N recovered accounted for 37.9-71.5% of the total N in all treatments. N was lost in the NP treatment mainly by the leaching of nitrates. Fertilization with manure (M and NPM) effectively reduced nitrate leaching, but the NUE was low (about 40%). Soil bulk density changed significantly with the long-term application of manure fertilizer (as a cover on the cultivated soil layer). The results of this study indicated that a balanced fertilization with N and P was best for increasing yields, and NUE for avoiding an excessive loss of nitrogen to the environment. Yields could be maintained at a high level (4000 kg ha^-1) by the combined application of N, P and M.

Keywords:

Long-term experiment, precipitation, yield, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen recovery efficiency

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 1227-1232

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