IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v290y2023ics0378377423004523.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimal nitrogen management to achieve high wheat grain yield, grain protein content, and water productivity: A meta-analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Yunqi
  • Peng, Yu
  • Lin, Jiaqi
  • Wang, Lixin
  • Jia, Zhikuan
  • Zhang, Rui

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) addition is commonly employed to enhance wheat production, and the effectiveness is strongly influenced by site-specific factors encompassing environmental conditions and crop management practices. However, the current understanding fails to adequately account for the intricate and variable interactions among these factors. Consequently, we conducted a global meta-analysis to quantify the combined contributions of these factors to wheat yield, grain protein content (GPC), and water productivity (WP) and provide recommendations for optimizing N management. The results revealed a significant improvement in grain yield (14.85%), GPC (6.62%), and WP (10.79%) following the application of N. Moreover, higher N addition rates, the utilization of coated N fertilizer, post-anthesis fertilization, and multiple N applications exhibited enhanced outcomes in terms of yield, GPC, and WP in wheat systems. It was observed that applying 100–200 kg/ha of N was the optimal rate for maximizing yield, GPC, and WP. Medium soil texture and humid climate conditions showed a more pronounced increase in yield in response to N addition. Additionally, wheat yield demonstrated a stronger response to N addition benefits when the annual temperature was below 14 °C, while GPC showed a higher increase with temperatures exceeding 14 °C. Furthermore, adopting common N fertilization practices alongside irrigation and implementing pre-anthesis N addition in medium soil texture and humid climate conditions also contributed to achieving optimal wheat performance. The finding of this study serves as a guideline to support on-site N addition practice for wheat and to offer a reference to N management policy design across specific site conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yunqi & Peng, Yu & Lin, Jiaqi & Wang, Lixin & Jia, Zhikuan & Zhang, Rui, 2023. "Optimal nitrogen management to achieve high wheat grain yield, grain protein content, and water productivity: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:290:y:2023:i:c:s0378377423004523
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108587
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423004523
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108587?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Ying & Shi, Wenjuan & Wen, Tianyang, 2023. "Prediction of winter wheat yield and dry matter in North China Plain using machine learning algorithms for optimal water and nitrogen application," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    2. Fernández, J.E. & Alcon, F. & Diaz-Espejo, A. & Hernandez-Santana, V. & Cuevas, M.V., 2020. "Water use indicators and economic analysis for on-farm irrigation decision: A case study of a super high density olive tree orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    3. Si, Zhuanyun & Zain, Muhammad & Mehmood, Faisal & Wang, Guangshuai & Gao, Yang & Duan, Aiwang, 2020. "Effects of nitrogen application rate and irrigation regime on growth, yield, and water-nitrogen use efficiency of drip-irrigated winter wheat in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    4. Huang, Yawen & Tao, Bo & Xiaochen, Zhu & Yang, Yanjun & Liang, Liang & Wang, Lixin & Jacinthe, Pierre-Andre & Tian, Hanqin & Ren, Wei, 2021. "Conservation tillage increases corn and soybean water productivity across the Ohio River Basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    5. Li, Zhou & Zhang, Qingping & Wei, Wanrong & Cui, Song & Tang, Wei & Li, Yuan, 2020. "Determining effects of water and nitrogen inputs on wheat yield and water productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in China: A quantitative synthesis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    6. Zhang, Yanqun & Wang, Jiandong & Gong, Shihong & Xu, Di & Sui, Juan, 2017. "Nitrogen fertigation effect on photosynthesis, grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 277-287.
    7. Wang, Yunqi & Guo, Tongji & Qi, Liuran & Zeng, Huanyu & Liang, Yuexin & Wei, Shikun & Gao, Fuli & Wang, Lixin & Zhang, Rui & Jia, Zhikuan, 2020. "Meta-analysis of ridge-furrow cultivation effects on maize production and water use efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    8. Wang, Linlin & Palta, Jairo A. & Chen, Wei & Chen, Yinglong & Deng, Xiping, 2018. "Nitrogen fertilization improved water-use efficiency of winter wheat through increasing water use during vegetative rather than grain filling," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 41-53.
    9. Li, Haoru & Li, Xiaoli & Mei, Xurong & Nangia, Vinay & Guo, Rui & Hao, Weiping & Wang, Jiandong, 2023. "An alternative water-fertilizer-saving management practice for wheat-maize cropping system in the North China Plain: Based on a 4-year field study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    10. Fang, Heng & Liu, Fulai & Gu, Xiaobo & Chen, Pengpeng & Li, Yupeng & Li, Yuannong, 2022. "The effect of source–sink on yield and water use of winter wheat under ridge-furrow with film mulching and nitrogen fertilization," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    11. David Tilman & Kenneth G. Cassman & Pamela A. Matson & Rosamond Naylor & Stephen Polasky, 2002. "Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices," Nature, Nature, vol. 418(6898), pages 671-677, August.
    12. Lixin Wang & Wenzhe Jiao & Natasha MacBean & Maria Cristina Rulli & Stefano Manzoni & Giulia Vico & Paolo D’Odorico, 2022. "Dryland productivity under a changing climate," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(11), pages 981-994, November.
    13. Yao, Chunsheng & Ren, Jie & Li, Haoran & Zhang, Zhen & Wang, Zhimin & Sun, Zhencai & Zhang, Yinghua, 2023. "Can wheat yield, N use efficiency and processing quality be improved simultaneously?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    14. Alessandro Liberati & Douglas G Altman & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Cynthia Mulrow & Peter C Gøtzsche & John P A Ioannidis & Mike Clarke & P J Devereaux & Jos Kleijnen & David Moher, 2009. "The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-28, July.
    15. Yujie Liu & Qiaomin Chen & Qinghua Tan, 2019. "Responses of wheat yields and water use efficiency to climate change and nitrogen fertilization in the North China plain," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(6), pages 1231-1242, December.
    16. Keikha, Mahdi & Darzi- Naftchali, Abdullah & Motevali, Ali & Valipour, Mohammad, 2023. "Effect of nitrogen management on the environmental and economic sustainability of wheat production in different climates," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Shanshan & Zhang, Jiahua & Wang, Jingwen & Zhang, Sha & Bai, Yun & Shi, Siqi & Cao, Dan, 2022. "Spatiotemporal variations of water productivity for cropland and driving factors over China during 2001–2015," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    2. Wang, Linlin & Li, Qiang & Coulter, Jeffrey A. & Xie, Junhong & Luo, Zhuzhu & Zhang, Renzhi & Deng, Xiping & Li, Linglin, 2020. "Winter wheat yield and water use efficiency response to organic fertilization in northern China: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Lu, Junsheng & Geng, Chenming & Cui, Xiaolu & Li, Mengyue & Chen, Shuaihong & Hu, Tiantian, 2021. "Response of drip fertigated wheat-maize rotation system on grain yield, water productivity and economic benefits using different water and nitrogen amounts," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    4. Wang, Haidong & Wang, Naijiang & Quan, Hao & Zhang, Fucang & Fan, Junliang & Feng, Hao & Cheng, Minghui & Liao, Zhenqi & Wang, Xiukang & Xiang, Youzhen, 2022. "Yield and water productivity of crops, vegetables and fruits under subsurface drip irrigation: A global meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    5. Wang, Chao & Wu, Shuxia & Tankari, Moussa & Zhang, Ximei & Li, Li & Gong, Daozhi & Hao, Weiping & Zhang, Yanqing & Mei, Xurong & Wang, Yufei & Liu, Fulai & Wang, Yaosheng, 2018. "Stomatal aperture rather than nitrogen nutrition determined water use efficiency of tomato plants under nitrogen fertigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 94-101.
    6. Lu, Junsheng & Xiang, Youzhen & Fan, Junliang & Zhang, Fucang & Hu, Tiantian, 2021. "Sustainable high grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and water productivity can be achieved in wheat-maize rotation system by changing irrigation and fertilization strategy," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    7. Dai, Yulong & Liao, Zhenqi & Lai, Zhenlin & Bai, Zhentao & Zhang, Fucang & Li, Zhijun & Fan, Junliang, 2023. "Interactive effects of planting pattern, supplementary irrigation and planting density on grain yield, water-nitrogen use efficiency and economic benefit of winter wheat in a semi-humid but drought-pr," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    8. Yao, Chunsheng & Li, Jinpeng & Zhang, Zhen & Liu, Ying & Wang, Zhimin & Sun, Zhencai & Zhang, Yinghua, 2023. "Improving wheat yield, quality and resource utilization efficiency through nitrogen management based on micro-sprinkler irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    9. Liu, Xuchen & Liu, Junming & Huang, Chao & Liu, Huihao & Meng, Ye & Chen, Haiqing & Ma, Shoutian & Liu, Zhandong, 2024. "The impacts of irrigation methods and regimes on the water and nitrogen utilization efficiency in subsoiling wheat fields," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    10. Liu, Junming & Si, Zhuanyun & Wu, Lifeng & Fu, Yuanyuan & Zhang, Yingying & Kpalari, Djifa Fidele & Wu, Xiaolei & Cao, Hui & Gao, Yang & Duan, Aiwang, 2024. "Application of resource-environmental-economic perspective for optimal water and nitrogen rate under high-low seedbed cultivation in winter wheat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    11. Liu, Pengzhao & Fan, Zhen & Yan, Zinan & Ren, Xiaolong & Zhao, Xining & Zhang, Jianjun & Chen, Xiaoli, 2024. "Evaluation of N nutrition and optimal fertilizer rate for ridge-furrow mulched maize based on critical N dilution curve under different water conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    12. Sun, Mengyuan & Chen, Wen & Lapen, David R. & Ma, Bin & Lu, Peina & Liu, Jinghui, 2023. "Effects of ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching combining with various urea types on water productivity and yield of potato in a dryland farming system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    13. Liu, Yu & Li, Shilei & Liu, Yanxin & Shen, Hongzheng & Huang, Tingting & Ma, Xiaoyi, 2023. "Optimization of a nitrogen fertilizer application scheme for spring maize in full-film double-ridge furrow in Longzhong, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    14. Liu, Junming & Si, Zhuanyun & Wu, Lifeng & Shen, Xiaojun & Gao, Yang & Duan, Aiwang, 2023. "High-low seedbed cultivation drives the efficient utilization of key production resources and the improvement of wheat productivity in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    15. Peng, Xuelian & Chen, Dianyu & Zhou, Zhenjiang & Zhen, Jingbo & Xu, Can & Hu, Xiaotao & Wang, Yakun, 2024. "Optimizing drip fertigation management to simultaneously improve the yield, water productivity and fertilizer agronomic utilization efficiency of grapes in different precipitation year patterns," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    16. Zhang, Fan & Chen, Mengru & Fu, Jintao & Zhang, Xiangzhu & Li, Yuan & Shao, Yating & Xing, Yingying & Wang, Xiukang, 2023. "Coupling effects of irrigation amount and fertilization rate on yield, quality, water and fertilizer use efficiency of different potato varieties in Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    17. Zhao, Xiao & Gu, Xiaobo & Yang, Zhichao & Li, Yuannong & Zhang, Li & Zhou, Jiaming, 2022. "Effects of soil preparation and mulching practices together with different urea applications on the water and nitrogen use of winter wheat in semi-humid and drought-prone areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    18. Liao, Qi & Ding, Risheng & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Tong, Ling & Li, Sien, 2022. "Stomatal conductance drives variations of yield and water use of maize under water and nitrogen stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    19. Hamani, Abdoul Kader Mounkaila & Abubakar, Sunusi Amin & Si, Zhuanyun & Kama, Rakhwe & Gao, Yang & Duan, Aiwang, 2023. "Responses of grain yield and water-nitrogen dynamic of drip-irrigated winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to different nitrogen fertigation and water regimes in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    20. Li, Haoru & Mei, Xurong & Wang, Jiandong & Huang, Feng & Hao, Weiping & Li, Baoguo, 2021. "Drip fertigation significantly increased crop yield, water productivity and nitrogen use efficiency with respect to traditional irrigation and fertilization practices: A meta-analysis in China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:290:y:2023:i:c:s0378377423004523. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.