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Effect of Long-Term Nitrogen Addition on Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Residual Soil Nitrate in a Semiarid Area of the Loess Plateau of China

Author

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  • Aixia Xu

    (Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    Dingxi Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Supervision Management Station, Dingxi 743000, China)

  • Lingling Li

    (Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Junhong Xie

    (Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Xingzheng Wang

    (Dingxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dingxi 743000, China)

  • Jeffrey A. Coulter

    (Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA)

  • Chang Liu

    (Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Linlin Wang

    (Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer plays an important role in wheat yield, but N application rates vary greatly, and there is a lack of data to quantify the residual effects of N fertilization on soil N availability. A 17-yr experiment was conducted in a semiarid area of the Loess Plateau of China to assess the effects of N fertilization on spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield, N uptake, N utilization efficiency, and residual soil nitrate. Treatments included a non-N-fertilized control and annual application of 52.5, 105.0, 157.5, and 210.0 kg N ha −1 in the first two years (2003 and 2004). In the third year (2005), the four main plots with N fertilizer application were split. In one subplot, N fertilization was continued as mentioned previously, while in the other subplot, N fertilization was stopped. The concentration of NO 3 -N in the 0–110 cm depth soil layers was significantly affected by N application, with higher N rates associated with greater soil NO 3 -N concentration. With the annual application of N over 17 years, residual soil NO 3 -N concentration in the 100–200 cm soil layer in the last study year was significantly greater than that in the non-N-fertilized control and was increased with rate of N application. There was a significant positive relationship of soil NO 3 -N in the 0–50 cm and 50–110 cm soil layers at wheat sowing with wheat grain N content and yield. Wheat grain yield in the third year (2005) was significantly, i.e., 22.57–59.53%, greater than the unfertilized treatment after the N application was stopped. Nitrogen use efficiency decreased in response to each increment of added N fertilizer, and was directly related to N harvest index and grain yield. Therefore, greater utilization of residual soil N through appropriate N fertilizer rates could enhance nitrogen use efficiency while reducing the cost of crop production and risk of N losses to the environment. For these concerns, optimum N fertilizer application rate for spring wheat in semiarid Loess Plateau is about 105 kg N ha −1 , which is below the threshold value of 170 kg N ha −1 per year as defined by most EU countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Aixia Xu & Lingling Li & Junhong Xie & Xingzheng Wang & Jeffrey A. Coulter & Chang Liu & Linlin Wang, 2020. "Effect of Long-Term Nitrogen Addition on Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Residual Soil Nitrate in a Semiarid Area of the Loess Plateau of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:5:p:1735-:d:325130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guangfeng Chen & Hongzhu Cao & Jun Liang & Wenqi Ma & Lufang Guo & Shuhua Zhang & Rongfeng Jiang & Hongyan Zhang & Keith W. T. Goulding & Fusuo Zhang, 2018. "Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Fusuo Zhang & Xinping Chen & Peter Vitousek, 2013. "An experiment for the world," Nature, Nature, vol. 497(7447), pages 33-35, May.
    3. Shen Yuan & Shaobing Peng, 2017. "Exploring the Trends in Nitrogen Input and Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Agricultural Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Peng Gong & Lu Liang & Qiang Zhang, 2011. "China must reduce fertilizer use too," Nature, Nature, vol. 473(7347), pages 284-285, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dongrui Han & Hongyan Cai & Xiaohuan Yang & Xinliang Xu, 2020. "Multi-Source Data Modeling of the Spatial Distribution of Winter Wheat Yield in China from 2000 to 2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Esmaeil Zangani & Kamran Afsahi & Farid Shekari & Eileen Mac Sweeney & Andrea Mastinu, 2021. "Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition to Soil Improves Seed Yield, Foliar Stomatal Conductance, and the Photosynthetic Response of Rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-10, May.
    3. Wenli Zhang & Yubing Liu & Zengru Wang & Lina Zhao & Jinghua Qi & Yansong Wang & Pan Zhao & Naiqin Zhong, 2020. "Short-Term Effects of Eco-Friendly Fertilizers on a Soil Bacterial Community in the Topsoil and Rhizosphere of an Irrigated Agroecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Aixia Xu & Lingling Li & Junhong Xie & Subramaniam Gopalakrishnan & Renzhi Zhang & Zhuzhu Luo & Liqun Cai & Chang Liu & Linlin Wang & Sumera Anwar & Yuji Jiang, 2022. "Changes in Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea and Bacterial Communities and Soil Nitrogen Dynamics in Response to Long-Term Nitrogen Fertilization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Armelle Zaragüeta & Alberto Enrique & Xavier Portell & Rodrigo Antón & Iñigo Virto & Luis Orcaray, 2023. "A Fertilisation Strategy Combining Mineral Fertiliser and Biosolid Improves Long-Term Yield and Carbon Storage in a Calcareous Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, April.

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