Abstract
A field micro-plot experiment for winter wheat was conducted in an irrigated winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)-summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in Mazhuang, Xinji of Hebei province in the North China Plain, using the 15N isotope method to determine the effects of N application (rates and timing), and irrigation frequency on urea-15N fate, residual-N and N recovery efficiency (NRE) of wheat. The experiment was conducted under two irrigation treatments (I2 and I3, representing for two and three irrigations, respectively), at three N rates (150, 210, and 270, kg ha−1), divided between two 15N-labeled applications of basal-15N (90 kg ha−1) and topdress-15N (60, 120, and 180, kg N ha−1, respectively). The total N uptake by wheat (ranging from 186 to 238 kg ha−1) and the fertilizer-derived N (Ndff, about 34–55%) were measured. The Ndff from labeled basal-15N and from labeled topdress-15N were about 15–22% and 16–40%, respectively. The NRE (measured either as recovery in grain or as the total N recovery in the plant) was higher with I3 (39–41 or 47–49%) than with I2 (35–40 or 42–47%), showing maximum NRE in grain of about 40% both at N210 with I2 and at N150 with I3 treatment. The NRE by the first wheat crop (in grain or the total N recovery in plant) was higher with labeled topdress-15N (39–48 or 45–56%) as compared to that with labeled basal-15N (30–37 or 36–45%), while the unaccounted N losses were lower with labeled basal-15N (14–22%) relative to labeled topdress-15N (14–35%). Higher residual N in soils was found with labeled basal-15N (41–51%), as compared to labeled topdress-15N (18–35%). Residual N in the 0- to 150-cm soil depth ranged from 26 to 44% while the unaccounted N losses ranged from 14 to 30%. Recovery of residual N by the 2nd and 3rd crops in the rotation was 5–10% in the maize crop and a further 1.7–3.5% in the subsequent wheat crop. The accumulated N recovery and the unaccounted N losses in continuous wheat–maize–wheat rotations derived from labeled topdress-15N were 54–64% and 16–37%, respectively while they were 47–53% and 16–28%, respectively from labeled basal-15N. This study also suggested that an N rate of 210 kg ha−1 (with a ratio of basal-N to topdress-N of 1:1.3) with two irrigation applications could optimize wheat grain yields and NRE, under the water limited conditions in North China Plain.
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Acknowledgments
The studies are part of The National Basic Research Program (“973 Program”, no. 2011CB100501/2007CB109305) and the International Cooperation Project (2006DFB32180) financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.
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Jia, S., Wang, X., Yang, Y. et al. Fate of labeled urea-15N as basal and topdressing applications in an irrigated wheat–maize rotation system in North China Plain: I winter wheat. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 90, 331–346 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-011-9433-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-011-9433-5