Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Will breeding for nitrogen use efficient crops lead to nitrogen use efficient cropping systems?: a simulation study of G×E×M interactions

  • Published:
Euphytica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The benefits of improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops are typically studied through the performance of the individual crop. However, in order to increase yields in a sustainable way, improving NUE of the cropping systems must be the aim. We did a model simulation study to investigate how improvement of NUE traits of individual crops affects the succeeding crops and the NUE of the crop rotation. Based on experimental results parameterization was altered for different types of improved NUE in the EU-Rotate_N model, e.g. through higher N harvest index, reduced litter loss or improved root depth penetration rate. The different ways of improving NUE have different effects on the cropping system, affecting either N uptake, the ability of the crop to hold on to N already taken up, or the fraction of crop N being harvested. Due to the different modes of action, the model simulations show that these changes in NUE traits will also have different effects on N leaching loss and on N availability and N loss in the following years. Simulations also show that the effect of genotypes with improved NUE depend on environment and crop management. This is true for the improved crop itself and when its effect is analyzed for the whole cropping system. The environmental conditions, crop choices and management will all affect the fate of the N left in the soil, and whether this will contribute mainly to leaching loss or be used for production in later crops. As an example, increasing pre-crop fertilization was shown to affect the leaching after the following oilseed rape crop with up to 50 kg N ha−1 taken up before it was lost to the environment when pre-crop fertilization as well as root depth penetration rate was high. All in all, the simulations illustrate the concept of NUE as the result of interactions between genotype, environment and crop management (G×E×M).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Askegaard M, Olesen JE, Kristensen K (2005) Nitrate leaching from organic arable crop rotations: effects of location, manure and catch crop. Soil Use Manag 21:181–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barraclough PB (1989) Root-growth, macro-nutrient uptake dynamics and soil fertility requirements of a high-yielding winter oilseed rape crop. Plant Soil 119:59–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barraclough PB, Howarth JR, Jones J, Lopez-Bellido R, Parmar S, Shepherd CE, Hawkesford MJ (2010) Nitrogen efficiency of wheat: genotypic and environmental variation and prospects for improvement. Eur J Agron 33:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berry PM, Spink J, Foulkes MJ, White PJ (2010) The physiological basis of genotypic differences in nitrogen use efficiency in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Field Crop Res 119:365–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bingham IJ, Karley AJ, White PJ, Thomas WTB, Russell JR (2012) Analysis of improvements in nitrogen use efficiency associated with 75 years of spring barley breeding. Eur J Agron 42:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogard M, Allard V, Brancourt-Hulmel M, Heumez E, Machet JM, Jeuffroy MH, Gate P, Martre P, Le Gouis J (2010) Deviation from the grain protein concentration–grain yield negative relationship is highly correlated to post-anthesis N uptake in winter wheat. J Exp Bot 61:4303–4312

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boote KJ, Jones JW, White JW, Asseng S, Lizaso JI (2013) Putting mechanisms into crop production models. Plant Cell Environ 36:1658–1672

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brancourt-Hulmel M, Doussinault G, Lecomte C, Berard P, Le Buanec B, Trottet M (2003) Genetic improvement of agronomic traits of winter wheat cultivars released in France from 1946 to 1992. Crop Sci 43:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brisson N, Gary C, Justes E, Roche R, Mary B, Ripoche D, Zimmer D, Sierra J, Bertuzzi P, Burger P, Bussiere F, Cabidoche YM, Cellier P, Debaeke P, Gaudillere JP, Henault C, Maraux F, Seguin B, Sinoquet H (2003) An overview of the crop model STICS. Eur J Agron 18:309–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cormier F, Faure S, Dubreuil P, Heumez E, Beauchêne K, Lafarge S, Praud S, Le Gouis J (2013) A multi-environmental study of recent breeding progress on nitrogen use efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Theor Appl Genet 126:2045–3048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fageria NK, Baligar VC, Li YC (2008) The role of nutrient efficient plants in improving crop yields in the twenty first century. J Plant Nutr 31:1121–1157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garnett T, Conn V, Kaiser BN (2009) Root based approaches to improving nitrogen use efficiency in plants. Plant Cell Environ 32:1272–1283

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Good AG, Shrawat AK, Muench DG (2004) Can less yield more? Is reducing nutrient input into the environment compatible with maintaining crop production? Trends Plant Sci 9:597–605

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood DJ (2001) Modeling N-response of field vegetable crops grown under diverse conditions with N_ABLE: a review. J Plant Nutr 24:1799–1815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood DJ, Rahn C, Draycott A, Vaidyanathan LV, Paterson C (1996) Modelling and measurement of the effects of fertilizer-N and crop residue incorporation on N-dynamics in vegetable cropping. Soil Use Manag 12:13–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillard K, Morris TF, Kopp KL (1999) The pre-sidedress soil nitrate test and nitrate leaching from corn. J Environ Qual 28:1845–1852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Habash DZ, Massiah AJ, Rong HL, Wallsgrove RM, Leigh RA (2001) The role of cytosolic glutamine synthetase in wheat. Ann Appl Biol 138:83–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen S, Jensen HE, Nielsen NE, Svendsen H (1991) Simulation of nitrogen dynamics and biomass production in winter-wheat using the Danish simulation model Daisy. Fertil Res 27:245–259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen S, Abrahamsen P, Petersen CT, Styczen M (2012) Daisy: model use, calibration and validation. Trans ASABE 55(4):1315–1333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirel B, Bertin P, Quillere I, Bourdoncle W, Attagnant C, Dellay C, Gouy A, Cadiou S, Retailliau C, Falque M, Gallais A (2001) Towards a better understanding of the genetic and physiological basis for nitrogen use efficiency in maize. Plant Physiol 125:1258–1270

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirel B, Le Gouis J, Ney B, Gallais A (2007) The challenge of improving nitrogen use quantitative genetics within integrated approaches. J Exp Bot 58:2369–2387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodge A, Robinson D, Fitter A (2000) Are microorganisms more effective than plants at competing for nitrogen? Trends Plant Sci 5:304–308

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Islam MR, Garcia SC (2012) Effects of sowing date and nitrogen fertilizer on forage yield, nitrogen- and water-use efficiency and nutritive value of an annual triple-crop complementary forage rotation. Grass Forage Sci 67:96–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkegaard JA, Hocking PJ, Angus JF, Howe GN, Gardner PA (1997) Comparison of canola, Indian mustard and Linola in two contrasting environments. 2. Break-crop and nitrogen effects on subsequent wheat crops. Field Crop Res 52:179–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristensen HL, Thorup-Kristensen K (2004) Root growth and Nitrate uptake of three different catch crops in deep soil layers. Soil Sci Soc Am J 68:529–537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemaire G, van Oosterom E, Sheehy J, Jeuffroy MH, Massignam A, Rossato L (2007) Is crop N demand more closely related to dry matter accumulation or leaf area expansion during vegetative growth? Field Crop Res 100(1):91–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemaire G, van Oosterom E, Sheehy J, Jeuffroy MH, Gastal F, Massignam A (2008) Crop species present different qualitative types of response to N deficiency during their vegetative growth. Field Crop Res 105(3):253–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes MS, Reynolds MP, Manes Y, Singh RP, Crossa J, Braun HJ (2012) Genetic yield gains and changes in associated traits of CIMMYT spring bread wheat in a “historic” set representing 30 years of breeding. Crop Sci 52:1123–1131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malagoli P, Laine P, Rossato L, Ourry A (2005) Dynamics of nitrogen uptake and mobilization in field-grown winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) from stem extension to harvest—I. Global N flows between vegetative and reproductive tissues in relation to leaf fall and their residual N. Ann Bot 95:853–861

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masclaux-Daubresse C, Daniel-Vedele F, Dechorgnat J, Chardon F, Gaufichon L, Suzuki A (2010) Nitrogen uptake, assimilation and remobilization in plants: challenges for sustainable and productive agriculture. Ann Bot 105:1141–1157

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nendel C, Venezia A, Piro F, Ren T, Lillywhite RD, Rahn CR (2013) The performance of the EU-Rotate_N model in predicting the growth and nitrogen uptake of rotations of field vegetable crops in a Mediterranean environment. J Agric Sci 151(4):538–555

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen A, Thorup-Kristensen K, Jensen LS (2009) Simulating nitrate retention in soils and the effect of catch crop use and rooting pattern under the climatic conditions of Northern Europe. Soil Use Manag 25:243–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen A, Zhang KF, Thorup-Kristensen K, Jensen LS (2010) Modelling diverse root density dynamics and deep nitrogen uptake—a simple approach. Plant Soil 326:493–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahn CR, Zhang K, Lillywhite R, Ramos C, Doltra J, de Paz JM, Riley H, Fink M, Nendel C, Thorup-Kristensen K, Pedersen A, Piro F, Venezia A, Firth C, Schmutz U, Rayns F, Strohmeyer K (2010) EU-Rotate_N—a decision support system—to predict environmental and economic consequences of the management of nitrogen fertiliser in crop rotations. Eur J Hortic Sci 75:20–32

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rathke GW, Christen O, Diepenbrock W (2005) Effects of nitrogen source and rate on productivity and quality of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) grown in different crop rotations. Field Crop Res 94:103–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rathke GW, Behrens T, Diepenbrock W (2006) Integrated nitrogen management strategies to improve seed yield, oil content and nitrogen efficiency of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.): a review. Agric Ecosyst Environ 117:80–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte auf’m Erley G, Behrens T, Ulas A, Wiesler F, Horst WJ (2011) Agronomic traits contributing to nitrogen efficiency of winter oilseed rape cultivars. Field Crop Res 124:114–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorup-Kristensen K (2006) Effect of deep and shallow root systems on the dynamics of soil inorganic N during 3-year crop rotations. Plant Soil 288:233–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorup-Kristensen K, Dresbøll DB (2010) Incorporation time of nitrogen catch crops influences the N effect for the succeeding crop. Soil Use Manag 26:27–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorup-Kristensen K, Magid J, Jensen LS (2003) Catch crops and green manures as biological tools in nitrogen management in temperate zones. Adv Agron 79:227–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorup-Kristensen K, Cortesa MS, Loges R (2009) Winter wheat roots grow twice as deep as spring wheat roots, is this important for N uptake and N leaching losses? Plant Soil 322(1–2):101–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorup-Kristensen K, Dresbøll DB, Kristensen HL (2012) Crop yield, root growth, and nutrient dynamics in a conventional and three organic cropping systems with different levels of external inputs and N re-cycling through fertility building crops. Eur J Agron 37:66–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulas A, Schulte G, Kamh M, Wiesler F, Horst WJ (2012) Root-growth characteristics contributing to genotypic variation in nitrogen efficiency of oilseed rape. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 175:489–498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulas A, Behrens T, Wiesler F, Horst WJ, Schulte auf’m Erley G (2013) Does genotypic variation in nitrogen remobilisation efficiency contribute to nitrogen efficiency of winter oilseed-rape cultivars (Brassica napus L.)? Plant Soil 371:463–471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the European Community financial participation under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities, for the Integrated Project NUE-CROPS FP7-CP-IP 222645. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the information contained herein.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegård Allé 13, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark

    Dorte Bodin Dresbøll & Kristian Thorup-Kristensen

Authors
  1. Dorte Bodin Dresbøll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristian Thorup-Kristensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dorte Bodin Dresbøll.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dresbøll, D.B., Thorup-Kristensen, K. Will breeding for nitrogen use efficient crops lead to nitrogen use efficient cropping systems?: a simulation study of G×E×M interactions. Euphytica 199, 97–117 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1199-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1199-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation