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Increasing co-limitation of water and nitrogen drives genetic yield gain in Australian wheat.
- Source :
-
European Journal of Agronomy . May2019, Vol. 106, p23-29. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Highlights • Genetic gains of Australian wheat were associated with higher water-nitrogen co-limitation. • Higher water-nitrogen co-limitation associated with a higher nitrogen uptake per unit of evapotranspiration. • Nitrogen traits are critical for drought adaptation. Abstract The interactions between nitrogen (N) and water are manifold, and the concept of co-limitation provides a quantitative framework for integration. This paper tested the hypothesis that selection for yield increased water-N co-limitation in wheat adapted to winter rainfall environments of Australia. To test this hypothesis, we measured evapotranspiration, N uptake and yield in a historic collection of varieties released between 1958 and 2007 (exp. 1) and between 1969 and 2015 (exp. 2). Crops were grown under 5 (exp. 1) or 4 (exp. 2) environmental conditions resulting from the combination of sites, seasons, and supply of N and water. Genetic gain of yield, i.e. the slope of the regression between yield and year of release was 14–24 kg ha−1 y−1 or 0.36–0.52% y−1. This yield gain was associated with a linear increase in water-N co-limitation, in turn associated with an increase in N uptake per mm of evapotranspiration at a rate of 0.0019 kg N mm−1 y−1. Our findings highlight the critical role of nitrogen for the adaptation of wheat to low rainfall environments, and the scope for further yield improvement based on traits that integrate resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *WHEAT
*WINTER wheat
*WATER supply
*EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
*RAINFALL
*NITROGEN in water
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 11610301
- Volume :
- 106
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- European Journal of Agronomy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 135959435
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2019.03.003