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Estimation of Nitrogen Supply for Summer Maize Production through a Long-Term Field Trial in China
- Source :
- Agronomy, Vol 11, Iss 7, p 1358 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Supplying adequate nitrogen (N) to meet crop demand is critical for enhancing agricultural sustainability. Not only fertilizer N, but also N from other available sources should be considered in N supply capacity. We conducted a 10-year farming experiment using a split-plot design with two different main fertilizer management approaches and three N application strategies as add-on sub-treatments. Based on the experiment, we estimated the total N supply (TNsupply) for the summer maize cropping system, through considering environmental, soil, crop residue, and fertilizer N sources. An appropriate TNsupply was established by correlating TNsupply with the relative yield (RY), N input and output, and N use efficiency (NUE). The results revealed a wide variation in TNsupply (from 88 to 755 kg ha−1). The RY, N input, and N output fitted well to TNsupply using linear-plateau, linear, and linear-plateau models, respectively. The lower limits of TNsupply for achieving the maximum RY and N output were 361 and 358 kg ha−1, respectively. The relationship between N input and N output was described as linear-plateau. We determined the slope of the linear curve (55.4%) as the lower limit of NUE, beyond which the upper limit of TNsupply was determined to be less than 497 kg ha−1. Thus, appropriate TNsupply values ranged from 325 to 497 kg ha−1 for summer maize production, which could ensure enough N supply for higher yields and avoid excessive N input for higher NUE and lower environmental N loss. Our findings highlight that TNsupply can be an alternative indicator for evaluating N management.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20734395
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Agronomy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.25776cf3a6fd4dedbec4dbfeb98c9d9e
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071358