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Optimizing nitrogen use efficiency in wheat and potatoes: interactions between genotypes and agronomic practices

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Abstract

One approach to decrease the environmental impact of crop production and reduce costs is to optimize agronomic practices and genotypes so that nutrients are used more efficiently. In this study the effects of agronomic practices (rotations, crop protection, fertilization) on yields, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and associated parameters were studied in an experiment using two winter wheat genotypes (Cordiale and Scaro) in one season and two potato genotypes (Sarpo Mira and Sante) in two seasons. The wheat showed no varietal differences in yield and NUE; instead the fertilization regime was the main factor affecting yield and NUE with higher values observed when conventional fertilization was used. The exception was for wheat grown after three years grass/clover ley when there was no added yield benefit from conventional fertilization of the organically bred variety (Scaro). This demonstrates the potential for N fixing crops to provide sufficient N to high yielding cereals if grown for long enough prior to planting. The greatest gains in NUE were achieved by combining an N efficient genotype with conventional crop management in an organic rotation. Fertilization and genotypic variation were the main factors affecting potato tuber yield and NUE, with the late maturing Sarpo Mira displaying elevated yields and NUE compared with the early maturing Sante. The use of organic fertility sources resulted in lower NUE, but N release from organic sources may increase NUE of future crops. This highlights the need for long-term nutrient balance and modelling studies to assess NUE at the crop rotation scale.

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Abbreviations

C-Nup:

Construction nitrogen uptake (kg ha−1)

CON:

Conventional rotation

CF:

Conventional fertility management

CP:

Conventional crop protection

F-Nup:

Foundation nitrogen uptake (kg ha−1)

G/C:

Grass clover crop

GS31:

Growth stage 31 for wheat, first node detectable

GS61:

Growth stage 61 for wheat, start of flowering

GS66:

Growth stage 66 for potato, 60 % of flowers open

GS85:

Growth stage 85 for potato, ripening of fruit and seed

GS92:

Growth stage 92 for wheat, grain hard at ripening

HI:

Harvest index

NTE:

Nitrogen translocation efficiency (%)

N-Trans:

N translocation (kg ha−1)

NUE:

Nitrogen use efficiency (kg kg−1)

NFSC:

Nafferton Factorial Systems Comparison Trial

ORG:

Organic rotation

OP:

Organic crop protection

OF:

Organic fertility management

P-Nup:

Production nitrogen uptake (kg ha−1)

T-Nup:

Total nitrogen uptake at harvest (kg ha−1)

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nafferton Ecological Farming Group, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Nafferton Farm, Stocksfield, NE43 7XD, UK

    Eleanor Y. Swain, Leonidas Rempelos, Caroline H. Orr, Gavin Hall, Rachel Chapman, Mftah Almadni, Carlo Leifert & Julia M. Cooper

  2. School of Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, UK

    Elizabeth A. Stockdale & Jonathan Kidd

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  1. Eleanor Y. Swain
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  2. Leonidas Rempelos
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Correspondence to Julia M. Cooper.

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Eleanor Y. Swain and Leonidas Rempelos have contributed equally to this paper, and should be recognized as co-first authors.

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Swain, E.Y., Rempelos, L., Orr, C.H. et al. Optimizing nitrogen use efficiency in wheat and potatoes: interactions between genotypes and agronomic practices. Euphytica 199, 119–136 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1181-6

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