Estimation of Critical Nitrogen Concentration Based on Leaf Dry Matter in Drip Irrigation Spring Maize Production in Northern China

Biao Jia (), Jiangpeng Fu, Huifang Liu, Zhengzhou Li, Yu Lan, Xue Wei, Yongquan Zhai, Bingyuan Yun, Jianzhen Ma and Hao Zhang
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Biao Jia: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Jiangpeng Fu: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Huifang Liu: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Zhengzhou Li: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Yu Lan: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Xue Wei: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Yongquan Zhai: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Bingyuan Yun: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Jianzhen Ma: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Hao Zhang: School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: The application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer not only increases crop yield but also improves the N utilization efficiency. The critical N concentration (N c ) can be used to diagnose crops’ N nutritional status. The N c dilution curve model of maize was calibrated with leaf dry matter (LDM) as the indicator, and the performance of the model for diagnosing maize N nutritional status was further evaluated. Three field experiments were carried out in two sites between 2018 and 2020 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region with a series of N levels (application of N from 0 to 450 kg N ha −1 ). Two spring maize cultivars, i.e., Tianci19 (TC19) and Ningdan19 (ND19), were utilized in the field experiment. The results showed that a negative power function relationship existed between LDM and leaf N concentration (LNC) for spring maize under drip irrigation. The N c dilution curve equation was divided into two parts: when the LDM < 1.11 t ha −1 , the constant leaf N c value was 3.25%; and when LDM > 1.11 t ha −1 , the N c curve was 3.33LDM −0.24 . The LDM-based N c curve can well distinguish data on the N-limiting and non-N-limiting N status of maize, which was independent of maize varieties, growing seasons, and stages. Additionally, the N nutrition index (NNI) had a significant linear correlation with the relative leaf dry matter (RLDM). This study revealed that the LDM-based N c dilution curve could accurately identify spring maize N status under drip irrigation. NNI can thus, be used as a robust and reliable tool to diagnose the N nutritional status of maize.

Keywords: maize; leaf dry matter (LDM); critical N concentration (N c ); leaf N concentration (LNC); nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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