Small-Scale Variation in Nitrogen Use Efficiency Parameters in Winter Wheat as Affected by N Fertilization and Tillage Intensity

Ruth-Maria Hausherr Lüder, Ruijun Qin, Walter Richner, Peter Stamp, Bernhard Streit, Juan Manuel Herrera and Christos Noulas
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Ruth-Maria Hausherr Lüder: Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Ruijun Qin: Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Oregon State University, 2121 South 1st Street, Hermiston, OR 97838, USA
Walter Richner: Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zurich, Switzerland
Peter Stamp: Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Bernhard Streit: School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Länggasse 85, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
Juan Manuel Herrera: Agroscope, Institut des sciences en production végétale IPV, Route de Duillier 50, P.O. Box 1012, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland
Christos Noulas: Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization–“DEMETER”, 41335 Larissa, Greece

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Limited information exists on how tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilization affects small-scale variation in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop performance. In a two-year field study under temperate conditions, we investigated how tillage (NT, no-tillage; CT, conventional tillage) and N fertilization affected the small-scale variation in NUE and winter wheat performance (grain yield, G w ; grain protein concentration, GPC). A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Within each tillage plot (12 × 35 m 2 ), N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 kg N ha −1 ) were completely randomized within each of four groups of microplots (1.5 × 1.5 m 2 ). Early-season soil mineral N (N min ) was also monitored in both years. At rates < 150 kg N ha −1 , NT was not competitive with CT in terms of G w and NUE. G w and aboveground plant N were not correlated with N min prior to application of N fertilizer. NT usually led to larger spatial heterogeneity of N min , G w , and NUE. The small-scale variability of G w , GPC, NUE, and N supply decreased with increasing N fertilization rates under both tillage systems. Significant increases in G w and GPC were observed with increasing N rates, whereas NUE decreased slightly with increasing N rates in both NT and CT. The overall moderate spatial variation in N min , G w , and NUE did not justify site-specific N fertilization in these small fields, with the exception of the stony within-plot positions, which were not responsive to rates of N > 50 kg N ha −1 .

Keywords: no-tillage; conventional tillage; small-scale variability; nitrogen use efficiency; soil mineral nitrogen; winter wheat; grain yield; N fertilizer rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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