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1
Stockdale, Elizabeth Anne. "Nitrogen supply for organic crops." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/27478.
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An integrated series of field, laboratory and pot experiments was carried out between 1990 and 1993 to study the release of nitrogen from organic manures and its subsequent recovery by crops. The aim was to increase understanding of the soil processes controlling N release from manures and therefore enable N supply to be more closely matched to crop demand in organic cropping systems. The study of N release from manures is handicapped by the lack of appropriate methods to measure rates of mineralisation (both net and gross) in the field. The use of isotope dilution techniques under field conditions was found to be difficult due to the slow diffusion of ammonium ions in soils. The release of N from manures was therefore studied indirectly by monitoring plant uptake and changes in the soil mineral N pool. Indices, used to predict N release, were not found to be applicable where additions of manure had been made. Various management strategies aimed at maximising N supply for organic crops were studied. The N released from manures in the first year was shown to be derived mainly from the pool of mineral N added in the manure. The availability of this pool was controlled by the supply of soluble carbon also added in manures, which stimulates the growth of the microbial biomass and therefore leads to immobilisation of the mineral N. The availability of any immobilised N for crop growth is not clear, though some evidence suggested that it was completely recovered by a spring barley crop. The organic N pool of the manure did not seem to be important in supplying N for crop growth in the first year. The use of 15-N-labelled manures enabled the separation of the N taken up by plants into that derived from the soil and that derived from the manure. Manures were labelled non-uniformly by incubation with 15N salts for a short period before application. Where the assumption could not be made that the manure was uniformly labelled, a simple model was developed based on isotope dilution theory, to calculate the percentage of plant N uptake from the manure. 15N was also used to determine the source of the N extracted by a number of methods, used to assess potential N availability.
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Ottman, Michael J., and Stephen H. Husman. "Nitrogen content of green crops." College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/204062.
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Application of chemical fertilizer is not permitted in production of crops certified as organic, but green manure crops may be used to supply the nutrient needs of these crops. An experiment was conducted on a commercial farm near Litchfield Park to determine the nitrogen content at plowdown of barley mixed with Austrian winter peas, Magnus peas, and/or Lana woolleypod vetch. The crop was planted on 21 October and sampled for plowdown nitrogen content on 1 March. The peas and vetch comprised less than 10% of the dry weight of the mixture since the barley grew more vigorously. The barley contained 66 lbs N/acre in the forage while the legumes in the mixture contained 16 lbs N/acre on average. The amount of N in the green manure, even if 100% was available, was not enough to supply the needs of a 2 bale/acre organic cotton crop. The planting date, plowdown date, or species composition in the green manure mixture needs to be altered for green manure to supply the N needs of organic cotton.
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Ishikawa, Shoko. "Nitrogen management of strobilurin-treated wheat crops." Thesis, Harper Adams University College, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.417586.
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Zhao, Shan. "Nitrogen nutrition of hybrid poplars." Online access for everyone, 2006. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/summer2006/S%5FZhao%5F072906.pdf.
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BEN, HASSINE MORTADHA. "GROWTH, NITROGEN UPTAKE AND MAIZE NITROGEN RECOVERY OF COVER CROPS IN CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/702471.
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Planting winter cover crops has several benefits compared to keeping the soil bare. The choice of the cover crop species and sowing date is crucial to have the best cover crops establishment and weed suppression. The seeds germination of cover crops is affected by the sowing date with a preference of early sowing. However, the appropriate date of cover crops sowing is not known. Also, cover crops nitrogen dynamics is variable among species. In a conservation agriculture context, we conducted two field experiments in Northern Italy and one laboratory experiment under controlled conditions of temperature and soil moisture. The objectives were to (i) assess the growth and nitrogen uptake of five pure winter cover crops (black oat, Avena strigosa Schreb.; cereal rye, Secale cereale. L.; white mustard, Sinapis alba L.; Egyptian clover Trifolium alexandrinum L.; and hairy vetch, Viccia villosa Roth) as influenced by plant species from three botanical families and two sowing dates (SD1 and SD2), (ii) assess the effect of cover crops presence/absence (bare soil) on weed suppression and maize productivity, (iii) estimate and assess the cover crops contribution to the following main crop (maize) in terms of nitrogen recovery and immediate availability, (iv) establish the course of nitrogen mineralization from pure cover crops in laboratory incubation conditions and (v) assess the effect of three managements of winter-hardy cover crops termination methods and control of weed in maize (chemical vs. mechanical) on maize productivity. The field experiments were carried out in Orzinuovi, Brescia, Italy. Relevant differences in cover crops growth were observed among species, with white mustard SD1 having the highest biomass in November (5.3 and 3.2 t ha-1, respectively for the first and the second year) and Egyptian clover the lowest (less than 1 t ha-1). Also, we demonstrated that hairy vetch SD1 had the highest nitrogen uptake in November (114 kg N ha-1). The presence of cover crops reduced weed infestation compared to a bare soil. Sowing cover crops at end of August, instead of mid-September, had a positive effect on production, establishment, nitrogen uptake, and weed suppression. Maize yield following cover crops was not affected by the cover crop sowing dates and species during the two years of experiment. The maize nitrogen recovery was variable within years; the highest recovery was for maize following hairy vetch SD2 (+67%). The importance of sowing cover crops was demonstrated by the higher nitrogen recovery of maize following cover crops compared to maize following no cover crop treatment. In a laboratory incubation experiment of 84 days, cover crop shoots were collected from cover crops grown in the field, mixed with soil and kept under controlled temperature of 20 °C and soil moisture of 100% field capacity. We demonstrated differences in nitrogen mineralization among the five pure cover crops and weed shoots with hairy vetch, collected in March (C/N ratio of 10.1), having the highest and immediate net nitrogen mineralization from the beginning of incubation until 84 days after start of incubation. Black oat collected in March (C/N ratio of 19.8), had also an immediate net nitrogen mineralization during the whole incubation period but at a lower rate compared to hairy vetch. Egyptian clover collected in November (C/N ratio of 11.4), started nitrogen mineralization 7 days after start of incubation. White mustard collected in November (C/N ratio of 17.7), had a low rate of nitrogen mineralization. Shoots of weed, cereal rye, white mustard and black oat collected in March immobilized nitrogen during the whole incubation period at different rates; cereal rye had the highest rate of immobilization and was not able to start nitrogen mineralization 84 days after start of incubation. In the second field experiment our results indicated that a “post-glyphosate” scenario (mechanical termination of cover crops and chemical control of weed in maize) is the best management to produce the highest yield of maize compared to a “business-as-usual” management (chemical termination of cover crops and weed control in maize) and “organic” management (mechanical termination of cover crops and weed control in maize).
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Mooleki, Siyambango Patrick. "Synchronization of nitrogen availability and plant nitrogen demand, nitrogen and non-nitrogen effects of lentil to subsequent wheat crops." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape2/PQDD_0029/NQ63902.pdf.
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Vaughan, Jeffrey David. "Management and assessment of winter cover crop systems for supplying nitrogen to corn in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States." Thesis, This resource online, 1994. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07212009-040446/.
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Scott, David Andrew. "Estimating Soil Nitrogen Supply and Fertilizer Needs for Short-Rotation Woody Crops." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/29402.
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Short-rotation woody crops are becoming important supplies of hardwood fiber, but little
is known about the early nutritional needs of these systems, especially on different site types.
The study objectives were, on two young (ages 3-6) sweetgum plantations with contrasting soil
types, to 1) determine the plant growth and foliar nutrition response to repeated nitrogen (N)
fertilizer applications, 2) determine soil N supply, plant N demand, foliar N resorption, and soil and fertilizer uptake efficiencies, and 3) test a simple N supply model. In order to expand the findings to the range of sweetgum site types, the study objectives were also to 4) evaluate rapid methods for determining N mineralization potential, 5) characterize the soils of 14 sweetgum site types in the Atlantic coastal plain, and 6) review current N fertilizer prescriptions in forestry and recommend strategies for improvement. Two young sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) plantations on a converted agricultural field and a pine cutover site in South Carolina were fertilized biannually with three rates of N fertilizer (0, 56, 112 kg N per ha). Fertilization doubled foliar biomass and leaf area on the cutover pine site in the years fertilizer was applied, and stem biomass increased 60%. Critical values, the N concentration required for 90% of optimum growth, is approximately 1.75%. Foliar N uptake increased at both sites when fertilizer was applied. Modeled annual soil N supply was within 20% of that measured on the two plantations even though monthly N supply was not accurately estimated. Potential N mineralization was accurately estimated with a 3-day incubation of rewetted soils that were previously dried, but not by hot salt extraction or anaerobic incubation. Across a spectrum of 14 sweetgum sites, the agricultural fields had lower mineralizable nitrogen (126 kg per ha) than the cutover sites (363 kg per ha). Current N fertilizer prescriptions are not sufficient for repeated fertilizer applications to fast-growing hardwood plantations, but simple models of soil N supply and an N-balance approach may improve prescriptions.Ph. D.
9
Waddill, Dan W. "Nitrogen cycling in tall fescue turf with added clippings." Thesis, This resource online, 1994. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07212009-040500/.
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Watkins, Naomi K. "The influence of crops on gross rates of nitrogen mineralisation." Thesis, University of Reading, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.333588.
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Asebedo, Antonio Ray. "Development of sensor-based nitrogen recommendation algorithms for cereal crops." Diss., Kansas State University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/19229.
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Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Agronomy
David B. Mengel
Nitrogen (N) management is one of the most recognizable components of farming both within and outside the world of agriculture. Interest over the past decade has greatly increased in improving N management systems in corn (Zea mays) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) to have high NUE, high yield, and be environmentally sustainable. Nine winter wheat experiments were conducted across seven locations from 2011 through 2013. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impacts of fall-winter, Feekes 4, Feekes 7, and Feekes 9 N applications on winter wheat grain yield, grain protein, and total grain N uptake. Nitrogen treatments were applied as single or split applications in the fall-winter, and top-dressed in the spring at Feekes 4, Feekes 7, and Feekes 9 with applied N rates ranging from 0 to 134 kg ha[superscript]-1. Results indicate that Feekes 7 and 9 N applications provide more optimal combinations of grain yield, grain protein levels, and fertilizer N recovered in the grain when compared to comparable rates of N applied in the fall-winter or at Feekes 4. Winter wheat N management studies from 2006 through 2013 were utilized to develop sensor-based N recommendation algorithms for winter wheat in Kansas. Algorithm RosieKat v.2.6 was designed for multiple N application strategies and utilized N reference strips for establishing N response potential. Algorithm NRS v1.5 addressed single top-dress N applications and does not require a N reference strip. In 2013, field validations of both algorithms were conducted at eight locations across Kansas. Results show algorithm RK v2.6 consistently provided highly efficient N recommendations for improving NUE, while achieving high grain yield and grain protein. Without the use of the N reference strip, NRS v1.5 performed statistically equal to the KSU soil test N recommendation in regards to grain yield but with lower applied N rates. Six corn N fertigation experiments were conducted at KSU irrigated experiment fields from 2012 through 2014 to evaluate the previously developed KSU sensor-based N recommendation algorithm in corn N fertigation systems. Results indicate that the current KSU corn algorithm was effective at achieving high yields, but has the tendency to overestimate N requirements. To optimize sensor-based N recommendations for N fertigation systems, algorithms must be specifically designed for these systems to take advantage of their full capabilities, thus allowing implementation of high NUE N management systems.
12
Brown, Sarah K. "Managing symbiotically-fixed nitrogen on mined land for tree crops." Thesis, This resource online, 1994. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11102009-020308/.
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Dawson, Julie C. "Breeding wheat for efficient nitrogen use in low-input and organic systems in the Pacific Northwest." Online access for everyone, 2008. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Spring2008/j_dawson_041708.pdf.
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Botha, Elizabeth Johanna. "Estimating nitrogen status of crops using non-destructive remote sensing techniques." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2562.
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Aronsson, Helena. "Nitrogen turnover and leaching in cropping systems with ryegrass catch crops /." Uppsala : Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniv.), 2000. http://epsilon.slu.se/a214.pdf.
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Dean, Jill Elise. "Brassica cover crops for nitrogen retention in the Maryland Coastal Plain." College Park, Md. : University of Maryland, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/3818.
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Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2006.Thesis research directed by: Dept. of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.
17
Doerge, Thomas A., Kevin H. Pritchard, and Ted W. McCreary. "Nitrogen Management in Drip Irrigated Leaf Lettuce, Spinach and Green Crops." College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/214500.
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Preliminary nitrogen (N) management experiments with spinach, leaf lettuce, romaine collard and mustard were conducted on a Casa Grande s.l. soil at the Maricopa Agricultural Center in the winter and spring of 1990-91. The purpose of this N rate experiment was to develop initial Best Management strategies for N fertilizer use for emerging high value crops grown in Arizona using subsurface drip irrigation. Three rates of urea, ammonium nitrate were applied to each cultivar to provide deficient (N1), adequate (N2) and supraoptimal real (N3) levels of N. All cultivars responded dramatically to the application of N. Fresh weight yields in the N1 and N2 treatments averaged 45 and 53% of the N3 treatment The average N3 yields recorded in these trials were 23.1, 12.8 and 21.8 tons of marketable produce per acre for greens, spinach and leaf lettuce/romaine crops, respectively. Preliminary plant tissue test results indicated that for all five crops, whole plant total N (TN) levels and midrib + petiole NO₃-N and leaf blade TN concentrations in the youngest mature leaf were responsive to differences in soil N supply and show promise as diagnostic N tissue test procedures. The midrib + petiole NO₃-N test appeared to be the best indicator of plant N status throughout the growing season for all five crops studied.
18
Islam, N. "Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of oilseed rape (B. napus L.)." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.379256.
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Smith, Chad Lee Smeda R. J. "Weed management and nitrogen loss in glyphosate-resistant corn (Zea mays)." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/6568.
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The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on January 22, 2010). Thesis advisor: Dr. Reid J. Smeda. Includes bibliographical references.
20
Bair, Kyle Edward. "Effectively utilizing legume cover crops as an organic source of nitrogen in concord grape." Online access for everyone, 2006. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Fall2006/k_bair_110206.pdf.
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Weinberg, Naomi Hélène. "Improving nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for arable crops in the Lower Fraser Valley." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26664.
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A two year field study located in Delta Municipality, British Columbia, was conducted to investigate the possible improvement of nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations for arable crops in the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV).
After reviewing current N fertilizer recommendation systems in other humid regions, the approach taken in the study was to determine the applicability of a spring soil test and/or a N Index system for the LFV region. The project, which used sweet corn (Zea Mays saccharata) as the trial crop, consisted of two interconnected parts:
1) A 'Replicated Fertilizer Response Trial' which aimed to; a) Monitor soil N0₃-N and NH₄-N during spring to a depth of 80cm, using intervals of 0-20, 20-50, and 50-80cm. b) Investigate yield response and N uptake efficiency at four different rates of sidedress applied urea, 0, 50, 100 and 200 kg ha⁻¹ N. c) Compare the effectiveness of urea applied broadcast preplant, and applied by sidedressing, when the crop was approximately 30cm tall.
2) A 'Multifarm Survey' at 28 locations, comparing plots sidedressed with 135 kg ha⁻¹ N, to control plots containing only starter N. The aim of this survey vas to establish the range of N supplying capacities in some LFV soils and relate these capacities to other soil properties and site history.
Monitoring mineral N in the soil demonstrated that soil N0₃-N increased during the spring, reaching a peak 5-6 weeks after planting. Maximum N0₃-N levels in the 0-80cm profile were 90 and 135 kg ha⁻¹ in 1984 and 1985 respectively. NH₄-N levels tended to be low compared to NO₃-N. As a proportion of total mineral N, NH₄-N decreased from approximately 25% at the beginning of May, to between 10 and 15% by mid June. Large amounts of spatial and temporal variability in both N0₃-N and NH₄-N were observed on the two sites studied. The difference in magnitude of mineral N between the years was due to a large number of site and weather factors which could not be separated.
No significant differences in corn yield or crop N content were found between any of the four fertilizer treatments in the Replicated Response Trial. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the comparison of urea N applied by broadcasting before planting and urea N applied by sidedressing. Two reasons for this lack of response were suggested, one, that the soil plus starter N provided sufficient N for the crop's needs, and two, that the fertilizing techniques were inefficient considering the soil and weather conditions.
The Multifarm Survey provided the greatest amount of information relevant to the project's objectives. It showed that the range of soil types and cropping regimes on corn fields in Delta Municipality was too narrow to have a direct influence on N supplied by the soil. Soil N supplying capacity was shown to be weakly related to organic matter, the study results suggested that a knowledge of site history was necessary before this relationship could be assumed to be positive. Such findings favoured the implementation of a spring soil test rather than a N Index system. Various approaches to estimating N fertilizer requirements using a spring soil sample were examined.
In conclusion, the project showed that substantial amounts of N vere made available by the soil and that these should be taken into consideration when fertilizer recommendations are made. The study suggested that in a small agricultural region such as Delta Municipality, spring soil N0₃-N appeared to be sufficiently well correlated with total soil plus crop nitrogen to warrant the further investigation of a soil test for N. This test, for corn, should be as close as possible to sidedress time and the ideal sampling depth would be to 80cm. Anomalous sites with adverse soil conditions, such as poor drainage, marine influences, low pH or compaction should not be included in the test.Land and Food Systems, Faculty of
Graduate
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Monteil, Oscar Vazquez. "Wastewater irrigation of crops : the influence of nitrogen on soil-plant interactions." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.303449.
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Schellenberg, Daniel Leo. "Nitrogen Management and Weed Suppression in Organic Transition." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31559.
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The objectives of this research were: 1) to quantify the amount of supplemental nitrogen (N) to maximize organic broccoli (Brassica olearcea var. italica) on transition soils, 2) to evaluate the ability of leguminous cover crops lablab (Dolichos lablab L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), sunn hemp (Crotalria juncea L.) and a sunn hemp and cowpea mixture (Vigna sinensis Endl.) to supply N and suppress weeds and, 3) to compare the effect on N availability and broccoli yield potential of incorporating cover crops with conventional tillage (CT) or mulching cover crops with no-tillage (NT) practices. Broccoli was grown during the third year of organic transition in the spring and fall of 2006 at the Kentland Agricultural Research Farm in Blacksburg, VA. Supplemental N significantly increased broccoli yield up until 112 kg ha-1 with a quadratic correlation with leaf N. The NT treatment yielded no difference during the spring, but in the fall CT surpassed NT. On the other hand, N uptake, measured by leaf N, under NT conditions increased with supplemental N, which suggests NT has equivalent yield potential as CT when N is not limiting. Yields from leguminous residues did not differ, even though quality and quantity of cover crop biomass did. This suggests that N availability from cover crop legumes may be impacted other ecological process such as soil microbial activity. Also, cover crop residues differed in their ability to suppress weeds. The results from this study give organic growers in transition tools to maximize productivity and sustainability.Master of Science
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Doel, J. M. "Accumulation and recovery of nitrogen in mixed farming systems using legumes and other fertility building crops." Thesis, Coventry University, 2012. http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/9dd4b790-1672-4b0e-9104-09439ddde7a2/1.
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Fertility-building crops (FBCs) offer the opportunity to alleviate the costs of inorganic fertiliser by providing an alternative supply of available nitrogen (N) in soils. A survey of relevant literature reviewed the types of FBCs, their nitrogen accumulation potentials, residue characteristics, and subsequent release patterns. It also identified a paucity of data concerning the response of different species to UK climatic, soil, and management conditions. In order to investigate these relationships further pot and field trials were established in 2007 at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (SP 00481 01382) and at Coates Manor Farm (SO 98473 00402) on Sherborne series (typical Cotswold) soils, to investigate the biology and morphology of FBCs potentially suitable for short term fertility-building, their accumulation of N under field conditions, and its subsequent recovery within test crops. Data so obtained was used as a verification and refinement tool for the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), a simple, commercially applicable, rotation-based model which can be applied to both organic and conventional production systems. Nine leguminous and two non-leguminous FBC treatments were established in April 2007 by straight sowing, followed by mulching at the conclusion of the nitrogen accumulation phase and by undersowing in spring barley (Hordeum sativum). The recovery test crops (winter and spring wheat Triticum aestivum L.) were established in September 2007 and March 2008. All FBCs established successfully. Above-ground dry matter (DM) yield and residue quality (C:N ratio) of FBCs varied significantly (P<0.05) between crops and cropping regimes with a significant correlation (r2=0.418) between DM yields and C:N ratios. FBCs and cropping regimes had significant effects (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively) on potential mineralisable nitrogen (PMN) levels in the soil and on the grain yields of winter and spring wheat test crops. Straight sown Lupinus albus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and a legume mixture resulted in higher winter wheat grain yields. However, the opportunity cost associated with straight sowing (i.e. the gross margin foregone from a spring barley crop) meant that the rotation would probably not be viable economically. Undersown Medicago lupulina, Vicia villosa, T. pratense, T. repens and the legume mixture gave worthwhile yield increases in spring wheat without incurring a yield penalty in the spring barley cover crop. Following enhancement and using actual data from the trials, the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003) provided encouraging predictions (R>0.6) for soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and key parameters were identified for future use. It was concluded that FBCs established for short term soil fertility building could provide a worthwhile enhancement of soil N levels and grain yields in a conventional arable rotation, particularly in spring wheat following FBCs undersown in spring barley. It was also concluded that the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), following further enhancement, and using additional data from these and other similar trials, could provide reasonably accurate estimates of SMN to aid more precise applications of N fertiliser in the future.
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Viktor, Aleysia. "Physiological and metabolic factors determining nitrogen use efficiency of tomato seedlings grown with elevated dissolved inorganic carbon and different nitrogen sources." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52999.
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Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine (l) the influence of elevated dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) on the nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE) of tomato seedlings grown with different nitrogen sources, (2) how changes in the regulation and activities of nitrate reductase (NR), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc), carbonic anhydrase (CA) and subsequent changes in metabolites would account for observed changes in NUE, and (3) to what extent elevated DIC contributed to the carbon budget of plants grown with different nitrogen sources. Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Fl44 seedlings were grown in hydroponic culture (pH 5.8) with 2 mM of either N03- or NH4 + and the solutions were aerated with either 0 ppm or 5000 ppm CO2 concentrations. The similar NUEs of NH/-fed plants grown with either root-zone CO2 concentration were largely due to their similar RGRs and N uptake rates. Elevated root-zone DIC had an initial stimulatory effect on N~ + uptake rates, but it seems as if this effect of DIC physiological processes was cancelled out by the toxic effect of unassimilated NH/. The NUE for N03--fed plants supplied with 5000 ppm root-zone CO2 was higher relative to 0 ppm root-zone CO2 and it was possibly due to the higher relative growth rates for similar N uptake rates of 5000 ppm compared to 0 ppm root-zone CO2. Nitrate-fed plants grown with 5000 ppm compared to 0 ppm root-zone CO2 had higher in vivo NR and in vitro NR and PEPc activities. These increases in enzymes activities possibly lead to increases in organic acid synthesis, which could have been used for biomass accumulation. This would account for the increased relative growth rates of N03--fed plants grown with 5000 ppm compared to 0 ppm root-zone CO2. The increasing rootzone CO2 concentrations resulted in the Ó15N values of NH/-plants becoming more positive indicating an absence of enzymatic discrimination. This may have been due to the inhibitory effect of DIC on Nll,+ uptake, causing plants to utilise both internal isotopes equally. The Ól3C studies showed that PEPc contributed equally to both N03-- and NH/-fed plants over the long term. From this it can be concluded that the lower NUE of NH/-compared to N03--fed plants grown with 5000 ppm root-zone C02 was due to increased N uptake and exudation of organic compounds into the nutrient solution. Experiments with 813C also showed that at increasing rootzone CO2 concentrations, PEPc made a bigger contribution to the carbon budget via the anaplerotic reaction.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om (1) die invloed van verhoogde opgeloste anorganiese koolstof dioksied (DIC) op die stikstofverbruiksdoeltreffenheid (NUE) van plante wat op verkillende stikstofbronne gekweek is, te bepaal. (2) Veranderinge in die regulering van nitraat reduktase (NR), fosfo-enolpirovaatkarboksilase (PEPc) en karboonsuuranhidrase (CA) is bestudeer en gekorreleer met waargeneemde verskille in NUE. (3) 'n Beraming van die mate waartoe verhoogde DIC bydra tot die koolstofbegroting van plante, gekweek op verskillende stikstofbronne, word bespreek. Lycopersicon esculentum cv. F144 saailinge is in waterkultuur (pH 5.8) met 2 mM N03- of NH/ gekweek en die oplossings is alternatiewelik met 0 ppm of 5000 ppm CO2 belug. Die NUEs van plante gekweek met NH/ en belug met albei C02 konsentrasies was vergelykbaar grootliks as gevolg van hulooreenkomstige relatiewe groeitempo's en Nopname. DIC het aanvanklik NH/ opname gestimuleer, maar enige latere stimulerende effek van DIC op fisiologiese prosesse was klaarblyklik uitgekanselleer deur N~ + toksiteit veroorsaak deur vertraagde assimilasie. Die NUE van plante gekweek met N03- en 5000 ppm CO2 was hoër as dié van plante gekweek met N03- en 0 ppm CO2. Dit is moontlik gekoppel aan hoër relatiewe groeitempo's teenoor onveranderde N opname tempo's. Plante gekweek met N03- en 5000 ppm CO2 het hoër in vivo NR en in vitro NR en PEPc aktiwiteite getoon as plante gekweek met N03- en 0 ppm CO2. Bogenoemde toenames in ensiem aktiwiteite word verbind met biomassa toename deur verhoogde organiese suur sintese. Dit bied 'n moontlike verklaring vir die hoër relatiewe groeitempo's van plante gekweek met N03- en 5000 ppm CO2 teenoor plante gegroei met N03- en 0 ppm CO2. Die 015N waardes van plante gekweek met NH/ en 5000 ppm CO2 was meer positief as dié van plante gekweek met Nl-l,+ en 0 ppm CO2 wat gedui het op die afwesigheid van ensiematiese diskriminasie. Dit kon as gevolg gewees het van die vertragende effek van DIC op Nl-la + opname wat daartoe sou lei dat die plante beide isotope eweveel inkorporeer. Eksperimente met ol3C het getoon dat PEPc oor 'n lang tydperk eweveel begedra het tot die koolstofbegroting van plante gekweek met beide N03- and N~+. Hiervan kan afgelei word dat die laer NUE van plante gekweek met NH4 + en 5000 ppm C02 in vergelyking met dié van plante gekweek met N03- en 5000 ppm CO2 die gevolg was van verhoogde NH/ opname en uitskeiding van aminosure in die voedingsoplossing. Eksperimente met 0"c het ook getoon dat verhoogde DIe konsentrasies die bydrae van PEPc tot die plant se koolstofbegroting laat toeneem.
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Norris, Robert Brooke. "Winter Annual Cover Crops Interseeded into Soybean in Eastern Virginia: Influence on Soil Nitrogen, Corn Yield, and In-Season Soil Nitrogen Tests." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/51173.
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The diverse cropping system of eastern Virginia's coastal plain offers limited opportunity to establish winter annual cover crops (WCC) for nitrogen (N) scavenging. The winter fallow niche after double-crop or full-season soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) encompasses the majority of acres left fallow. Our objective was to evaluate interseeded WCC N scavenging performance following soybean and N supplying capacity to subsequent corn (Zea mays L.). Field studies were conducted at four different locations in each of the two study years. The experimental design was split plot with cereal rye, hairy vetch, and RV mix WCC as main plots and ten fertilizer nitrogen (FN) rates in a factorial arrangement (0 and 45 kg FN ha-1 as starter; and 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg FN ha-1 at sidedress) to corn as subplots. The highest N uptake for cereal rye at winter dormancy was 18 kg N ha-1, but the average was 6-7 kg N ha-1. At WCC termination average N uptake for cereal rye was 35 and 40 kg N ha-1 in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Average biomass dry matter (DM) at WCC termination for cereal rye, cereal rye + hairy vetch mix (RV mix), and hairy vetch was 2356, 2000, and 1864 kg ha-1 in 2013; and 2055, 2701, and 692 kg ha-1 in 2014, respectively. Average cereal rye N uptake was 35 kg N ha-1 in 2013 and 40 kg N ha-1 in 2014. Significant differences for residual soil nitrogen were most apparent for soil nitrate (NO3-N) at lower depths (15-30 and 30-60 cm) during WCC termination and in the upper 0-15 cm during corn growth stage (GS) V4 of both years. Corn grain yield plateau following hairy vetch WCC was 0.7 and 0.6 Mg ha-1 higher than when following cereal rye WCC at zero and 45 kg ha-1 starter FN, respectively. Average agronomic optimum FN rates (AONR) were 26 and 9 kg ha-1 lower following hairy vetch than cereal rye WCC at zero and 45 kg ha-1 starter FN, respectively. Estimated hairy vetch FN reductions by FN replacement and AONR difference methods were 48 and 18 kg FN ha-1 in plots receiving zero starter FN; and 58 and -43 kg FN ha-1 in plots receiving 45 kg ha-1 starter FN. In-season soil N tests did not offer adequate information in order to predict sidedress FN reductions. These findings suggest that cereal rye and RV mix have the potential to scavenge and conserve residual soil N and hairy vetch is more than capable to supply PAN to subsequent corn when interseeded into soybean.Master of Science
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MURATORE, CHIARA. "CHARACTERIZATION OF PROTEOMIC CHANGES IN CROPS DURING METABOLIC ADAPTATION TO DIFFERENT NITROGEN INPUTS." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2023. https://hdl.handle.net/2434/951273.
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Nitrogen availability is one of the major factors that influence plant growth, morphology, and metabolism and, hence, crop productivity. In agricultural soils, nitrogen is present in different forms, both inorganic (nitrate and ammonium) and organic (amino acids, short peptides and urea), with variable and heterogeneous distribution. Nowadays, improving knowledge about the nitrogen nutrition in plants is crucial to address the urgent need for a more sustainable agricultural production. In the last years, the “-omics” approaches provided a holistic perspective of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant metabolic adaptations to different nitrogen inputs. Among these, proteomics was largely and successfully applied to analyze various aspects, including the role of post-translational modifications and enzyme isoforms. The aim of this PhD project was to obtain new insights about the biochemical events during sensing and adaptation to different availabilities of nitrogen forms in crops, through an approach based on the integration of physiological, metabolic and proteomic evaluations.
The first research activity consisted in an extensive literature revision about plant nitrogen nutrition and plant proteomics, which led to the publication of a review article. This activity highlighted that the majority of the information derives from studies conducted in Arabidopsis and in model crops, such as maize, rice and tomato. Nevertheless, analogies and peculiarities remain to be verified in other crop species. For instance, nitrogen nutrition has been only slightly investigated in perennial plants, and proteomics has been rarely applied in this context. At the same time, although in herbaceous species great progress has been made in understanding plant metabolic responses to inorganic nitrogen forms, several aspects await a clear elucidation. A representative case consists in the fact that a clear overview of the role of specific subcellular compartments during nitrate and/or ammonium nutrition is still fragmentary. Moreover, the literature revision pointed out an increased interest in understanding the relevance of organic nitrogen forms as nutrients influencing plant growth and development. Although it is recognised that plants are able to take up organic forms of nitrogen, such as amino acids, their actual contribution to plant nitrogen nutrition is currently unknown. Starting from these considerations, during the PhD three studies have been designed and conducted, leading to the publication of an article and the preparation of two manuscripts.
The first study was devoted to the analysis of nitrogen metabolism in a perennial woody species. In particular, it was aimed at investigating the biochemical and proteomic responses to nitrate in a grapevine rootstock genotype. Indeed, even though grapevine has been adopted as a model perennial species, little is known about the biochemical roles played by roots in nitrogen acquisition. Moreover, this topic has never been addressed through a proteomic approach.
The aim of the second study was to deepen the knowledge about the responses to nitrate, ammonium or their co-provision in maize seedlings, adopting a novel proteomic approach. Specifically, key proteins involved in these biochemical mechanisms are localized in different cellular compartments and their functionality is deeply affected by the kind of inorganic source. Hence, a subcellular proteomic approach was applied to obtain new insights about the roles of distinct organelles in the ability of roots to manage different inorganic nitrogen availabilities.
Finally, the third study aimed to investigate whether maize plants are able of using and metabolizing amino acids as nitrogen source, when they were externally supplied as a mixture that mimics soil conditions. Considering the complexity of the amino acid metabolism in plants, the application of a proteomic approach was chosen as a useful holistic strategy to obtain a comprehensive overview and to gain new information. In particular, the physiological, biochemical and proteomic changes in roots and leaves were compared to those associated with nitrate availability as a reference inorganic nitrogen source.
Overall, these studies provide novel information about how plants perceive and adapt to different nitrogen availabilities. According with the literature, nitrate influenced several aspects acting as either a nutrient, an osmolyte and a signal molecule. In addition, it has been possible to highlight that, in comparison to herbaceous species, specific responses to nitrate occurred in grapevine. Moreover, the subcellular proteomic investigation allowed to appreciate how nitrate and ammonium have different, and sometimes contrasting, effects on the cell organelles functionalities, especially with regard to mitochondria and vacuoles. Finally, new hints about the metabolic pathways involved in amino acid-based nutrition were provided. In particular, the provision of amino acids to the maize plants impacted on the carbon and energy metabolism in roots and influenced the translocation of amino acids to shoot.
In conclusion, these studies confirm that the different nitrogen sources have distinct and significant effects on plant growth and physiology, and also put in evidence some interesting peculiarities related to plant species and developmental stages. Moreover, they underline the key role of roots in response to nitrogen forms, providing new evidence that amino acid metabolism represents a key point in the carbon/nitrogen balance in plants.
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Cicek, Harun. "Optimizing the nitrogen supply of prairie organic agriculture with green manures and grazing." Elsevier, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23852.
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Grazing and no-till management in organic systems have been recently proposed tools to improve nutrient cycling and sustainability. From 2008 to 2012 a series of field experiments were established to identify green manure species and green manure management options to maximize N benefit to following cash crops and explore the opportunities to reduce tillage during the green manure phase of an organic rotation. A total of four green manure systems (double-cropped green manures, relay-cropped green manures, full season green manures, and catch crops after grazed full season green manures), three green manure management options (soil incorporation, grazing and no-till), and 10 green manure species, as well as, three green manure mixtures were tested. Double-cropped pea (Pisum sativum cv. 40-10) and relay-cropped red clover (Trifolium pratense) produced around 900 kg ha-1 and 2000 kg ha-1 of biomass respectively. The greatest biomass producing full season green manures were hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.), pea/oat (Avena sativa cv. Leggett/Pisum sativum cv. 40-10) and sweet clover (Mellilotus officinalis cv. Norgold). Pea/oat and hairy vetch were the most weed competitive species and on average contained less than 15% weed biomass. Among all the systems and managements tested, nitrogen availability was greatest when full season green manures were grazed. On average grazing increased soil NO3-N by 25% compared to soil incorporation using tillage. Among grazed species, pea/oat mix and hairy vetch green manures resulted in the greatest amount of soil available NO3-N. Catch crops after grazing green manures, regardless of the species, significantly reduced N leaching risk compared to no catch crop treatment, but also reduced wheat productivity the following year. Catch crop biomass productivity and N uptake, soil NO3-N, and wheat productivity were similar in direct seeded and conventionally seeded plots. Grazing may be an effective tool in reducing tillage in organic agriculture because of its ability to accelerate the N mineralization from catch crop biomass. This study was the first study to use grazing as a management tool for green manures in organic systems. Results provide strong evidence that green manures, especially when grazed, can be effective nitrogen suppliers in organic grain based rotations.
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Odhiambo, Jude Julius Owuor. "Effect of cereal/grass and legume cover crop monocultures and mixtures on the performance of fall-planted cover crops, soil mineral nitrogen and short-term nitrogen availability." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ34601.pdf.
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Haggar, Jeremy. "Nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics of systems integrating trees and annual crops in the tropics." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.306403.
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Anfinrud, Robynn Elizabeth. "Nitrogen Uptake and Biomass and Ethanol Yield of Biomass Crops as Feedstock for Biofuel." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2012. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/26524.
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Nitrogen fertilizers are extensively used to enhance the growth of biomass crops. This study was conducted to determine the effect of N rates on the biomass yield and quality, and N uptake of several crops. The experiment was conducted at Fargo and Prosper, ND, in 2010 and 2011. The crops studied were forage sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. Moench], sorghum x sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense (Piper) Stapf.], kenaf [Hibiscus cannabinus L.], and reed canarygrass [Phalaris arundinacea L.]. The different crops constituted the main plots and the nitrogen rates were regarded as subplots. The five N rates were 0, 75, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha-1.
Forage sweet sorghum and sorghum x sudangrass had the greatest dry matter biomass yield. Nitrogen fertilization increased biomass yield for each of the crops. The results indicate that forage sorghum and sorghum x sudangrass have the greatest potential as a feedstock.
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Yu, Xing. "Role of soil pH on nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency in cereal crops." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2023. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29960.
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Soil pH plays an important role in soil nutrient dynamics and plant uptake, but its role in affecting nitrogen (REN) and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency (REP) remains unclear. I used two meta-analyses to investigate the overall importance of soil pH and other factors for REN and REP, respectively in rice, wheat and maize. I found an average REN of 39%, and an average REP of 12%, based on 261 and 82 global studies, respectively. There was large variation among crops, as a result of different genotypes, growing conditions, soil characteristics, and fertilization rate. For REN, relationships with pH depended on crop type, where REN increased with soil pH for wheat, but decreased with soil pH for rice, while an optimum REN was observed for maize at neutral soil pH. In contrast, the lowest REP was observed for all crops near neutral soil pH. A one-month soil incubation experiment was conducted to examine effects of lime (CaCO3) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) on soil pH and soil N and P dynamics. Both Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3 increased soil pH, while adding Ca(OH)2 to basic soil pH reduced nitrification and enhanced available P compared with adding CaCO3. I then conducted a glasshouse experiment with N and P fertilizer and lime treatments to investigate the interactive effects of lime, N and P addition on REN and REP in wheat. REN decreased with increased liming rate, possibly because liming enhanced net N mineralization in the soil thereby reducing crop dependency on the N fertilizer. In contrast, REP increased with increasing liming rate, possibly because of reduced P fertilizer fixation in the soil. Overall, REN and REP could be improved by adjusting N and P fertilization to environmental and soil conditions and by synchronizing with crop N and P demand and thereby reducing N and P loss.
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Lindeque, Michelle Irene. "Diversity of root nodule bacteria associated with Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus vulgaris species in South Africa." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02162007-170945.
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Massignam, Angelo Mendes. "Quantifying nitrogen effects on crop growth processes in maize and sunflower /." St. Lucia, Qld, 2003. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe17639.pdf.
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Isse, Abdullahi. "Capacity of cover crops to capture excess fertilizer and maintain soil efficiency." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape16/PQDD_0021/MQ37132.pdf.
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Medeiros, João A. S. "Management alternatives for urea use in corn and wheat production." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4533.
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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006.The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 9, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.
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Shelton, Rebecca Erin. "CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN KENTUCKY: INVESTIGATING NITROGEN LOSS AND DYNAMICS IN CORN SYSTEMS FOLLOWING WHEAT AND HAIRY VETCH COVER CROPS." UKnowledge, 2015. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_etds/59.
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Unintentional nitrogen (N) loss from agroecosystems produces greenhouse gases, induces eutrophication, and is costly for farmers; therefore, adoption of conservation agricultural management practices, such as no-till and cover cropping, has increased. This study assessed N loss via leaching, NH3 volatilization, N2O emissions, and N retention in plant and soil pools of corn conservation agroecosystems across a year. Three systems were evaluated: 1) an unfertilized organic system with cover crops Vicia villosa, Triticum aestivum, or a mix of the two; 2) an organic system with a Vicia cover crop employing three fertilization schemes (0 N, organic N, or a cover crop N-credit approach); 3) a conventional system with a Triticum cover crop and three fertilization techniques (0 N, urea N, or organic N). During cover crop growth, species affected N leaching but gaseous emissions were low across all treatments. During corn growth, cover crop and fertilizer approach affected N loss. Fertilized treatments had greater N loss than unfertilized treatments, and fertilizer type affected gaseous fluxes temporally and in magnitude. Overall, increased N availability did not always indicate greater N loss or yield, suggesting that N conserving management techniques can be employed in conservation agriculture systems without sacrificing yield.
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Andersson, Allan. "Nitrogen redistribution in spring wheat : root contribution, spike translocations and protein quality /." Alnarp : Dept. of Crop Science, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2005. http://epsilon.slu.se/200510.pdf.
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Cobb, Chester Ray. "Estimating Nitrogen Efficiency of Swine Lagoon Liquid Applied to Field Crops Using Continuously Variable Irrigation." NCSU, 2002. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-05082002-125033/.
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Application of anaerobic swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) lagoon liquid onto cropland by irrigation is a common method of waste disposal and treatment. Currently, the application rate of swine lagoon liquid is based on the N concentration of the lagoon liqu id and the N required by the receiver crop to obtain a realistic yield. In North Carolina, only 50% of the total N in the swine lagoon liquid applied by irrigation is considered available for plant use during the first year after application. Uncertaint y exists as to whether this coefficient accurately predicts the amount of plant-available N. Therefore, research was conducted in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina to determine the efficiency of N uptake by corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max M errill) receiving swine lagoon liquid through irrigation. The line-source sprinkler irrigation method was used to provide a continuous variable N rate, ranging from 0 to 290 kg N/ha, across the field during 1999 and 2000. Ammonia volatilization losses r anged from 6 to 22% during irrigation. Crop yield and grain N recovered were affected more by the amount of liquid than N applied in 1999. Nitrogen recovered in grain in 1999 was <15% for both corn and soybean at 168 kg N/ha of either swine lagoon liqui d or ammonium nitrate. In 2000 at the 168 kg N/ha rate, grain N removal by corn, nonnodulating soybean, and nodulating soybean was 28, 25, and 39% from swine lagoon liquid and 45, 31, and 56% from ammonium nitrate. Based on yields and grain N removed by corn and nonnodulating soybean in 2000, N from applied swine lagoon liquid, accounting for N losses during irrigation, was about 70% as effective as ammonium nitrate. Symbiotic N2 fixation by the soybean was reduced by 60% when applied N reached 175 kg N/ha for both ammonium nitrate and swine lagoon liquid. While nodulating soybean removed more grain N than did either corn or nonnodulating soybean in 2000, soil inorganic N concentrations at the end of the growing season were higher for the nodulating s oybean. Therefore, it is not conclusive if soybean would be a better receiver crop than corn for swine lagoon liquid. Based on the results of this study, using the 50% available N coefficient of the lagoon liquid comes close to predicting plant-availabl e N when N losses during irrigation are around 25%. Nitrogen losses during irrigation can significantly affect plant-available N when applied N is based on the N concentrations of the lagoon liquid.
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Bunyolo, A. M. "Effects of fertilizer nitrogen and water supply on growth and yield of the potato crops." Thesis, University of Reading, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.379220.
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McClanahan, Sarah Jane. "Evaluation of Cover Crops, Conservation Tillage, and Nitrogen Management in Cotton Production in Southeastern Virginia." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/89921.
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The response of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to legume and small grain cover crop establishment, in-season nitrogen (N) rate, and fertilizer N placement was investigated in two experiments located in coastal plain Virginia and North Carolina. The first experiment examined 1) soil compaction and cotton yield response to strip-tillage compared to no-tillage with a precision planted tillage radish and 2) the influence of legume mix, rye, and legume mix/rye combination cover crops with four in-season nitrogen (N) rates applied to cotton on cover crop biomass, cover crop nutrient uptake, soil compaction, soil N cycling, petiole nitrate-N (NO3-N) during the first week of bloom, cotton lint yield, and fiber quality parameters over two years. Legume mix cover crops resulted in greater N uptake, soil NO3-N during the growing season, and lint yields compared to LMR, rye, and fallow treatments over both study years. Soil compaction and lint yields were not significantly different between strip-tilled and no-till with tillage radish treatments in either year. Relative lint yields after LM were maximized at 93% relative yield with 110 kg N ha-1 applied in-season while relative lint yields for cotton following LM with 0 kg N ha-1 applied reached 75%, measuring at least 9% higher than cotton following other cover crop treatments. The second experiment investigated the effect of five N rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg N ha-1) and three placement methods (broadcast, surface banded, and injected) on lint yield, petiole nitrate-N (NO3-N), lint percent turnout, and fiber quality parameters. Nitrogen rate and placement had a significant effect on lint yield but only N rate affected petiole NO3-N concentration. It was estimated that injecting fertilizer N requires an N rate of 133 kg N ha-1 to achieve 95% relative yield while surface banded fertilizer N required a rate of 128 kg N ha-1 to produce 90% relative yield. A critical petiole NO3-N concentration threshold of 5,600 mg NO3-N kg-1 was calculated to reach 92% relative yield. Other agronomic management practices such as cover crop termination timing, cover crop species blends, and number of fertilizer N applications are of interest in order to develop better recommendations and promote conservation agricultural practices in coastal plain Virginia and North Carolina.Master of Science
Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to diverse species cover crop mixes, conservation tillage method, fertilizer N rate, and fertilizer N placement at side-dress was measured in two field studies conducted on the coastal plain soil in Virginia and North Carolina from 2016-2018. The objectives of the following research were to 1) examine the influence of two conservation tillage practices and four cover crop mixes on cover crop biomass production, soil compaction, cover crop nutrient uptake, soil N cycling, petiole nitrate (NO3-N) and cotton lint yield and 2) measure cotton performance in response to five N rate and three placement application methods. Legume mix (LM) cover crops contained more N in biomass, resulting in higher soil NO3-N during the growing season and higher lint yields at harvest compared to a legume mix and rye combination (LMR), rye, and fallow treatments. Soil compaction and lint yield were not significantly different between strip-tilled and no-till/tillage radish treatments in either year. Nitrogen rate and placement had a significant effect on lint yield but only N rate affected petiole NO3-N concentration. Injection of fertilizer N required an N rate of 133 kg N ha1 to achieve 95% relative yield while surface banded fertilizer N required a rate of 128 kg N ha-1 to produce 90% relative yield. A critical petiole NO3-N concentration threshold of 5,600 mg NO3-N kg-1 was also calculated to reach 92% relative yield. Future application of these results can include investigation of optimal N source for Virginia cotton production, best N placement method for cotton grown in high residue systems, and an economic analysis to determine optimum agronomic management for Virginia coastal plain cotton production.
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Kyllmar, Katarina. "Nitrogen leaching in small agricultural catchments : modelling and monitoring for assessing state, trends and effects of counter-measures /." Uppsala : Dept. of Soil Sciences, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2004. http://epsilon.slu.se/a485.pdf.
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Hudson, Donna. "Analysis of the effects of treatments on non-linear models for nitrogen response curves, with implications for design." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.360011.
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Preza, Fontes Giovani. "Managing cover crops and nitrogen fertilization to enhance sustainability of sorghum cropping systems in eastern Kansas." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35267.
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Master of ScienceDepartment of Agronomy
Peter J. Tomlinson
Growing cover crops (CCs) in rotation with cash crops has become popular in recent years for their many agroecosystem benefits, such as influencing nutrient cycling and reducing nutrient losses. This study aimed to (i) determine the long-term effects of no-till with CCs and varying nitrogen (N) rates on subsequent sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] yield and yield components, (ii) assess how CCs affect the N dynamic in the soil-crop relationship during the growing season and N use efficiency (NUE) of sorghum, and (iii) define and evaluate important periods of nitrous oxide (N₂O) losses throughout the cropping system. Field experiments were conducted during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 growing season in a three-year no-till winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – sorghum – soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] rotation. Fallow management consisted of a chemical fallow (CF) control plus four CCs and a double-crop soybean (DSB) grown after wheat harvest. Nitrogen fertilizer was subsurface banded at five rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha⁻¹) after sorghum planting. On average, DSB and late-maturing soybean (LMS) provided one-third and one-half of the N required for optimum economic grain yield (90 kg N ha⁻¹), respectively; resulting in increased grain yield when compared to the other CCs and CF with 0-N application. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and daikon radish (Raphanus sativus L.) had no or negative effects on sorghum yield and N uptake relative to CF across all N rates. Sorghum-sudangrass (SS) (Sorghum bicolor var. sudanese) significantly reduced N uptake and grain yield, even at higher N rates. Sorghum following CF had the lowest NUE at optimum grain yield when compared to all CC treatments, suggesting that CCs have a tendency to improve NUE. Cover crops reduced N₂O emissions by 65% during the fallow period when compared to CF; however, DSB and SS increased emissions when N was applied during the sorghum phase, indicating that N fertilization might be the overriding factor. Moreover, about 50% of the total N₂O emissions occurred within 3 weeks after N application, regardless of the cover crop treatment, indicating the importance of implementing N management strategies to reduce N₂O emissions early in the growing season. Overall, these results show that CC selection and N fertilizer management can have significant impacts on sorghum productivity and N₂O emissions in no-till cropping systems.
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Gacengo, Catherine N. Wood C. W. Shaw Joey N. "Agroecosystem management effects on carbon and nitrogen cycling across a coastal plain catena." Auburn, Ala, 2008. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/EtdRoot/2008/SUMMER/Agronomy_and_Soils/Dissertation/Gacengo_Catherine_2.pdf.
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Båth, Birgitta. "Matching the availability of N mineralised from green-manure crops with the N-demand of field vegetables /." Uppsala : Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniv.), 2000. http://epsilon.slu.se/avh/2000/91-576-5754-8.pdf.
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Challinor, Paul Francis. "An evaluation of pumice, unloaded clinoptilolite and nutrient-loaded clinoptilolite zeolites, as plant growth substrates in the intensive production of long season glasshouse crops." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/2625.
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Annual losses of nitrogen from existing glasshouse crop production substrate systems could be as high as 600 kg ha 1, using an average of 30% drainwater containing a nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 200 mg 1". The use of nutrient recirculation systems such as nutrient film technique (NFT) helped to reduce nutrient losses to the environment but the commercial area of NFT has decreasedd ue to high initial capital costs, concernso ver diseaset ransmissionw ithin the system and an absence of recent research and development. Most substrate systems rely on the provision of liquid nutrient feeds at every watering. This study examines clinoptilolite which is able to selectively store, supply and exchange cations with plant roots. The use of the naturally-occurring volcanic aluminosilicates pumice and clinoptilolite zeolite in the intensive production of edible and ornamental protected crops, tomatoes, sweet peppers and standard carnations was studied. Pumice from Sicily, Italy and clinoptilolite (84-87%) from Beli Plast, Bulgaria were used in the experiments. The management of the pumice and unloaded clinoptilolite systems involved provision of all the plant growth nutrients via a drip irrigation system. In comparison, the nutrient-loaded clinoptilolites were examined using only water in the irrigation cycles which allowed relatively unimpeded cation exchange to take place between the clinoptilolite and the surrounding solution, thus providing nutrients for plant roots. The total cation exchange capacity of clinoptilolite was measured as 132.0-158.3 meq 100g'', compared with 1.8 meq 100g-' for pumice. Unloaded clinoptilolite irrigated with nutrient-balanced liquid feeds gave yields and quality equivalent to those of tomatoes, peppers and standard carnations grown on rockwool, pumice and peat / peat alternatives. For the first nine months of an eighteen month experiment, the yield and quality of standard carnation flowers from high nutrient-loaded clinoptilolite matched those from pumice receiving liquid feeds at every watering. Thereafter, lower concentrations of available nitrogen and, to a lesser extent phosphorus, limited production by up to 25%. Drainwater nutrient concentrations were, however, extremely low and reduced the potential pollution risk to the surrounding environment. Drainwater nitrate-nitrogen concentrations of below 10 mg 1'' were measured, compared with 100-300 mg 1.1 for pumice. Drainwater potassium concentrations were also comparatively low at < 20 mg 1'' for clinoptilolite and 200 mg 1" for pumice. Phosphorus concentrationsi n the drainwater did not exceed1 2 mg 1.1c, omparedw ith a maximum of 70 mg 1'1 in drainwater from pumice. The inclusion of phosphate rock (apatite) in with the clinoptilolite provided a source of phosphorus available to plants and the dissolution of apatite was regulated by the rate of absorption of phosphorus and calcium by plants. In all the experiments, clinoptilolite adsorbed ammonium-nitrogen and potassium, releasing calcium and sodium. However, concentrations of sodium released into the root zone were not harmful to plant growth. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration of new, fully-expanded carnation leaves was 51.7% lower than the target levels. The nutrient loading of nitrogen and phosphorus regulated the overall yield of the crops evaluated in the experiments. The use of nutrient-loaded clinoptilolite to produce commercial crops and reduce environmental pollution by regulating the concentration of nutrients in the drainwater over long periods of time is further explored in the study.
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Sciarresi, Cintia Soledad. "OPTIMIZING COVER CROP ROTATIONS FOR WATER, NITROGEN AND WEED MANAGEMENT." UKnowledge, 2019. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_etds/122.
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Winter cover crops grown in rotation with grain crops can be an efficient integrated pest management tool (IPM). However, cover crop biomass production and thus successful provisioning of ecosystem services depend on a timely planting and cover crop establishment after harvest of a cash crop in the fall. One potential management adaptation is the use of short-season soybeans to advance cover crop planting date in the fall. Cover crops planted earlier in the fall may provide a greater percentage of ground cover early in the season because of higher biomass accumulation that may improve weed suppression. However, adapting to short-season soybeans could have a yield penalty compared to full-season soybeans. In addition, it is unclear if further increasing cover crop growing season and biomass production under environmental conditions in Kentucky could limit nitrogen and water availability for the next cash crop. This thesis combines the use of field trials and a crop simulation model to address the research questions posed.
In Chapter 1, field trials evaluating yield and harvest date of soybean maturity group (MG) cultivars from 0 to 4 in 13 site-years across KY, NE, and OH, were used to calibrate and evaluate the DSSAT crop modeling software (v 4.7). The subsequent modeling analysis showed that planting shorter soybean maturity groups (MG) would advance date of harvest maturity (R8) by 6.6 to 11 days per unit decrease in MG for May planting or by 1 to 7.3 days for July planting. The earliest MG cultivar that maximized yield ranged from MG 0 to 3 depending on the location, allowing a winter-killed cover crop to accumulate between 257 to 270 growing degree days (GDD) before the first freeze occurrence when soybean was planted in May, and between 280 to 296 GDD when soybean was planted in July. Winter-hardy cover crops could accumulate 701 to 802 GDD following soybean planted in May and 329 to 416 GDD after soybean planted in July.
In Chapter 2, a two-year field trial was conducted at Lexington, KY to evaluate the effect of a soybean – cover crop rotation with soybean cultivars MG 1, 2, 3 or 4 on cover crop biomass and canopy cover, and on weed biomass in the fall and the following spring. Results showed that having cover crops was an efficient management strategy to reduce weed biomass in the fall and spring compared to no cover treatment. Planting cover crops earlier in the fall after a short-season soybean increased cover crop biomass production and percentage of ground cover in the fall, but not the following spring. Planting cover crop earlier after a short-season soybean did not improve weed suppression in the fall or spring compared to a fallow control with full-season soybean. Having a fall herbicide application improved weed control when there was a high pressure of winter annual weeds. By the spring, delaying cover crop termination increased cover crop biomass but also did weed biomass.
In Chapter 3, a soybean – cover crop – corn rotation was simulated to evaluate the effect of different soybean MG and cover crop termination, as well as year to year variability on water and nitrogen availability for the next corn crop in Lexington, KY. Simulations showed that when cover crops were terminated early, they did not reduced soil available water at corn planting. However, introducing a non-legume cover crop reduced total inorganic nitrogen content in the soil profile by 21 to 34 kg ha-1 implying 15 to 30 kg ha-1 less in corn nitrogen uptake. Cover crop management that was able to maintain similar available water values than fallow treatment while minimizing nitrogen uptake differences was cover crops planted after soybean MG 4 with an early termination. However, the best management strategies that will maximize ecosystem services from cover crops as well as cash crop productivity may need to be tailored to each environment, soil type, irrigation management, and must consider year-to-year variability.
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Mahama, George Yakubu. "Impact of cover crops and nitrogen application on nitrous oxide fluxes and grain yield of sorghum and maize." Diss., Kansas State University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/18939.
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Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Agronomy
P. V. Vara Prasad
Leguminous cover crops systems have been envisaged as a critical component of sustainable agriculture due to their potential to increase soil productivity through cycling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in agricultural systems. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of leguminous summer cover crops; cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp], sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and double-cropped grain crops; grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] after winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and to determine the effects of these crops and varying N rates in the cropping system on nitrous oxide (N[subscript]2O) emissions, growth and yield of succeeding grain sorghum and maize (Zea mays L.) crop, soil aggregation, aggregate-associated C, and N. Field and laboratory studies were conducted for two years. The cover crops and double-cropped grain crops were planted immediately after winter wheat harvest. The cover crops were terminated at the beginning of flowering. Nitrogen fertilizer (urea 46% N) rates of 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg N ha[superscript]-1 were applied to grain sorghum or maize in fallow plots. Pigeon pea and grain sorghum had more C accumulation than cowpea, sunn hemp and double-cropped soybean. Pigeon pea and cowpea had more N uptake than sunn hemp and the double-cropped grain crops. Fallow with N fertilizer application produced significantly greater N[subscript]2O emissions than all the cover crops systems. Nitrous oxide emissions were relatively similar in the various cover crop systems and fallow with 0 kg N ha[superscript]-1. Grain yield of sorghum and maize in all the cover crop and double cropped soybean systems was similar to that in the fallow with 45 kg N ha[superscript]-1. Both grain sorghum and maize in the double-cropped soybean system and fallow with 90 kg N ha[superscript]-1 or 135 kg N ha[superscript]-1 gave profitable economic net returns over the years. The double-cropped grain sorghum system increased aggregate-associated C and whole soil total C, and all the cover crop and the double-cropped soybean systems increased aggregate-associated N and soil N pools. Inclusion of leguminous cover crops without N fertilizer application reduced N[subscript]2O emissions and provided additional C accumulation and N uptake, contributing to increased grain yield of the following cereal grain crop.
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Pavuluri, Kiran. "Winter Barley as a Commodity Cover Crop in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain and Evaluation of Soft Red Winter Wheat Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Genotype, and its Prediction of Nitrogen Use Efficiency through Canopy Spectral Reflectance in the Eastern US." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/47103.
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To understand the impact of N management on harvestable cover crop systems, seven research trials compared: 1) standard intensive management (SIM) (both fall and spring N application), 2) No fall N, a single spring N application, and 3) Cover N (no N application) effects on winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plant biomass (PB), plant N uptake (PNU), grain yield, residual soil nitrate (RSN), and ammonium (RSA). In general, at winter dormancy, SIM resulted in increased PB and PNU but not RSN or RSA. At cover crop termination; SIM and the No fall N practices increased PNU, and at harvesting stage; they produced higher grain yields than the Cover N practice with little significant effect on RSN or RSA values, under normal climatic conditions. While overall yields for the No fall N treatment were lower (8%) than SIM yields, partial net return was similar due to decreased fertilizer input.
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of soft red winter wheat (SRWW) can be improved by characterizing genotypes for NUE using canopy spectral reflectance [(CSR), a cheap, rapid and non-destructive remote sensing tool]. The other objectives of this study were to evaluate the predictive potential of vegetative reflection indices for wheat nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by genotype and the appropriate stages of CSR sensing. An elite panel of 281 regionally developed SRWW genotypes was screened under low and normal N regimes in two crop seasons for grain yield, N uptake, nitrogen use efficiency for yield (NUEY) and nitrogen use efficiency for protein (NUEP). The best models incorporating CSR data at wheat heading explained a significant proportion of total variation in grain yield, N uptake, NUEY and NUEP. Based on the best linear unbiased predictor values, genotypes were ranked and grouped into quartiles and the most efficient and responsive genotypes were identified. A significant proportion of the genotypes with high NUEY under high N conditions also had high NUEY under N stress; however, this was not the case for NUEP. Similarly, a significant proportion of genotypes with high NUEY also had high NUEP under both normal and low N conditions.Ph. D.