Nitrogen management in crop production

418 Pages·57.344 MB·English

by  N K Fageria

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE Fageria
Nitrogen
Management in
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Crop Production
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One of the main approaches for safeguarding food security, gg
sustainable development has increased demand for knowledge on ee
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fertilizer management in crop production. Among essential plant

nutrients, nitrogen is one of the most important yield-limiting nutrients, MM
mainly responsible for determining yield and yield components in
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cereals and legumes. It is also responsible for the activation of many
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enzymes and, of course, plays an important role in photosynthesis. aa
With a recovery efficiency of less than 50 percent in most cropping gg
systems, a large portion of the nitrogen applied as fertilizer is not ee
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used by plants, creating environmental and economic issues.
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Nitrogen Management in Crop Production covers the critical nn
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aspects for the judicious use of nitrogen in cropping systems. This

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includes appropriate methods of nitrogen application, effective nn
source and timing of application during crop growth cycles, use
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of an adequate application rate to avoid loss and reduce cost,
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use of nitrogen-efficient crop genotypes, and use of legumes oo
that fix sufficient amounts of atmospheric nitrogen. There is pp
Nitrogen
also a chapter on organic matter and its role in sustainability.
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This book presents recent information from the international literature,
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making it relevant for most agroecological regions. Chapters provide
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experimental results to aid in practical application of the information.
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Management in
The book contains color photos of nitrogen deficiency symptoms to tt
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serve as a guide for important crop species, such as rice, dry bean, oo
wheat, soybean, and corn. It also includes numerous tables and nn
figures, providing an easy-to-read reference.
Crop Production
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Nitrogen
Management in
Crop Production

Nitrogen
Management in
Crop Production
Nand Kumar Fageria, PhD
National Rice and Bean Research Center of EMBRAPA
Santo Antônio de Goiás, Brazil
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2014 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Version Date: 20140311
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4822-2285-2 (eBook - PDF)
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This book is dedicated with much love and affection
to my grandchildren Sofia, Maia, and Anjit.

Contents
Preface............................................................................................................................................xiii
Author ..............................................................................................................................................xv
Chapter 1 Functions of Nitrogen in Crop Plants ...........................................................................1
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................1
1.2 Functions ...........................................................................................................5
1.2.1 Improvement in Growth, Yield, and Yield Components and
Related Traits in Cereals and Legumes ................................................6
1.2.1.1 Plant Height ..........................................................................8
1.2.1.2 Tillering ..............................................................................10
1.2.1.3 Shoot Dry Weight ...............................................................13
1.2.1.4 Panicle Number, Panicle Length, and Pod Number ...........17
1.2.1.5 Spikelet Sterility .................................................................19
1.2.1.6 Grain Yield .........................................................................21
1.2.1.7 Leaf Area Index ..................................................................24
1.2.1.8 Root Growth .......................................................................25
1.2.2 Component of Enzymes .....................................................................27
1.2.3 Improvement in Grain Protein Content ..............................................30
1.2.4 Essentials for Photosynthesis .............................................................31
1.2.4.1 Leaf Nitrogen Content versus Photosynthesis ....................34
1.2.4.2 Improving Photosynthesis ..................................................35
1.2.5 Leaf Nitrogen Content versus Radiation Use Efficiency ...................43
1.2.6 Improves Grain Harvest Index ...........................................................44
1.2.7 Role of Nitrogen in Increasing Yield Potential of Important
Cereals in the Future ..........................................................................47
1.2.7.1 Components of Potential Yield ...........................................48
1.2.7.2 Projections of Potential Yield of Major Cereals .................49
1.3 Conclusions ......................................................................................................50
References ..................................................................................................................51
Chapter 2 Nitrogen Losses in Soil–Plant System .......................................................................67
2.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................67
2.2 Cycle in Soil–Plant System .............................................................................68
2.3 Losses through Ammonia Volatilization.........................................................72
2.4 Losses through Denitrification ........................................................................75
2.5 Losses through Leaching ................................................................................76
2.6 Losses through Soil Erosion ............................................................................77
2.7 Losses through Ammonia Volatilization from Foliage ...................................77
2.8 Factors Affecting Nitrogen Losses ..................................................................78
2.8.1 Precipitation .......................................................................................78
2.8.2 Temperature ........................................................................................79
2.8.3 Soil pH ................................................................................................79
2.8.4 Texture ................................................................................................80
2.8.5 Soil Water and Aeration .....................................................................80
vii
viii Contents
2.8.6 Method of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application ........................................80
2.8.7 Nitrogen Source and Particle Size ......................................................80
2.8.8 Plant Factors .......................................................................................81
2.9 Management Practices to Reduce Nitrogen Losses.........................................81
2.9.1 Irrigating after Topdressing Nitrogen Fertilizers ...............................82
2.9.2 Use of Organically Enhanced Fertilizers ...........................................82
2.9.3 Use of Slow Nitrogen Release Fertilizers ...........................................83
2.9.4 Adopting Appropriate Cropping System ............................................85
2.9.5 Use of Conservation Tillage ...............................................................85
2.9.6 Use of Biochar ....................................................................................86
2.9.7 Use of Gypsum ...................................................................................86
2.9.8 Use of Crop Genotypes Producing High Root Biomass ....................87
2.9.9 Intercalation of Urea in Montmorillonite ...........................................88
2.9.10 Adopting Crop–Livestock Integration in Cropping System...............90
2.9.11 Adopting Organic Farming ................................................................90
2.9.12 Adopting Agroforestry in Cropping Systems .....................................91
2.9.13 Use of Natural Zeolite ........................................................................92
2.9.14 Calcium Stimulates Ammonium Absorption .....................................92
2.9.15 Adopting Appropriate Intercropping..................................................92
2.10 Conclusions ......................................................................................................93
References ..................................................................................................................94
Chapter 3 Diagnostic Techniques for Nitrogen Requirements in Crop Plants .........................111
3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................111
3.2 Nitrogen Deficiency, Sufficiency, and Toxicity Diagnostic Techniques ........112
3.2.1 Deficiency and Toxicity Symptoms ..................................................113
3.2.1.1 Deficiency Symptoms .......................................................113
3.2.1.2 Toxicity Symptoms ...........................................................121
3.3 Soil Test .........................................................................................................123
3.4 Plant Tissue Test ............................................................................................129
3.4.1 Nitrogen Concentration in Plants .....................................................130
3.4.2 Nitrogen Uptake in Plants ................................................................136
3.4.3 Forms of Nitrogen Uptake by Plants ................................................143
3.5 Use of Chlorophyll Meter ..............................................................................145
3.6 Nitrogen Harvest Index .................................................................................147
3.7 Plant Response to Applied Nitrogen..............................................................148
3.7.1 Greenhouse or Controlled Condition Experiments ..........................149
3.7.1.1 Observation and Data Transformation
in Greenhouse Experiments .............................................150
3.7.1.2 Experimental Results ........................................................151
3.7.2 Field Experiments ............................................................................157
3.7.2.1 Observation and Data Transformation in Field
Experiments ......................................................................158
3.7.2.2 Experimental Results ........................................................159
3.8 Conclusions ....................................................................................................164
References ................................................................................................................164
Chapter 4 Management of Soil Organic Matter ........................................................................173
4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................173
4.2 SOM-Related Terms ......................................................................................174