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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 60(8)

Mechanisms of nitrogen limitation affecting maize growth: a comparison of different modelling hypotheses

F. Y. Li A B D , P. D. Jamieson A , P. R. Johnstone A and A. J. Pearson C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch, New Zealand.

B AgResearch – Grasslands, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

C Foundation for Arable Research, PO Box 80, Lincoln, New Zealand.

D Corresponding author. Email: frank.li@agresearch.co.nz

Crop and Pasture Science 60(8) 738-752 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP08412
Submitted: 18 November 2008  Accepted: 27 May 2009   Published: 5 August 2009

Abstract

Two hypothetical mechanisms exist for quantifying crop nitrogen (N) demand and N-deficit effects on crop growth. The Critical N mechanism uses a critical N concentration, while the Leaf N mechanism distinguishes active N in leaves from the N elsewhere in shoots. These two mechanisms were implemented in parallel in a maize model (Amaize) to evaluate their adequacy in predicting crop growth and development. In the Leaf N mechanism, two approaches for quantifying N-deficit effects, by reducing green leaf area (GAI) or diluting specific leaf nitrogen (SLN), were also examined. The model-predicted plant biomass, grain yield, and N uptake were compared with measurements from 47 maize crops grown on 16 sites receiving different N fertiliser treatments. The results showed that model-predicted plant biomass, grain yield and N uptake were insensitive to the approaches used for quantifying N-deficit effects in the Leaf N mechanism. The model-predicted plant biomass, grain yield and N uptake using either N approach were significantly related to measurements (P < 0.01) but had considerable deviations (r2 = 0.66–0.69 for biomass, 0.50–0.54 for grain yield: 0.17–0.33 for N uptake). The linear fits of the predicted against measured values showed no significant difference (P > 0.1) among the three N approaches, with the Leaf N mechanism predicting smaller deviation than the Critical N mechanism. However, the Critical N mechanism was better in simulating plant growth dynamics in early plant growth stages. The Leaf N mechanism distinguished functional from structural N pools in plants, having a sound physiological base. The simulation using the Leaf N mechanism with both SLN dilution and GAI reduction for quantifying N-deficit effects was the best in predicting crop growth and yield.

Additional keywords: canopy development, Critical N concentration, green leaf area, specific leaf nitrogen, nitrogen uptake, simulation.


Acknowledgments

The development of the maize model was funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology as part of the Land Use Change and Intensification program. The field experimentation was funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF), the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), and FertResearch. We thank D. Wilson and A. Fletcher for their comments on the manuscript, and E. Meenken for assistance with statistical analysis.


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