Effects of continuous nitrogen application on seed yield, yield components and nitrogen-use efficiency of Leymus chinensis in two different saline-sodic soils of Northeast China
Lihua Huang A B D , Zhengwei Liang A B , Donald L. Suarez C , Zhichun Wang A B and Mingming Wang A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 4888 Shengbei Street, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China.
B Da’an Sodic Land Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Da’an, Jilin 131317, China.
C USDA-ARS U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 450W Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: huanglihua@iga.ac.cn
Crop and Pasture Science 70(4) 373-383 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP18274
Submitted: 13 June 2018 Accepted: 25 March 2019 Published: 30 April 2019
Abstract
The effect of nitrogen (N) application on seed yields and yield components in Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a perennial rhizomatous grass, was measured in a field experiment with two saline-sodic soils at Da’an Sodic Land Experiment Station during 2010–11. Two grassland field sites were classified as moderately saline–sodic (MSSL) and severely saline–sodic (SSSL). Application rates of N at each site were 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 kg ha–1. Application of N significantly improved seed yield mainly through increased spike number (R2 = 0.96, P ≤ 0.001). Compared with nil N, seed yield increased 7.4–10.9 times with N application of 150 kg ha–1 at MSSL, and 5.3–7.5 times with N application of 120 kg ha–1 at SSSL. However, absolute increases at SSSL were relatively small. Some significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) in seed yield occurred between 2010 and 2011 with different N application rates in the same soil, and between MSSL and SSSL in the same year. Increasing N application rate significantly decreased N physiological efficiency (NPE) but increased N apparent-recovery fraction (NRF) and N partial-factor productivity (NPP) at both sites. Seed yield and NPP indicated that the optimal N application rates to increase yield were 150 kg ha–1 at MSSL and 120 kg ha–1 at SSSL. High soil pH was the major factor adversely impacting seed yield, and pH and soil salinity were major factors negative affecting NPE, NRF and NPP as well as decreasing the positive effect of N application. Nitrogen application is a practical and effective method to increase seed yield of L. chinensis in saline-sodic grasslands of Northeast China, particularly when soil pH and salinity are not limiting.
Additional keywords: Chinese ryegrass, false wheatgrass, soil electrical conductivity.
References
Ahmad G, Jan A, Arif M, Jan MT, Shah H (2011) Effect of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on yield components, seed and oil yields of canola. Journal of Plant Nutrition 34, 2069–2082.| Effect of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on yield components, seed and oil yields of canola.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bai YF, Han XG, Wu JG, Chen ZZ, Li LH (2004) Ecosystem stability and compensatory effects in the Inner Mongolia grassland. Nature 431, 181–184.
| Ecosystem stability and compensatory effects in the Inner Mongolia grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bai WM, Sun XQ, Wang ZW, Li LH (2009) Nitrogen addition and rhizome severing modify clonal growth and reproductive modes of Leymus chinensis population. Plant Ecology 205, 13–21.
| Nitrogen addition and rhizome severing modify clonal growth and reproductive modes of Leymus chinensis population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bao SD (2000) ‘Soil and agricultural chemical analysis.’ 3rd edn. pp. 42–58. (Agriculture Press: Beijing) [In Chinese]
Bronson KF (2008) Nitrogen use efficiency of cotton varies with irrigation system. Better Crops with Plant Food 92, 20–22.
Caines AM, Shennan C (1999) Interactive effects of Ca2+ and NaCl salinity on the growth of two tomato genotypes differing in Ca2+ use efficiency. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 37, 569–576.
| Interactive effects of Ca2+ and NaCl salinity on the growth of two tomato genotypes differing in Ca2+ use efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chen SP, Bai YF, Zhang LX, Han XG (2005) Comparing physiological responses of two dominant grass species to nitrogen addition in Xilin River Basin of China. Environmental and Experimental Botany 53, 65–75.
| Comparing physiological responses of two dominant grass species to nitrogen addition in Xilin River Basin of China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chen JS, Zhu RF, Zhang YX (2013) The effect of nitrogen addition on seed yield and yield components of Leymus chinensis in Songnen Plain, China. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 13, 329–339.
Delogu G, Cattivelli L, Pecchioni N, De Falcis D, Maggiore T, Stanca AM (1998) Uptake and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in winter barley and winter wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 9, 11–20.
| Uptake and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in winter barley and winter wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gimeno V, Syvertsen JP, Nieves M, Simón I, Martínez V, García-Sánchez F (2009) Additional nitrogen fertilization affects salt tolerance of lemon trees on different rootstocks. Scientia Horticulturae 121, 298–305.
| Additional nitrogen fertilization affects salt tolerance of lemon trees on different rootstocks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grieve CM, Grattan SR, Maas EV (2012) Plant salt tolerance. In ‘Agricultural salinity assessment and management’. 2nd edn (Eds WW Wallender, KK Tanji) pp. 405–459. (American Society of Civil Engineers: Reston, VA, USA)
Han DF, Cao HB, Zhang T, Shi LX, Guo JX (2015) Salinity influence on Leymus chinensis characteristics in a temperate meadow ecosystem. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 43, 462–467.
| Salinity influence on Leymus chinensis characteristics in a temperate meadow ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hocking PJ, Stapper M (2001) Effects of sowing time and nitrogen fertilizer on canola and wheat, and nitrogen fertilizer on Indian mustard. I. Dry matter production, grain yield, and yield components. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 623–634.
| Effects of sowing time and nitrogen fertilizer on canola and wheat, and nitrogen fertilizer on Indian mustard. I. Dry matter production, grain yield, and yield components.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huang LH, Liang ZW, Ma HY (2008a) Effects of different salts on seed germination and growth of Leymus chinensis. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 27, 1974–1979. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Huang LH, Liang ZW, Ma HY (2008b) Growth response and physiological change of Leymus chinensis seedling transplanted in soil of various pH. Chinese Journal of Grassland 30, 42–47. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Huang LH, Liang ZW, Ma HY (2009) Effects of saline-sodic stress on the photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency of Leymus chinensis. Acta Prataculturae Sinica 18, 25–30. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Huang LH, Liang ZW, Wang ZC, Ma HY, Wang MM, Liu M (2010) Nitrogen application: an important measure of restraining vegetation degradation in saline alkaline grasslands in northeast China. In ‘2010 International Conference on Combating Land Degradation in Agricultural Areas and the First Annual Councilor Meeting of WASWAC’. 11–15 October 2010, Xi’an City, China. (Ed. A Klik) pp. 489–493. (Springer: Berlin)
Huang LH, Liang ZW, Suarez DL, Wang ZC, Ma HY, Wang MM, Yang HY, Liu M (2015) Continuous nitrogen application differentially affects growth, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency of Leymus chinensis in two saline–sodic soils of Northeastern China. Agronomy Journal 107, 314–322.
| Continuous nitrogen application differentially affects growth, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency of Leymus chinensis in two saline–sodic soils of Northeastern China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jin H, Kim HR, Plaha P, Liu SK, Park JY, Piao YZ, Yang ZH, Jiang GB, Kwak SS, An G, Son M, Jin YH, Sohn JH, Lim YP (2008) Expression profiling of the genes induced by Na2CO3 and NaCl stresses in leaves and roots of Leymus chinensis. Plant Science 175, 784–792.
| Expression profiling of the genes induced by Na2CO3 and NaCl stresses in leaves and roots of Leymus chinensis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kuo PC (1987) ‘Flora reipublicae popularis Sinicae. Vol. 9.’ (Science Press: Beijing)
Kutcher HL, Malhi SS, Gill KS (2005) Topography and management of nitrogen and fungicide affects diseases and productivity of Canola. Agronomy Journal 97, 533–541.
| Topography and management of nitrogen and fungicide affects diseases and productivity of Canola.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liu GX, Han JG (2008) Seedling establishment of wild and cultivated Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. under different seeding depths. Journal of Arid Environments 72, 279–284.
| Seedling establishment of wild and cultivated Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. under different seeding depths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liu XJ, Yang YM, Li WQ, Li CZ, Duan DY, Tadano T (2005) Interactive effects of sodium chloride and nitrogen on growth and ion accumulation of a halophyte. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 35, 2111–2123.
| Interactive effects of sodium chloride and nitrogen on growth and ion accumulation of a halophyte.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liu GX, He F, Wan LQ, Li XL (2015) Management regimen and seeding rate modify seedling establishment of Leymus chinensis. Rangeland Ecology and Management 68, 204–210.
| Management regimen and seeding rate modify seedling establishment of Leymus chinensis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
López-Bellido RJ, López-Bellido L (2001) Efficiency of nitrogen in wheat under Mediterranean conditions: effect of tillage, crop rotation and N fertilization. Field Crops Research 71, 31–46.
| Efficiency of nitrogen in wheat under Mediterranean conditions: effect of tillage, crop rotation and N fertilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ma BL, Biswas DK, Herath AW, Whalen JK, Ruan SQY, Caldwell C, Earl H, Vanasse A, Scott P, Smith DL (2015) Growth, yield, and yield components of canola as affected by nitrogen, sulfur, and boron application. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 178, 658–670.
| Growth, yield, and yield components of canola as affected by nitrogen, sulfur, and boron application.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maas EV, Hoffman GJ (1977) Crop salt tolerance—current assessment. Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division 103, 115–134.
Moll RH, Kamprath EJ, Jackson WA (1982) Analysis and interpretation of is factors which contribute to efficiency of nitrogen utilization. Agronomy Journal 74, 562–564.
| Analysis and interpretation of is factors which contribute to efficiency of nitrogen utilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Montalvo AM, McMillan PA, Allen EB (2002) The relative importance of seeding method, soil ripping, and soil variables on seeding success. Restoration Ecology 10, 52–67.
| The relative importance of seeding method, soil ripping, and soil variables on seeding success.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Munns R, Tester M (2008) Mechanisms of saline tolerance. Annual Review of Plant Biology 59, 651–681.
| Mechanisms of saline tolerance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18444910PubMed |
Pan QM, Bai YF, Han XG, Yang JC (2004) Studies on the fate of labeled nitrogen applied to a Leymus chinensis community of typical steppe in Inner Mongolia grassland. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica 28, 665–671.
| Studies on the fate of labeled nitrogen applied to a Leymus chinensis community of typical steppe in Inner Mongolia grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Pan QM, Bai YF, Han XG, Yang JC (2005) Effects of nitrogen additions on a Leymus chinensis population in typical steppe of Inner Mongolia. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica 29, 311–317.
| Effects of nitrogen additions on a Leymus chinensis population in typical steppe of Inner Mongolia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Pierce FJ, Rice CW (1988) Crop rotation and its impact of efficiency of water and nitrogen use. In ‘Cropping strategies for efficient use of water and nitrogen’. ASA Special Publication No. 15. (Ed. Hargrove) pp. 101–113. (American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI, USA)
Ren AZ, Wei MY, Yin LJ, Wu LJ, Zhou Y, Li X, Gao YB (2014) Benefits of a fungal endophyte in Leymus chinensis depend more on water than on nutrient availability. Environmental and Experimental Botany 108, 71–78.
| Benefits of a fungal endophyte in Leymus chinensis depend more on water than on nutrient availability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rochester I, Ceeney S, Maas S, Gordon R, Hanna L, Hill J (2009) Monitoring nitrogen use efficiency in cotton crops. The Australian Cottongrower 30, 42–43.
Semiz GD, Suarez DL, Unlukara A, Yurtseven E (2014) Interactive effects of salinity and N on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) yield, WUE and root zone and drainage salinity. Journal of Plant Nutrition 37, 595–610.
| Interactive effects of salinity and N on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) yield, WUE and root zone and drainage salinity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Song J, Chen M, Feng G, Jia YH, Wang BS, Zhang FS (2009) Effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa. Plant and Soil 314, 133–141.
| Effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang ML (1998) A study on seed production of L. chinensis. Grassland of China 20, 18–20. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Wang RZ, Ripley EA (2000) Biomass and energy allocation of Leymus chinensis in the semi-arid Songnen Plain of northeast China. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 26, 107–115.
Wang JF, Xie JF, Zhang YT, Gao S, Zhang JT, Mu CS (2010) Methods to improve seed yield of Leymus chinensis based on nitrogen application and precipitation analysis. Agronomy Journal 102, 277–281.
| Methods to improve seed yield of Leymus chinensis based on nitrogen application and precipitation analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang JF, Li XY, Gao S, Li ZL, Mu CS (2013) Impacts of fall nitrogen application on seed production in Leymus chinensis, a rhizomatous perennial grass. Agronomy Journal 105, 1378–1384.
| Impacts of fall nitrogen application on seed production in Leymus chinensis, a rhizomatous perennial grass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xiao XM, Wang YF, Jiang S, Ojima DS, Bonham CD (1995) Interannual variation in the climate and above-ground biomass of Leymus chinensis steppe and Stipa grandis steppe in the Xilin River basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Arid Environments 31, 283–299.
| Interannual variation in the climate and above-ground biomass of Leymus chinensis steppe and Stipa grandis steppe in the Xilin River basin, Inner Mongolia, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xu FX, Xiong H, Xie R, Zhang L, Zhu YC, Guo XY, Yang DJ, Zhou XB, Liu M (2009) Advance of rice fertilizer-nitrogen use efficiency. Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Science 15, 1215–1225. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Yang YF, Zhu TC (1989) A study on seed production of L. chinensis population in different ecological conditions. Acta Ecologica Sinica 8, 256–262. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Yang YF, Yang LM, Zhang J, Li D (2000) Relationship between the fruit-bearing characters of Leymus chinensis population and annual climate variation in natural meadow in northeast China. Acta Botanica Sinica 42, 294–299. [In Chinese, with English abstract]
Zhang H, Irving LJ, McGill C, Matthew C, Zhou DW, Kemp P (2010) The effects of salinity and osmotic stress on barley germination rate: sodium as an osmotic regulator. Annals of Botany 106, 1027–1035.
| The effects of salinity and osmotic stress on barley germination rate: sodium as an osmotic regulator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20929898PubMed |
Zhu TC (2004) ‘Yang-cao biological ecology.’ (Jilin Science and Technology Press: Changchun, China) (In Chinese)
