Drip Fertigation Enhances the Responses of Grain Yield and Quality to Nitrogen Topdressing Rate in Irrigated Winter Wheat in North China.

Conventional water and nitrogen (N) management practice in north China, comprising flood irrigation and N fertilizer broadcast (FB), limits sustainable wheat production. Drip fertigation (DF) has been widely adopted in wheat production in recent years and has effectively improved yields. However, the responses of the yield and quality to the N topdressing rate (NTR) under DF are still unclear. This study determined the responses of the wheat yield and quality to NTR under DF, as well as assessing whether DF could synergistically increase the yield and quality. A field experiment was conducted in north China for two seasons (2021-2023) using a split-plot design with three replicates. The main plot used the management practice (FB and DF) and the sub-plot had N treatment (no N applied, and NTRs of 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha-1 with 150 kg N ha-1 as basal fertilizer, denoted as N0, T0, T40, T80, T120, and T160, respectively). Our results showed that high and saturated wheat yields (12.08 and 11.46 t ha-1) were obtained under DF at T80, and the highest yields were produced at T160 (11.71 and 11.30 t ha-1) under FB. Compared with FB, the greatest yield increase of 10.4-12.6% was achieved at T80 under DF. A higher spike number due to the increased effective stem percentage and a greater grain weight because of enhanced post-anthesis biomass production (BPpost) explained the improved yield under DF. The enhanced post-anthesis radiation use efficiency (RUE) led to the greater BPpost under DF. The enhanced specific leaf N, antioxidant capacity, and stomatal conductance under DF explained the higher light-saturated photosynthesis rate of flag leaves, which partly led to the increased post-anthesis RUE. NTR higher than 80 kg ha-1 did not enhance the yield, but it significantly improved the gliadin and glutelin contents, thereby leading to a higher total protein content, better gluten characteristics, and superior processing quality. Therefore, drip fertigation is a practical strategy for increasing both yield and quality with reduced water input and appropriate N input in irrigated winter wheat in north China. Applying 80 kg ha-1 of NTR under drip irrigation produces a high yield, but further gain in grain quality needs a higher NTR.

Effects of postponing nitrogen topdressing on starch structural properties of superior and inferior grains in hybrid indica rice cultivars with different taste values.

Introduction: Nitrogen (N) fertilizer management, especially postponing N topdressing can affect rice eating quality by regulating starch quality of superior and inferior grains, but the details are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N topdressing on starch structure and properties of superior and inferior grains in hybrid indica rice with different tastes and to clarify the relationship between starch structure, properties, and taste quality. Methods: Two hybrid indica rice varieties, namely the low-taste Fyou 498 and high-taste Shuangyou 573, were used as experimental materials. Based on 150 kg·N hm-2, three N fertilizer treatments were established: zero N (N0), local farmer practice (basal fertilizer: tillering fertilizer: panicle fertilizer=7:3:0) (N1), postponing N topdressing (basal fertilizer: tillering fertilizer: panicle fertilizer=3:1:6) (N2). Results: The starch granules of superior grains were more complete, and the decrease in small granules content and the stability of starch crystals were a certain extent less than those of inferior grains. Compared with N1, under N2, low-taste and high-taste varieties large starch granules content were significantly reduced by 6.89%, 0.74% in superior grains and 4.26%, 2.71% in inferior grains, the (B2 + B3) chains was significantly reduced by 1.61%, 0.98% in superior grains, and 1.18%, 0.97% in inferior grains, both reduced the relative crystallinity and 1045/1022 cm-1, thereby decreasing the stability of the starch crystalline region and the orderliness of starch granules. N2 treatment reduced the ΔHgel of two varieties. These changes ultimately contributed to the enhancement of the taste values in superior and inferior grains in both varieties, especially the inferior grains. Correlation analysis showed that the average starch volume diameter (D[4,3]) and relative crystallinity were significantly positively correlated with the taste value of superior and inferior sgrains, suggesting their potential use as an evaluation index for the simultaneous enhancement of the taste value of rice with superior and inferior grains. Discussion: Based on 150 kg·N hm-2, postponing N topdressing (basal fertilizer: tillering fertilizer: panicle fertilizer=3:1:6) promotes the enhancement of the overall taste value and provides theoretical information for the production of rice with high quality.

Optimized seeding rate and nitrogen topdressing ratio for simultaneous improvement of grain yield and bread-making quality in bread wheat sown on different dates.

BACKGROUND: Sowing date, seeding rate, and nitrogen (N) topdressing ratio have strong effects on grain yield (GY) and bread-making quality (BQ) in bread wheat. Simultaneous improvement in GY and BQ in bread wheat has long been a challenge due to the inverse relationship between GY and grain protein concentration (GPC). In this study, we investigated whether the GY and BQ of bread wheat sown on different dates could be improved simultaneously by optimizing the seeding rate and the N topdressing ratio. RESULTS: Delaying sowing beyond a certain period led to decreases in both GY and BQ. Optimizing the seeding rate and N topdressing ratio enhanced the N uptake during pre- and post-anthesis, as well as N remobilization during grain filling for all wheat plants sown on different dates, thereby increasing the GPC and the total N per grain (Ntot ). Consequently, grain protein composition was improved, resulting in an increased glutenin/gliadin ratio, sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble glutenin/total glutenin (i.e., glutenin polymerization index), and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit/ low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS/LMW-GS) ratio. Increased GPC and improved grain protein composition enhanced BQ. CONCLUSION: The mechanism underlying simultaneous improvement in GY and GPC as well as Ntot was the greater increase in N accumulation in grains per unit area relative to increases in GY, or total grain number per unit area. The GY and BQ can be improved simultaneously regardless of sowing date by optimizing the seeding rate and N topdressing ratio via enhanced N uptake and N remobilization into grains. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nitrogen topdressing timing modifies the gluten quality and grain hardness related protein levels as revealed by iTRAQ.

Nitrogen fertilization regimes significantly affect both grain quality and yield. Wheat plants were subjected to different application timing of topdressed nitrogen at the emergence of the top fifth (TL5), top third (TL3) and top first leaf (TL1), respectively. The iTRAQ (isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation) technology was adopted to obtain the complete proteome of wheat flour and to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) as regulated by nitrogen topdressing timing. Collectively, 591 proteins into 17 functional categories in flour of mature grains were identified. In comparison to TL3, 50 and 63 DEPs were identified in TL5 and TL1, respectively. Nine of the DEPs commonly dependent on nitrogen topdressing timing are the γ-gliadins or high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits. Additionally, delaying nitrogen topdressing modified the grain hardness and allergic protein content. The results suggested that altering nitrogen topdressing timing is a potential strategy for pursuing targeted processing quality of wheat flour.

Nitrogen topdressing timing modifies free amino acids profiles and storage protein gene expression in wheat grain.

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is one basic element of amino acids and grain protein in wheat. In field experiments, wheat plants were subjected to different timing of nitrogen topdressing treatments: at the stages of emergence of the top fifth leaf (TL5), top third leaf (TL3) and top first leaf (TL1) to test the regulatory effects of nitrogen topdressing timing on grain protein quality. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated by clarifying the relationship between proteolysis in vegetative organs and accumulation of amino acids in the endosperm cavity, conversion of amino acids, and storage protein synthesis in endosperm of wheat grain. RESULTS: Delayed nitrogen topdressing up-regulated gene expression related to nitrogen metabolism and protease synthesis in the flag leaf, followed by more free amino acids being transported to both the cavity and the endosperm from 7 days after anthesis (DAA) to 13 DAA in TL1. TL1 enhanced the conversion between free amino acids in endosperm and upregulated the expression of genes encoding high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) subunits and protein disulfide isomerases-like (PDIL) proteins, indicating that the synthesis and folding of glutenin were enhanched by delayed nitrogen topdressing. As a consequense, the content of glutenin macropolymers (GMP) and glutenin increased with delaying nitrogen topdressing. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the relationship between nitrogen remobilization and final grain protein production and suggest that the nitrogen remobilization processes could be a potential target for improving the quality of wheat grain. Additionally, specific gene expression related to nitrogen topdressing was identified, which conferred more detailed insights into underlying mechanism on the modification protein quality.

Número de dias e de graus-dia entre a iniciação e a diferenciação da panícula em cultivares de arroz irrigado / Number of days and degree-days between panicle initiation and panicle differentiation in irrigated rice cultivars

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o número de dias e de graus-dia em que a iniciação da panícula (IP) antecede a diferenciação da panícula (DP) para cultivares de arroz de diferente duração de ciclo. Um experimento de campo foi conduzido em área de várzea, em Santa Maria, RS, e foi composto de três datas de semeadura e quatro cultivares ('IRGA 421', 'BRS Querência', 'IRGA 424' e 'SCSBRS Tio Taka') em dois anos agrícolas (2011/12 e 2012/13), no delineamento de blocos acaso, com quatro repetições. A data de ocorrência da DP foi estimada a partir das tabelas contidas em STEINMETZ et al. (2010) e, aproximadamente 14 dias antes da data estimada da DP, foram realizadas amostragens diárias de 10 plantas para determinar a IP em laboratório sob lupa de aumento de 45 vezes. Após a data de ocorrência da IP, 10 plantas foram coletadas diariamente para a análise da DP através do "ponto de algodão". A soma térmica foi calculada considerando a temperatura basal de 11ºC. As maiores diferenças entre as datas de ocorrência da IP e DP foram de 8 e 6 dias, e de 116,4 e 73,7ºC dia. Na maior parte dos resultados, as diferenças variaram entre 2 e 8 dias, e entre 23,8 e 116,4ºC dia. Concluiu-se que o período máximo que a IP antecede a DP é de oito dias, correspondendo a 116,4ºC dia, não sendo influenciado pela época de semeadura nem pelo comprimento de ciclo das cultivares.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to determine the number of days and degree-days in which panicle initiation (PI) takes place before panicle differentiation (PD) for rice cultivars with different developmental cycle duration. A field experiment was carried out in a lowland area, in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. The experiment consisted of three sowing dates and four rice cultivars ('IRGA 421', 'BRS Querência', 'IRGA 424' and 'SCSBRS Tio Taka') during two growing seasons (2011/12 and 2012/13), in a complete randomized block design with four replications. The date of PD was estimated from the tables contained in STEINMETZ et al. (2010) and around 14 days before the estimated date of PD. Ten plants were sampled daily to determine PI in a laboratory under a 45 times magnifying glass. After PI, 10 plants were sampled daily to determine PD using the "cotton ball" stage as a marker. Thermal sum was calculated considering the basal temperature of 11ºC. The greatest differences between the dates of occurrence between PI and PD were 8 and 6 days, and 116.4 and 73.7ºC day. Most of the differences varied between 2 and 8 days, and between 23.8 and 116.4ºC day. It was concluded that the maximum period that PI takes place before the PD is eight days, corresponding to 116.4ºC day, being influenced neither by sowing date nor by the length of cultivars cycle.

Sensibilidade do clorofilômetro para diagnóstico nutricional de nitrogênio no milho / Sensitivity of the chlorophyll meter for nutritional diagnostic of nitrogen in corn (Zea mays L. )

A obtenção de altas produtividades de milho (Zea mays L.) torna-se difícil, dentre outros fatores, pela complexa quantificação dos requerimentos de nitrogênio (N) da cultura do milho ao longo do seu ciclo, o que dificulta o seu dimensionamento, ainda mais, considerando a variada capacidade de suprimento de N em solos brasileiros. Nesse sentido, os teores relativos de clorofila surgem como uma opção para o manejo do N. Objetivou-se, neste estudo avaliar a sensibilidade do clorofilômetro em indicar o estado nutricional do milho em resposta ao N, em solos com teores de argila contrastantes e sob diferentes condições de suprimento de N. Para isso, foram realizados experimentos em condições controladas e de lavoura. Em condições controladas, foram testados três solos com teores de argila contrastantes e cinco doses de N, sendo avaliados, aos 55 dias após a emergência (estádio prévio ao VT), os teores relativos de clorofila, de N foliar e a produção de matéria seca da parte aérea. Em condições de lavoura foram avaliados seis tratamentos, resultantes da combinação de três doses de nitrogênio em cobertura, na presença e ausência de calcário, sendo a maior dose de N correspondente à condição na qual não haveria limitação de disponibilidade quanto ao suprimento do nutriente. A nutrição nitrogenada foi monitorada semanalmente com uso do clorofilômetro. Foram avaliados também os teores de N na folha e no grão, o N mineral no solo, a matéria seca da parte aérea e a produtividade de grãos. Os resultados permitiram concluir que há sensibilidade do clorofilômetro em detectar diferenças no estado nutricional do milho em resposta a diferentes características de solo e de suprimento de N, servindo como indicador da necessidade de adubação nitrogenada de cobertura.

High corn yields are conditioned by the different factors involved in the quantification of nitrogen requirements for the crop throughout its cycle, which becomes difficult considering the varying capacity of Brazilian soils to supply N. In this sense, the relative contents of chlorophyll are a tool which helps to improve soil N management. The study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of the chlorophyll meter to predict the nutrient status of corn in response to N applied in the soil with contracting clay contents and under different conditions of N supply. To that end, experiments were carried out under both controlled and field conditions. Under controlled conditions, three soils with contracting clay contents and five doses of N were tested. 55 days after emergence (before the VT period), the relative contents of chlorophyll, leaf N and the weight of the dry matter of the shoot were evaluated. Under crop conditions, six treatments, resulting from the combination of three doses of nitrogen topdressing, in the presence and absence of limestone, were evaluated, the highest dose of N corresponding to the ideal condition of N supply for corn. Nitrogen nutrition was monitored weekly with a chlorophyll meter. The contents of N in leaf, in grain, mineral N in soil, shoot dry matter and grain yield were also evaluated. The results allow concluding that there is a sensitivity of the chlorophyll meter to detect differences in the nutritional status of corn in response to different characteristics of soil and N supply, acting as an indicator of the need for nitrogen topdressing.

Época de aplicação de nitrogênio e de início da irrigação na fitotoxicidade causada pela aplicação de imidazolinonas em arroz tolerante / Nitrogen application and flood timing on injury caused by imidazolinone herbicide on tolerant rice

O uso de herbicidas do grupo químico das imidazolinonas, em cultivares de arroz tolerantes, pode causar fitotoxicidade inicial nessas cultivares. Práticas integradas de manejo, como época de aplicação de nitrogênio e início da irrigação, podem reduzir a fitotoxicidade, acelerando a recuperação das plantas. Em vista disto, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito de épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura e início da irrigação, visando a minimizar a fitotoxicidade, no arroz IRGA 422 CL, causada pelo herbicida composto pela mistura formulada de imazethapyr + imazapic (75+25g L-1), na dose de 1,25L ha-1, acrescido do adjuvante não iônico (Dash HC®), na concentração de 0,5 por cento v/v. O experimento foi conduzido nos anos agrícolas de 2005/06 e 2006/07, em Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em esquema bifatorial (4x3) + 1, com quatro repetições. O fator A refere-se a épocas de início da irrigação por inundação (um, cinco, 10 e 15 dias após aplicação do herbicida - DAT) e o fator B, às épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura (1, 5 e 10DAT), mais uma testemunha não tratada com o herbicida. Na cultivar tolerante, a fitotoxicidade observada em plantas de arroz, após a aplicação do herbicida, é menor se a adubação nitrogenada em cobertura for realizada precocemente (até o quinto dia após a aplicação do herbicida) e a irrigação da lavoura for realizada no dia seguinte ao da aplicação do herbicida ou tardiamente (15DAT); não afetando a produtividade de grãos. A inundação tardia não é recomendável, pois pode favorecer a emergência de arroz vermelho em áreas infestadas.

The use of imidazolinones herbicides in tolerant rice genotypes can cause injury to rice plant. Integrated management practices, such as, water and nitrogen management could be able to reduce this problem, either reducing the injury or speeding the recovery. For this reason, it was carried out a field experiment with the objective of evaluating the effects of flood and nitrogen topdressing application timing on the rice plant injury caused by the formulated mixture of the herbicides imazethapyr and imazapic (75 and 25g a.i. L-1) at 1.25L ha-1, in the IRGA 422 CL rice cultivar. The experiment was carried out on 2005/06 and 2006/07 growing season, in a lowland area in the city of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial scheme (4x3)+1 with split plot and four replications. The factor A were the flood timing (1, 5, 10 and 15 days after herbicide application - DAT) and the factor B were the topdressing nitrogen application (1, 5 and 10DAT), plus an untreated check. The results showed that in the tolerant rice cultivar, the injury promoted by the use of the herbicide was lower when the nitrogen application was done earlier (until the 5th day after herbicide application) and the flooding was done on the day following the herbicide application or at 15 days after herbicide application, without impact on grain yield. But, regarding to the late flooding (15DAT), this is not a recommendable practice because it can favor the red rice emergence in infested areas.

Características fisiológicas do feijoeiro em várzeas tropicais afetadas por doses e manejo de nitrogênio / Physiological characteristics of common bean in tropical varzea soils as affected by rate and nitrogen management

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência de doses, métodos e épocas de aplicação de N sobre as características fisiológicas do feijoeiro foi conduzido um estudo em várzeas no Tocantins. Nos dois primeiros anos, foram avaliados as doses de 0; 40; 80; 120 e 160 kg ha-1 de N e os métodos e épocas de aplicação: M1 - todo N na semeadura; M2 - ½ na semeadura + ½ incorporado ao solo aos 20 dias após a emergência (DAE) e M3 - ½ na semeadura + ½ a lanço aos 20 DAE, com a cultivar Rudá. No terceiro ano, avaliaram-se apenas as doses de N incorporadas ao solo aos 20 DAE, com a cultivar Pérola. A adubação nitrogenada foi feita na forma de sulfato de amônio, no primeiro ano, e de uréia, nos dois últimos. Em várzeas tropicais, a eficiência de utilização da adubação nitrogenada pelo feijoeiro é baixa, o que reforça em parte a razão da resposta da cultura a altas doses desse nutriente. A incorporação de todo N na semeadura e a aplicação de parte do N por ocasião dessa e parte incorporada aos 20 DAE demandam menores doses do fertilizante para obtenção dos maiores índices fisiológicos do feijoeiro que a aplicação de parte do N a lanço na superfície do solo. Essas doses diferem da que proporciona maior produtividade de grãos. Com 140 kg ha-1 de N, o feijoeiro produz mais grãos por unidade de área foliar. Maiores doses de N propiciam maiores produção biológica e índices fisiológicos.

An experiment was carried out on varzea (lowland) soil of the State of Tocantins, Brazil, to determine the effects of rate, method and timing of N application on physiological characteristics of common bean. In the first two years, N rates evaluated were 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha-1 and application timing were: M1, all N applied at sowing; M2, ½ at sowing + ½ incorporated in the soil at 20 days after plant emergence and M3, ½ at sowing and ½ applied as topdressing 20 days after plant emergence. In the third year, nitrogen rates tested were applied only at 20 days after plant emergence and incorporated into the soil. The bean cultivars used were Rudá in the first two years and Pérola in the last one. In tropical varzeas, common bean crop shows low nitrogen use efficiency. That's why that crop shows response to high rates of nitrogen. Total N applied and incorporated at sowing and the application of a part at sowing and a part 20 days after emergence require lower N rate to obtain higher physiological indices compared to fertilizer applied as broadcast at the soil surface. This rate differ with N rate that produced higher grain yield. The N rate of 140 kg ha-1 was more efficient to common bean crop, producing more grains per unit leaf area. Higher nitrogen rate promotes higher biological yield and physiological indexes.