Wheat response to nitrogen splitting applied to a Vertisols in different tillage systems and cropping rotations under typical Mediterranean climatic conditions

By L. López-Bellido, V. Muñoz-Romero, J. Benítez-Vega, P. Fernández-García, R. Redondo, R. Lopez-Bellido. 2012

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Abstract The application of an adequate rate and splitting of nitrogen (N) is essential for the efficient use of N fertiliser and to maintain the economic sustainability of cropping systems. A 3-year field experiment was conducted on a Vertisol under Mediterranean conditions to determine the effect of tillage systems, crop rotation, and variations in N timing on the grain yield and N recovery of 15 N-labelled fertiliser ( N R ) in hard red spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was designed as a randomised complete block with a split–split plot arrangement and 3 replications. The main plots were tillage system (no-tillage [NT] and conventional tillage [CT]), and the subplots were the preceding crop with 2-year rotations (wheat–sunflower [WS], wheat–chickpea [WC], and wheat–faba bean [WFB]). Sub-subplots were the N timing (all at the same rate of 100 kg N ha −1 ), and the fertiliser was applied 50% at sowing and 50% at stem elongation and 50% at tillering and 50% at stem elongation. The area of each basic plot was 50 m 2 (5 m × 10 m). The residual NO 3 –N content (0–90 cm) was significantly higher in CT than in NT, the opposite occurring with grain yield. The N R of NT was greater than that of CT. According to the previous crop, the N R was WS > WFB = WC. The soil nitrate content was twice as much when the preceding crop was a legume compared with sunflower and the wheat yields were as follows: WFB > WC > WS. Although the N timing did not have an effect on overall grain yield, the interactions with year, tillage system and previous crop were significant. The average recovery of 15 N fertiliser by wheat was 44.6%, with 33.7% obtained in the grain (41% in stem elongation, 32% in tillering and 27% in sowing). The habitual use of high rates of N fertiliser and the frequency of dry years in the agrosystem studied generated a progressive accumulation of residual in the soil profile. This can represent an important source of mineral N for the cereal and can reduce the need to apply N fertiliser to the crop.

Subfields: Agronomy and Crop Science, Plant Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/33f643c21ca1a56a37559549b7ba0e651988bdbe

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