Fertilizer nitrogen recovery of irrigated spring malt barley

Rogers, C.W. (2021) Fertilizer nitrogen recovery of irrigated spring malt barley. Agronomy Journal. 113(2):2018-2028. 5 March 2021.

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Abstract

Well defined nitrogen (N) management in irrigated two-row malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is critical for yield, quality, and to minimize negative environmental impacts. Data on fertilizer N recovery efficiency (FNRE) and the fate of fertilizer-N in the soil is lacking for irrigated malting barley. The objective of this study was to determine uptake and partitioning of 15N labeled urea in the plant and soil. Mimicking common regional practices, urea was either surface applied or incorporated at a total N rate of 214 kg N ha-1 at planting. Three common malt cultivars were grown, and samples were collected four times during the growing season (Feekes growth stages 4/5, 10.0, 11.2, and 11.4). Barley plants at Feekes 11.2 and 11.4 were separated into plant (culms plus leaves) and spikes. Plant N accumulation was lowest at Feekes 4/5 and increased to a maximum at Feekes 11.2 where FNRE was greatest at Feekes 10.0. Nitrogen was redistributed from the plant to the spike from Feekes 11.2 to 11.4. The barley plant FNRE averaged 43% at maturity. The total soil-plant FNRE for the surface application was 66%, which was less than the incorporated fertilizer FNRE of 77%. Results from the current study provide evidence of the increased FNRE of incorporated applications in high-input barley production systems as well as similar recovery efficiency as compared to previous work under higher-yielding conditions. Results can be used to refine growing practices to ensure agronomically and environmentally sound management.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1753
Subjects:	Dryland crops > Small grain Dryland crops Soil
Depositing User:	Users 11 not found.
Date Deposited:	01 May 2023 17:04
Last Modified:	01 May 2023 17:04
Item ID:	1793
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1793