Improving grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat through a combination of manure and chemical nitrogen fertilizer on the Loess plateau, China

• Haoqing Zhang ^[1] ; Xinyang Yu ^[1] ; Zhongyu Jin ^[1] ; Wei Zheng ^[1] ; Bingnian Zhai ^[1] ; Ziyan Li ^[1]
  1. [1] Northwest A & F University College of Natural Resources and Environment
• Localización: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, ISSN-e 0718-9516, ISSN 0718-9508, Vol. 17, Nº. 2, 2017, págs. 461-474
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Developing an effective fertilization management practice is crucial for ensuring food security in dryland. A 3-year field experiment was conducted on the Loess plateau dryland, China, to investigate the effects of manure and nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil water regime, grain yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). The results showed that soil water content at winter wheat sowing was 13.4 mm (3.7%) higher with manure than without after 2 years of fertilization. Additional manure increased soil water recharge, grain yield, and WUE by a mean of 20.7%, 11.6% and 12.6%, respectively, relative to those without manure. Compared with applying manure alone, N fertilization improved soil water recharge, grain yield and WUE by a mean of 56.3%, 11.5%, and 7.0%, respectively. However, no further increases were observed when the N rate exceeded 75 or 150 kg N ha-1, and combining 78 kg N ha-1 fertilizer with manure is sufficient to get 95% of the theoretical highest yield. Therefore, combining manure (30 t ha-1 poultry or pig manure) with 78-150 kg N ha-1 chemical N fertilizer (manure-N : chemical-N =1:0.47-0.91) is recommended for achieving the sustainable winter wheat farming system on the Loess plateau.