Evaluation of Nitrogen Efficiency for Cereal Cultivars in Iran Based on the Course of Their Release: 2- Corn (Zea mays L.)

Document Type : Scientific - Research

Authors

• leila jafari ¹
• Alireza Koocheki ²
• Mehdi Nassiri Mahallati ²

¹ Hormozgan

² FUM

10.22067/jag.v11i3.57941

Abstract

Introduction
Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients and plays a major role in crop yield improvement. Currently, under the global pressure to increase grain yield while simultaneously minimizing environmental risks, the nitrogen use efficiency has become a challenging issue. Corn (Zea mays L.) nitrogen use is of continued interest due to agronomic performance and environmental issues. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) are the main indices normally used to investigate the nitrogen efficiency of plants. However, nitrogen harvest index (NHI) and nitrogen partial factor productivity are also issues of importance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate all these indices for corn cultivars released in Iran during the last 40 years to find the trend changes during the course of their release.
Materials and Methods
In order to evaluate the trend of changes of nitrogen use efficiency for corn cultivars during the course of their release an experiment was conducted in growing season of 2014- 2015 in the experiment farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The experiment was based on split plot with complete randomized block design (CRBD). Treatments included eight different levels of nitrogen (nitrogen applied from urea source (46%) N: 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg N ha-1, animal manure: 0, 10, 20 and 30 ton ha-1 corresponding to 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg N ha-1 respectively). Nitrogen fertilizer was allocated to the main plots and six cultivars of corn, (704 and 647 released as very old cultivars, 500 as an old cultivars and 705, 706 and 260 as new ones were allocated to sub plots. Sub plots were 2.25×3 m with three replications.
Results and Discussion
Results showed that grain, stover and biological yields, harvest index, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen uptake efficiency and nitrogen utilization efficiency were affected significantly by cultivars and fertilizer levels. Maximum and minimum stover yield was obtained with 704 (very old hybrid) and 260 (new hybrid), respectively. In contrast with these results, showed that the new cultivars have significantly higher yield than old corn cultivars. Although corn cultivars had significant effects on nitrogen harvest index, this was not affected by fertilizer levels and types. With increasing in nitrogen and manure fertilizer levels, grain and biological yields increased significantly. Although in most fertilizer levels maximum grain yields were observed in the 704 cultivar, but with increase in nitrogen amount from 0 to 300 kg, the most grain yield increases were obtained 117 and 103% in the 500 and 705 cultivars, respectively. On the other hand, in compared to manure fertilizer, nitrogen increased almost yield traits, so that, with exception of 500 and 647 cultivars, in other cultivars manure fertilizer decreased nitrogen use efficiency in compared to equal nitrogen fertilizer significantly. Maximum and minimum nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen harvest index were obtained with 260 and 704 cultivars. However, two mentioned cultivars showed significant differences, while other cultivars had no significant differences. When different levels of manure fertilizer were applied, statistically similar effects were obtained on corn yield and nitrogen efficiency indices, as compared to equal levels of nitrogen fertilizer. With evaluation of different corn hybrids and nitrogen fertilizer levels reported a negative linear correlation between nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen levels. With increasing nitrogen fertilizer levels, nitrogen use and utilization efficiencies and partial factor productivity of nitrogen decreased significantly, but with increasing manure levels this trend was observed only for nitrogen use efficiency and partial factor productivity of nitrogen.
Conclusion
In general, no consistent trends were observed between new and old hybrids and also between nitrogen fertilizer levels and types in terms of nitrogen efficiency indices. Furthermore, yield characteristics responses of corn cultivars to fertilizer levels and types had no significant trends. According to these results, it could not be state certainly that in the last four decades, corn cultivars breeding in Iran leading to improved nitrogen efficiency indices and therefore efficient use of fertilizers.

Keywords

• Urea
• Nitrogen use efficiency
• Nitrogen utilization efficiency
• Nitrogen uptake efficiency

20.1001.1.20087713.1398.11.3.12.1

---

References

Aynehband, A., Asadi, S., and Rahnama, A. 2014. Nitrogen use efficiency assessment under intra- and inter-specific competitions stress. Journal of Plant Physiology and Breeding 4(2): 9–21. (In Persianwith English Summary)

Aynehband, A., Sabet, M., and Moezi, A.A. 2010. The comparsion of nitrogen use efficiencies in old and modern wheat cultivars: agroecological results. American–Eurasian Journal of Agriculture Environmental Science 10 (4): 574–586.

Bänzinger, M., Edmeades, G.O., and Beck, D. 2000. Breeding for Drought and Nitrogen Stress Tolerance in Maize: from Theory to Practice Mexico: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. pp. 66.

Barraclough, P.B., Howarth, J.R., Jones, J., Lopez-Bellido, R., Parmar, S., Shepherd, C.E., and Hawkesford, M.J. 2010. Nitrogen efficiency of wheat: genotypic and environmental variation and prospects for improvement. European Journal of Agronomy 33: 1–11.

Bremner, J.M., and Mulvaney, C.S. 1982. Total nitrogen. In: Page A.L, Miller R.H., Keeny D.R. Methods of Soil Analysis Madison: American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America. pp. 1119–1123

Cassman, K.G., Doberman, A., and Walters, D.T. 2002. Agroecosystems, nitrogen-use efficiency, and nitrogen management. Ambio. 31:132-140.

Chen, F., and Mi, G. 2012. Comparison of nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen utilization efficiency between elite inbred lines and the landraces of maize. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B: Soil and Plant Science 62: 565–569

Chen, F.J., Mi, G.H., and Zhang, F.S. 2009. Breeding of nitrogen use efficiency on maize cultivar Zhongnong 99 (in Chinese). Crops 6: 103–104.

Chen, X., Zhou, J., Wang, X., Blackmer, A.M., and Zhang, F. 2004. Optimal rates of nitrogen fertilization for a winter wheat-corn cropping system in Northern China. Communication of Soil Science Plant Analysis 35: 583–597.

Cui, Z.L., Zhang, F.S., Mi, G.H., Chen, F.J., Li. F., Chen, X.P., Li, J.L and Shi, L.F. 2009. Intraction between genotypic difference and nitrogen management strategy in determining nitrogen use efficiency of summer maize. Plant and Soil 317: 267- 276.

Dawson Julie, C., Huggins, D.R., and Jones Stephen, S. 2008. Review characterizing nitrogen use efficiency in natural and agricultural ecosystems to improve the performance of cereal crops in low–input and organic agricultural systems. Field Crops Research 107: 89–101.

Delogu, G., Cattivelli, L., Pecchioni, N., De Flacis, D., Maggiore, T., and Stanca, A.M. 1998. Uptake and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in winter barley and winter wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 9: 11–20.

Di Paolo, E., and Rinaldi, M. 2008. Yield response of corn to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Mediterranean environment. Field Crop Research 105: 202–210.

Dobermann, D.I., and Cassman, K.G. 2004. Plant nutrient management for enhanced productivity in intensive grain production of United States and Asia. Plant and Soil 247: 153–175.

Duvick, D.N. 2005. The contribution of breeding to yield advances in maize (Zea mays L.). Advances in Agronomy 86: 83–145.

Huggins, D.R. and Pan, W.L. 2003. Key indicators for assessing nitrogen use efficiency in cereal–based agroecosystems. Journal Crop Production 8: 157–185.

Jacobs, B.C., and Pearson. C.J. 1991. Potential yield of maize determined by rates of growth and development of ears. Field Crops Research 27: 281-298.

Jafari, L., Koocheki, A., and Nassiri-Mahallati, M. 2019. Evaluation of nitrogen efficiency for cereal Crop cultivars in Iran based on the historical course of their release: 1- wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Journal of Agroecology 11 (2): 655-671. (In Persian with English Summary)

Keskin, B., Akdeniz, H., Yilmazand, I.H., and Uran, N.T. 2005. Yield and quality of forage corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by cultivar and nitrogen rate. Journal of Agronomy 4: 138-141.

Koocheki, A., Nassiri Mahallati, M., Mansory, A., and Moradi, R. 2012. Investigation of flow and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat production and consumption cycles (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in Iran. Journal of Agroecology 4(3): 192-200. (In Persian with English Summary)

Koocheki, A., Nassiri, M., Bakhshaie, S. and Davodi, A. 2015. A Meta Analysis on Nitrogen Fertilizer Experiments on Cereal Crops in Iran. Journal of Agroecology. (Article under press).

Le Gouis, J., Beghin, D., Heumez, E., and Pluchard, P. 2000. Genetic differences for nitrogen uptake and nitrogen utilisation efficiencies in winter wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 12: 163–173.

Lee, E.A., and Tollenaar, M. 2007. Physiological basis of successful breeding strategies for maize grain yield. Crop Science 47: S202–S215.

Lopez–Bellido, R.J., and Lopez–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.

Ma, B.L., Dwyer, L.M., and Gregorich, E.G. 1999. Soil nitrogen amendment effects on nitrogen uptake and grain yield of maize. Agronomy Journal 91: 650–656.

Mi, G.H., Liu, J.A., and Zhang, F.S. 1998. Analysis on agronomic nitrogen efficiency and its components of maize hybrids (in Chinese). Journal of China Agricultural University 3: 97–104.

Moll, R.H., Kamprath, E.J., and Jackson, W.A. 1982. Analysis and interpretation of factors which contribute to efficiency of nitrogen utilization. Agronomy Journal 74: 562–564.

Muchow, R.C. 1998. Nitrogen utilization efficiency in maize and grain sorghum. Field Crops Research 56, 209–216.

Muurinen, S., Kleemola, J., and Peltonen–Sainio, P. 2007. Accumulation and translocation of nitrogen in spring cereal cultivars differing in nitrogen use efficiency. Agronomy Journal 99: 441–447.

Pollmer, W.G., Eberhard, D., and Klein, D. 1978. Studies on maize hybrids involving inbred lines with varying protein content. Z Pflanzenzuecht 80: 142–148.

Rahimizadeh, M., Kashani, A., Zare Faizabadi, A., Koocheki, A., and Nassiri Mahallati, M. 2010. Investigation of nitrogen use efficiency in wheat-based double croppingsystems under different rate of nitrogen and return of crop residue. Agricultural Science and natural Research 3(3): 125–142. (In Persian with English Summery)

Raun, W.R., and Johnson, G.V. 1991. Improving nitrogen use efficiency for cereal production. Agronomy Journal 91: 357–363.

Shafi, M., Bakht, J., Jan, M.T., and Shah, Z. 2007. Soil C and N dynamics and maize (Zea may L.) yield as affected by cropping systems and residue management in North-western Pakistan. Soil and Tillage Research 94: 520–529.

Singh, U. 2005. Integrated nitrogen fertilization for intensive and sustainable agriculture. Journal of Crop Improvement 15: 259-287.

Syeidi, M., and Rezvani Moghaddam, P. 2011. Study yield, its components and nitrogen use effecincy using of compost mushroom, biological and urea fertilizer in wheat. Journal of Agroecology 3: 313–323. (In Persian with English Summary)

Terry, L.R. 2008. Improving nutrient use efficiency. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 32: 177–182.

Tilman, D., Cassman, K.G., Matson, P.A., Naylor, R., and Polasky, S. 2002. Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418: 671–677.

Torbert, H.A., Potter, K.N., and Morrison, J.E. 2001. Tillage system, fertilizer nitrogen rate and timing effect on corn yields in the Texas Blackland prairie. Agronomy Journal 93:1119-1124.

Woli, K.M., Boyer, M.J., Elmore, R.W., Sawyer, J.E., Abendroth, L.J., and Barker, D.W. 2016. Corn era hybrid response to nitrogen fertilization. Agronomy Journal 108(2): 495-508.

Zhang, F.S., Mi, G.H., and Liu, J.A. 1997. Advances in the genetic improvement of nitrogen efficiency in maize (in Chinese). 1997. Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development 5: 112–117.