Effects of Nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium Combined Fertilization on Rice Yield and Fertilizer Use Efficiency in Jianghan Plain

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the rational formula for rice fertilization in Jianghan Plain.[Methods]An experiment on the combined application of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers was carried out in Jianghan Plain,an important rice producing area in Hubei,with a total of five treatments to study the effects of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on the fertilizer use efficiency and yield of rice.[Results]Fertilization had a significant effect on improving rice yield,and nitrogen fertilizer had the greatest effect on rice yield,followed by potassium fertilizer and phosphorous fertilizer.[Conclusions]This study provides a scientific basis for the application of rice fertilizers and the reduction and efficiency improvement of chemical fertilizers in Jianghan Plain.

Effects of Combined Organic-inorganic Fertilization on Quality and Water Use Efficiency of Spring Maize under Equal Nitrogen Fertilization

The experiment was conducted in the abandoned land of Liangjia Village,Huayin City,Shaanxi Province from April to September 2019.The experimental crop was spring maize.A total of six treatments were set up in a randomized block design.The moisture content of the top 0-60 cm soil was determined regularly,and the yield and quality indices of maize at maturity were checked.The results show that:(i)combined organic-inorganic fertilization increased the yield of spring maize by 3%-8%.(ii)Compared with CK,fertilization treatments significantly improved the water use efficiency of spring maize,with an increase of 59.2%.The average water use efficiency of three combined organic-inorganic fertilization treatments was 27.81 kg/(ha·mm).Compared with CON,combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly improved the water use efficiency of spring maize,with an increase of 12.5%.(iii)The combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers increased the moisture,total starch,crude protein and crude fat contents,and reduced crude fiber content of maize kernels.However,with the increase of the proportion of organic fertilizer,the crude protein content of maize kernels decreased.(iv)Yield of spring maize showed a significant parabolic relationship with soil water consumption.In summary,70%inorganic fertilizer+30%organic fertilizer is a scientific and reasonable way of fertilization.

Effects of a Combined Application of Nitrogenous and Phosphorus Fertilizers on the Growth of Pinus radiata

In the arid valley of the upper reaches of the Minjiang river,combined application tests of nitrogenous and phosphorus fertilizers were conducted to the 1-year-old seedlings of Pinus radiate to investigate the appropriate amount of fertilization,so as to provide bases of fertilization management of young P.radiate in the arid val-ley.Different combined application amounts of nitrogenous and phosphorus were studied based on the randomized blocks design.The results showed that in comparing 3 treatment groups with the control,the first and second treatments significantly increased the ground diameter and height of P.radiate,while the third treatment merely significantly increased the ground diameter.Under the conditions of this study,the recommended fertilization amount was 30 g of urea and 150 g of calcium superphosphate per plant for the one-year-old P.radiate.

Effects of Controlled Release Fertilizer on Loss of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Farmland

[Objective] The aim was to study on effects of controlled release fertilizer on loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from farmland. [Method] Experiment was conducted in fields planted with rice and corn around Chao Lake and effects of compound fertilizer, controlled release fertilizer and controlled release fertilizer （reduced by 20%） on loss of nitrogen and phosphorus through runoff and leaching were analyzed. [Result] Loss of nitrogen and phosphorus mainly occurred in early stage of fertilizing; loss caused by runoff accounted for over 98% and caused by leaching was lower than 2%, indicating that nutrients of rice and corn mainly lost through runoff. As for controlled release fertilizers with 20% reduced, total loss of N and P decreased by 60% and 63% in rice field and reduced by 27.8% and 34% in corn field, respectively, indicating that controlled release fertilizer would maintain nutrients in soils high in later period of plant growth, improve use efficiency of N and P, reduce N and P loss in rice and corn fields in rainy season, and decrease non-point pollution. [Conclusion] The research suggested that controlled release fertilizer would slow down the loss of nutrients in farmlands, providing scientific references and technological support for extension of controlled release fertilizer and reduction of agricultural non-point pollution.

Effect Models of Nitrogen,Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Formulation in Banana

[Objective] The aim was to modify the application amount of N,P and K fertilizer so as to provide a reference for establishing balanced fertilization index system of banana.[Method]The N,P and K fertilizer ＂3414＂ test was carried out on banana,and then regression analysis was performed on the fertilizer effect.Ternary quadratic,binary quadric and one-variable quadratic regression equations for the fertilizer effect on the banana yield were constructed.[Result]Suitable amount of N,P and K fertilizer had significant yield improving effect,whereas overdose of fertilizer application led to decreasing of utilization rate of fertilizer.Therefore,suitable amount of N,P and K fertilizer should be selected in production.It could be concluded that one-variable quadratic regression equations was the best model to calculate the suitable fertilizer amount.The best yield range of banana in the tested field was 44.193-45.904 t/hm2,while the corresponding optimum application amount of N,P2O5 and K2O was 795.1,262.3 and 1 236.9 kg/hm2 respectively,and the ratio among nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium are 1∶0.33∶1.55.[Conclusion]The result in this study could provide references for the soil types similar to the tested field.

Effects of Different Nitrogen and Phosphorus Synergistic Fertilizer on Enzymes and Genes Related to Nitrogen Metabolism in Wheat

In recent years,in order to improve nutrient use efficiency,especially nitrogen use efficiency,fertilizer valueadded technology has been developed rapidly.However,the mechanism of the effect of synergistic fertilizer on plant nitrogen utilization is not clear.A study was,therefore,conducted to explore the activities and gene expression of key enzymes for nitrogen assimilation and the gene expression of nitrogen transporters in wheat after the application of synergistic fertilizer.Soil column experiment was set up in Qingdao Agricultural University experimental base from October 2018 to June 2019.Maleic acid and itaconic acid were copolymerized with acrylic acid as cross-linking monomer to make a fluid gel,which was sprayed on the fertilizer surface to make nitrogen and phosphorus synergistic fertilizer.A total of 6 treatments was set according to different nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer ratios:(1)100%common nitrogen fertilizer+100%common phosphate fertilizer(2)70%nitrogen synergistic fertilizer+100%phosphorus synergistic fertilizer;(3)100%nitrogen synergistic fertilizer+70%phosphorus synergistic fertilizer;(4)100%nitrogen synergistic fertilizer+100%phosphorus synergistic fertilizer;(5)70%nitrogen synergistic fertilizer+70%phosphorus synergistic fertilizer;(6)100%commercial nitrogen synergistic fertilizer+100%commercial phosphorus synergistic fertilizer.The results are as follows:(1)the enzyme activities of wheat plants under synergistic fertilizer condition were higher than those under ordinary fertilizer,except under the treatment that nitrogen and phosphorus synergistic fertilizer were both reduced;(2)the expression level of the genes under the treatment“100%nitrogen synergistic fertilizer+100%phosphorus synergistic fertilizer”was significantly higher than those in other treatments.Combined with the higher performance of nitrogen concentration in various parts of the plant under the condition of applying synergistic fertilizer,this study indicated that the application of synergistic fertilizer can improve the nitrogen metabolism of the plant by increasing the nitrogen level in the rhizosphere soil,inducing the expression of nitrogen transporter genes and key assimilation enzymes genes.

Evolution of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Application Rates in Cotton Fields and Its Influences on Cotton Yield in the Yangtze River Valley

[Objective] The historical evolution pattern of nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P） and potassium （K） fertilizer application rate and its effects on lint cotton yield were explored to provide the theoretical basis for reasonable fertilizer management strate-gy in the cotton planting region of the Yangtze River Val ey. [Method] GGE biplot analysis method was adopted to analyze the correlation among N, P and K fertilizer application rate and lint cotton yield with the dataset of national cotton regional trials of the Yangtze River Val ey during 1991-2013. The linear and nonlinear regression analysis method was used to reveal the evolution of the fertilizer applying patterns, and analyze the effects of N, P, K application rates on cotton lint yield. [Result] The application rates of N, P and K fertilizer presented highly significant positive corre-lation with lint cotton yield, among which the potassium fertilizer was the strongest relative factor with lint cotton yield, fol owed by phosphorus fertilizer, while nitrogen fertilizer was the weakest factor. The application rate of nitrogen fertilizer was relat-ed with the test year in the pattern of a quadratic function, while phosphate and potassium had progressive increase linear relation with the test year in the cotton planting region of the Yangtze River Val ey. Meanwhile, cotton lint yield was in re-sponse to nitrogen fertilizer content increase with a quadratic parabola function, and increased with the applying phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer content with linearly increasing function. [Conclusion] The increasing application amount of N, P and K fertilizer was general y beneficial to cotton yield improvements, however, ex-orbitant applying nitrogen fertilizer was unfavorable for cotton production, and a reasonable mixture formula of N, P and K fertilizer was better in terms of cotton yield-increasing effect.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Loss Law and Emission Reduction Effects Under Water and Fertilizer Management Integrated Mode in Dike Paddy Field

To achieve the purpose of reducing farm non-point source pollution, we integrated site specific nitrogen management precise irrigation, controlled drainage, and wetland eco-repair system in dike area of Taihu basin. During investigation, it had given prominence for the water and fertilizer coupling effects of precise irrigation and site specific nutrient management, the characteristics of integration on controlled irrigation, controlled drainage and wetland ecosystem non-point source pollution control. Then the water and fertilizer integrated management mode of paddy field was put forward in Taihu basin where the water production efficiency increased to 1.64 kg. m-3, water saved 37.8%, fertilizer use efficiency raised 15,4%, yield raised 10%, and N, P load decreased 26%-72%. The modern agricultural and farmland ecosystems that control and cut down the farm non-point source pollution came into being, which can be a reference by Taihu basin to control its agricultural non-point source pollution and eutrophicated water body.

Effects of fertilization on population density and productivity of herbaceous plants in desert steppe

In order to investigate the impacts of fertilization on population density and productivity on herbaceous plants in desert steppe, nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P）, and N-P addition experiments were performed. Each fertilizer treatment included four addition levels, i.e., 0, 5, 10, and 20 g/m2. The results indicated that population density decreased as fertilization levels increased regardless of the sort of fertilizer. More specifically, total density as well as density ofArtemisia capillaris, Allium polyrhizum, and Enneapogon brachystachyus decreased significantly in 20 g/m2 treated plots, as compared with the control plots. Fertilization effects on aboveground and root biomasses were extremely similar to that found in population density; that is, both total aboveground biomass and aboveground biomasses for A. capillaris, A. polyrhizum, and E. brachystachyus were negatively correlated with increasing fertilization levels, with all determination coefficients （R2） greater than 0.80. Therefore, in the case of desert regions （annual precipitation 〈180 mm）, fertilization would inhibit population density and productivity of herbaceous plants.

The Position of Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizer in Efficient Use of Nitrogen and Land:A Review

Our attitude towards mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizers is ambivalent. N fertilizers have on one hand increased our supply of food, feed and other bio-based raw materials tremendously and also improved the use efficiency of land and labor, but have on the other hand a negative impact on the quality of the environment and contributed to the depletion of fossil fuel reserves. This awareness has resulted in strong pleas to spend much more attention to the recycling of N containing downstream “wastes”. It is, however, naive to assume that even perfect recycling suffices to offer the same number of people the same diet without inputs of “new” N, as inevitable losses of N make compensations indispensable. “New” N can be derived from either biological N fixation (“legumes”) or from industrially fixed N (“fertilizer”). The existing literature provides no evidence that the use of N fertilizers is per se unsustainable, as these fertilizers can also be made from renewable forms of energy. Besides, soil health and human health appear sensitive for the dosage but not for the form of N. It is yet imperative to reduce the input of “new” N as much as possible, so as to minimize adverse environmental effects. Measures to this end are a more precise assessment of crop N requirements, a better timing and positioning of N inputs, and any measure supporting the acceptance of “wastes” by farmers. The present paper elaborates the above aspects.

Effects of different ration of NPK fertilizer on the grain yield and protein content in forage rice

Different ratios of NPK were adopted in this research to study its effects on the objective traits of 2 early forage-rice varieties, and to obtain the optimum ratio to further improve the application technique in theory. At the same time, the possibility of increasing yield and protein content in the grain through cultivation technique was also studied. The conclusions were：

Wheat Grain Yield and Yield Stability in a Long-Term Fertilization Experiment on the Loess Plateau

To provide a scientific basis for sustainable land management, a 20-year fertility experiment was conducted in Changwu County, Shaanxi Province, China to investigate the effects of long-term application of chemical fertilizers on wheat grain yield and yield stability on the Loess Plateau using regression and stability analysis. The experiment consisted of 17 fertilizer treatments, containing the combinations of different N and P levels, with three replications arranged in a randomized complete block design. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied as urea, and P was applied as calcium superphosphate. Fertilizer rates had a large effect on the response of wheat yield to fertilization. Phosphorus, combined with N, increased yield significantly （P 〈 0.01）. In the unfertilized control and the N or P sole application treatments, wheat yield had a declining trend although it was not statistically significant. Stability analysis combined with the trend analysis indicated that integrated use of fertilizer N and P was better than their sole application in increasing and sustaining the productivity of rainfed winter wheat.

Spatiotemporal Changes in Soil Nutrients:A Case Study in Taihu Region of China

The accurate assessment of the spatiotemporal changes in soil nutrients influenced by agricultural production provides the basis for development of management strategies to maintain soil fertility and balance soil nutrients. In this paper, we combined spatial measurements from 2 157 soil samples and geostatistical analysis to assess the spatiotemporal changes in soil organic carbon （SOC）, total nitrogen （TN）, available phosphorus （AP） and available potassium content （AK） from the first soil survey （in the 1980s） to the second soil survey （in the 2000s） in the Taihu region of Jiangsu Province in China. The results showed that average soil nutrients in three soil types all exhibited the increased levels in the 2000s （except for AK in the yellow brown soil）. The standard deviation of soil nutrient contents increased （except for TN in the paddy soil）. Agricultural production in the 20 years led to increases in SOC, TN, AP and AK by 74, 82, 89 and 65%, respectively, of the Taihu areas analyzed. From the 1980s to 2000s all the nugget/sill ratios of soil nutrients indices were between 25 and 75% （except for AK in the yellow brown soil in the 2000s）, indicating moderate spatial dependence. The ratio of AP in the yellow brown soil in the 2000s was 88.74%, showing weak spatial dependence. The spatial correlation range values for SOC, TN, AP and AK in the 2000s all decreased. The main areas showing declines in SOC, TN and AP were in the northwest. For AK, the main region with declining levels was in the east and middle of western areas. Apparently, the increase in soil nutrients in the Taihu region can be mainly attributed to the large increase in fertilizer inputs, change in crop systems and enhanced residues management since the 1980s. Future emphasis should be placed on avoiding excess fertilizer inputs and balancing the effects of the fertilizers in soils.

Spatiotemporal Variation of Riverine Nutrients in a Typical Hilly Watershed in Southeast China Using Multivariate Statistics Tools

The water quality of lakes can be degraded by excessive riverine nutrients.Riverine water quality generally varies depending on region and season because of the spatiotemporal variations in natural factors and anthropogenic activities.Monthly water quality measurements of eight water quality variables were analyzed for two years at 16 sites of the Tianmuhu watershed.The variables were examined using hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA) and factor analysis/principal component analysis(FA/PCA) to reveal the spatiotemporal variations in riverine nutrients and to identify their potential sources.HCA revealed three geographical groups and three periods.Two drainages comprising towns and large villages were the most polluted, six drainages comprising widely distributed tea plantations and orchards were moderately polluted, and eight drainages without the factors were the least polluted.The river was most polluted in June when the first heavy rain(daily rainfall > 50 mm) occurs after fertilization and the number of rainy days is most(monthly number of rainy days > 20 days).Moderate pollution was observed from October to May, during which morethan 60% of the total nitrogen fertilizer and all of the phosphorus fertilizer are applied to the cropland, the total manure is applied to tea plantations and orchards, and a monthly rainfall ranging from 0 mm to 164 mm occurs.The remaining months were characterized by frequent raining(i.e., number of rainy days per month ranged from 5 to 24) and little use of fertilizers, and were thus least polluted.FA/PCA identified that the greatest pollution sources were the runoff from tea plantations and orchards,domestic pollution and the surface runoff from towns and villages, and rural sewage, which had extremely high contributions of riverine nitrogen, phosphorus,and chemical oxygen demand, respectively.The tea plantations and orchards promoted by the agricultural comprehensive development(ACD) were not environmentally friendly.Riverine nitrogen is a major water pollution parameter in hilly watersheds affected by ACD, and this parameter would not be reduced unless its loss load through the runoff from tea plantations and orchards is effectively controlled.

Impacts of Land Use, Fertilizer and Manure Application on the Stream Nutrient Loadings in the Salmon River Watershed, South-Central British Columbia, Canada

Manure and fertilizer applications can increase soil productivity and land economic values, but the controversial result can be a decline of water quality due to the increased nutrient exports from soils to the streams. The impacts of landuse, manure and fertilizer application on nutrient exports from soils to the streams were analyzed using the SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) model for the Salmon River watershed in south-central British Columbia, Canada. The results showed that the animal farms had the highest rates of nutrient exports from soils to the streams and the natural forested lands had the lowest. It was estimated that the whole Salmon River watershed would export approximately 11.52 t·yr-1 of organic nitrogen (ON), 8.05 t·yr-1 of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), 2.30 t·yr-1 of organic phosphorus (OP) and 1.36 t·yr-1 of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) if the whole watershed was covered by natural vegetation without human disturbance. Current landuse changes, by converting natural vegetation lands to agriculture and animal farms and associated manure and fertilizer applications, have in-creased approximately 53.30 t·yr-1 of ON, 9.68 t·yr-1 of NO3-N, 22.69 t·y-1 of OP and 6.23 t·y-1 of SRP exports to the streams in the whole watershed. The SWAT model predicted that a daily 100 kg·ha-1 of fresh manure deposit from grazing cows during grazing season from later spring to later fall could increase 2.57 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of ON, 0.39 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of NO3-N, 2.35 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of OP and 0.48 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of SRP export to the streams. Fertilization could increase 1.57 kg ha-1 yr-1 of ON and 4.02 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of NO3-N export to the streams if 100 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of nitrogen (NH4NO3) fertilizer was applied in spring. Also fertilization could increase 1.18 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of OP and 0.20 kg·ha-1·yr-1 of SRP export to the streams if 100 kg·ha-1 phosphorus (P2O5) fertilizer was applied in spring.

Effects of Grape Balanced Nutrition Fertilizer on Yield and Quality of Wine Grapes

In this study,the wine grapes balanced nutrient fertilizer(BNF)was designed according to the wine grape nutritional requirements in different growth stages,and objected to reduce fertilizer application rate of wine grape cultivation,improve fertilizer utilization rate,achieve stable yield and improve the quality of wine grapes.The experiment was carried out at the Great Wall Sanggan Winery,and the Aristocratic Winery.The experiment was designed with two treatments:Namely BNF treatment,and the traditional fertilization(CK).We investigated the effects of BNF on the quality of wine grapes by examining the plant traits of wine grapes in different experimental areas during the growing season,the fruit traits at maturity,and determined the contents of VC,organic acids,amino acids,flavonoids,soluble total sugars,soluble solids,tannins,total phenols and catechins.The results show that:①The application of grape BNF greatly reduced the application amount of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium,while the vine had no fertilizer deficiency phenomenon;②It increased the single fruit weight,the ear weight and yield to varying degrees,and the yield increase range was between 12% and 41%;③The wine grapes with BNF had the following characteristics:tight infructescence,even color,small fruit less,no fruit dropped,strong fruit colloid feeling,better aroma and taste;④It greatly improved the quality of wine grapes,and increased the content of soluble solids,soluble total sugar,organic acids,VC,total phenols,flavonoids,amino acids and tannins in fruits;⑤It greatly increased the total catechin content of"Riesling"and"Syrah",and had no significant effects on the catechin content of"Merlot"and"Cabernet Sauvignon".In summary,the application of grape BNF has certain practical significance for guiding the production of local wine grapes,ensuring the yield while improving the quality,increasing the income and reducing the environmental pollution caused by excessive fertilization.

Effect of Fertilizer Application on the Yield of Walnut (Juglans regia L.)

[Objectives] This study was conducted to explore the fertilization ratio of walnut, so as to provide a basis for rational fertilization of walnut. [Methods] Under the condition of gravelly yellow soil in Chaotian District, Guangyuan City, the orthogonal design of L_9(3~4) was used to test the fertilization ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. [Results] The effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on walnut yield ranked as phosphate fertilizer>potassium fertilizer>nitrogen fertilizer. The different treatments had great effects on the yield of walnut, and for the land with gravelly yellow soil, the suitable annual fertilization amount of walnut was urea 1 200 g/plant + calcium superphosphate 1 500 g/plant + potassium sulfate 940 g/plant. [Conclusions] This study provides a theoretical basis for rational fertilization of walnut in Sichuan Province.

氮磷配施和化肥减施对小麦生长、养分利用及产量性状的影响

为明确氮磷配施和化肥减施对小麦生长、养分利用及产量性状的影响,以8个晋南主栽品种为材料,于2019—2021年开展水培和大田定位试验,水培试验设置4个氮磷水平(N 0.2 mmol·L^(-1)+P 0.1 mmol·L^(-1)、N 0.2 mmol·L^(-1)+P 2.5 mmol·L^(-1)、N 4 mmol·L^(-1)+P 0.1 mmol·L^(-1)、N 4 mmol·L^(-1)+P 2.5 mmol·L^(-1)),对不同小麦品种苗期性状进行初步考察筛选;大田试验设置常规施肥(CF)、化肥减施(FR)和不施肥(CK)3个处理,研究不同年型下化肥减施对小麦生长发育、养分利用及产量的影响。结果表明,水培条件下,不同氮磷水平品育8161株高、根长、植株干重、根干重及根冠比均最低;良星67在低磷时正常氮较低氮植株干重增幅仅为17.07%,根干重反而降低,且在正常氮磷时根冠比较低。大田生产条件下,2019—2020年度(丰水年)化肥减施处理下以品育8012、济麦22产量较高,二者差异不显著,邯农1412产量最低,仅为7520.18 kg·hm^(-2)。其中,山农20、中麦4072和邯农1412产量均表现为化肥减施显著低于常规施肥。2020—2021年度(干旱年)化肥减施处理下济麦22产量为6191.53 kg·hm^(-2),显著高于品育8012和石农086,其籽粒氮素积累量和磷素吸收效率均最高,分别为130.35 kg·hm^(-2)和0.79 kg·kg^(-1)。干旱年减施化肥导致小麦生育后期叶片早衰,显著降低成熟期干物质积累,但对茎秆形态特征影响较小。综上,晋南小麦-玉米轮作区小麦生育期基施纯N 180.0 kg·hm^(-2)、P_(2)O_(5)105.0 kg·hm^(-2)、K_(2)O34.5 kg·hm^(-2),拔节期追施纯N 60.0 kg·hm^(-2)时,丰水年品育8012和济麦22产量较高,干旱年济麦22产量最高,且化肥减施有利于提高济麦22开花前营养器官干物质贮藏再转运量及其对籽粒的贡献率和第3节间厚度。单纯的连年化肥减施在干旱年份会导致小麦产量的稳定性和可持续性降低。本研究结果为晋南麦区小麦稳产高效栽培提供了技术参考。

Correlations between delayed fluorescence of chlorophyll, metabolism and yield of plants. I. Influence of fertilizers on correlations

The increase of the potash fertilizer dose in-duced a raise in efficiency influence of the ni-trogen fertilizer, optimisation of phosphorous fertilizer effect, enhancement of leaf protein production, expansion of assimilating surface and yield growth. In the period of yield forma-tion, the parameters of delayed fluorescence of chlorophyll (DF) of leaf wholly corresponded with key factors that had a dramatic influence on the effectiveness of yield formation. The maximum level of DF amplitude mostly de-pended on the activity of nitrogen metabolism and presumably on active PSII concentration changes per square unit. Half-decay time of this amplitude was predominantly identified by the level of carbohydrate metabolism in the overall plant system, including the quantity of its products and, therefore, mostly by correspon-dence with yield. This is a biological base trig-gering the use of DF parameters for system analyses of plant production process.

Yield and Grain Quality Response of Spring Wheat Varieties to Irrigation and Fertility Management

Experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in North Dakota to determine the effects of foliar and soil applied fertilizers, variety and irrigation on yield and grain quality of spring wheat. Foliar application of N did not consistently increase yield and protein indicating the soil N levels were adequate to optimize yield. The variety Bolles had higher protein content than Faller. Zinc (Zn) content in the grain was greatest when applied at either flowering or post anthesis. It was also found to be correlated with grain protein content. Yield and grain protein content were negatively related. There was no consistent effect of phosphorous or Zn when applied to the soil on yield, protein, gluten, or Zn content in the grain. Zinc concentration in the grain was significantly correlated with the protein, gluten and P content of the grain. The timing of Zn application was critical to the success of translocating Zn to the grain. Grain Zn concentration increased with most late season foliar Zn applications to both varieties indicating potential for enriching spring wheat nutrient content through production management practices already common in areas that grow spring wheat.