Common Spectral Bands and Optimum Vegetation Indices for Monitoring Leaf Nitrogen Accumulation in Rice and Wheat

Real-time monitoring of nitrogen status in rice and wheat plant is of significant importance for nitrogen diagnosis, fertilization recommendation, and productivity prediction. With 11 field experiments involving different cultivars, nitrogen rates, and water regimes, time-course measurements were taken of canopy hyperspeetral reflectance between 350-2 500 nm and leaf nitrogen accumulation （LNA） in rice and wheat. A new spectral analysis method through the consideration of characteristics of canopy components and plant growth status varied with phenological growth stages was designed to explore the common central bands in rice and wheat. Comprehensive analyses were made on the quantitative relationships of LNA to soil adjusted vegetation index （SAVI） and ratio vegetation index （RVI） composed of any two bands between 350-2 500 nm in rice and wheat. The results showed that the ranges of indicative spectral reflectance were largely located in 770-913 and 729-742 nm in both rice and wheat. The optimum spectral vegetation index for estimating LNA was SAVI （R822, R738） during the early-mid period （from jointing to booting）, and it was RVI （Rs22, R73s） during the mid-late period （from heading to filling） with the common central bands of 822 and 738 nm in rice and wheat. Comparison of the present spectral vegetation indices with previously reported vegetation indices gave a satisfactory performance in estimating LNA. It is concluded that the spectral bands of 822 and 738 nm can be used as common reflectance indicators for monitoring leaf nitrogen accumulation in rice and wheat.

The Enhancement of Soil Fertility,Dry Matter Transport and Accumulation,Nitrogen Uptake and Yield in Rice via Green Manuring

Readily available chemical fertilizers have resulted in a decline in the use of organic manure(e.g.,green manures),a traditionally sustainable source of nutrients.Based on this,we applied urea at the rate of 270 kg ha−1 with and without green manure in order to assess nitrogen(N)productivity in a double rice cropping system in 2017.In particular,treatment combinations were as follows:winter fallow rice-rice(WF-R-R),milk vetch rice-rice(MV-R-R),oil-seed rape rice-rice(R-R-R)and potato crop rice-rice(P-R-R).Results revealed that green manure significantly(p≤0.05)improved the soil chemical properties and net soil organic carbon content increased by an average 117.47%,total nitrogen(N)by 28.41%,available N by 26.64%,total phosphorus(P)by 37.77%,available P by 20.48%and available potassium(K)by 33.10%than WF-R-R,however pH was reduced by 3.30%across the seasons.Similarly,net dry matter accumulation rate enhanced in green manure applied treatments and ranked in order:P-R-R>R-R-R>MV-R-R>WF-R-R.Furthermore,the total leaf dry matter transport(t ha−1)for the P-R-R in both seasons was significantly higher by an average 11.2%,7.2%and 36%than MV-R-R,R-R-R,and WF-R-R,respectively.In addition,net total nitrogen accumulation(kg ha−1)was found higher in green manure applied plots compared to the control.Yield and yield attributed traits were observed maximum in green manure applied plots,with treatments ranking as follows:P-R-R>R-R-R>MV-R-R>WF-R-R.Thus,results obtained highlight ability of green manure to sustainably improve soil quality and rice yield.

Nitrogen Use Efficiency as Affected by Phosphorus and Potassium in Long-Term Rice and Wheat Experiments

Improving nitrogen use efficiency （NUE） and decreasing N loss are critical to sustainable agriculture. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of various fertilization regimes on yield, NUE, N agronomic efficiency （NAE） and N loss in long-term （16- or 24-yr） experiments carried out at three rice-wheat rotation sites （Chongqing, Suining and Wuchang） in subtropical China. Three treatments were examined： sole chemical N, N＋phosphorus （NP）, and NP＋potassium （NPK） fertilizations. Grain yields at three sites were significantly increased by 9.3-81.6% （rice） and 54.5-93.8% （wheat） under NP compared with N alone, 1.7-9.8% （rice） and 0-17.6% （wheat） with NPK compared with NP. Compared to NP, NUE significantly increased for wheat at Chongqing （9.3%） and Wuchang （11.8%）, but not at Suining, China. No changes in NUE were observed in rice between NP and NPK at all three sites. The rice-wheat rotation＇s NAE was 3.3 kg kg1 higher under NPK than under NP at Chongqing, while NAE was similar for NP and NPK at Suining and Wuchang. We estimated that an uptake increase of 1.0 kg N hal would increase 40 kg rice and 30 kg wheat ha-1. Nitrogen loss/input ratios were -60, -40 or -30% under N, NP or NPK at three sites, indicating significant decrease of N loss by P or PK additions. We attribute part of the increase in NUE soil N accumulation which significantly increased by 25-55 kg ha-1 yr1 under NPK at three sites, whereas by 35 kg ha-1 yr-1 under NP at Chongqing only. This paper illustrates that apply P and K to wheat, and reduce K application to rice is an effective nutrient management strategy for both the NUE improvement and N losses reduction in China.

Effects of nitrogen application rate and hill density on rice yield and nitrogen utilization in sodic saline–alkaline paddy fields

Soil salinity and alkalinity can inhibit crop growth and reduce yield,and this has become a global environmental concern.Combined changes in nitrogen (N) application and hill density can improve rice yields in sodic saline–alkaline paddy fields and protect the environment.We investigated the interactive effects of N application rate and hill density on rice yield and N accumulation,translocation and utilization in two field experiments during 2018 and 2019 in sodic saline–alkaline paddy fields.Five N application rates (0 (control),90,120,150,and 180 kg N ha^(-1) (N0–N4),respectively) and three hill densities(achieved by altering the distance between hills,in rows spaced 30 cm apart:16.5 cm (D1),13.3 cm (D2) and 10 cm (D3))were utilized in a split-plot design with three replicates.Nitrogen application rate and hill density significantly affected grain yield.The mathematical model of quadratic saturated D-optimal design showed that with an N application rate in the range of 0–180 kg N ha^(-1),the highest yield was obtained at 142.61 kg N ha^(-1) which matched with a planting density of 33.3×10^(4) ha^(-1).Higher grain yield was mainly attributed to the increase in panicles m^(–2).Nitrogen application rate and hill density significantly affected N accumulation in the aboveground parts of rice plants and showed a highly significant positive correlation with grain yield at maturity.From full heading to maturity,the average N loss rate of the aboveground parts of rice plants in N4 was 70.21% higher than that of N3.This is one of the reasons why the yield of N4 treatment is lower than that of the N3 treatment.Nitrogen accumulation rates in the aboveground parts under treatment N3 (150 kg N ha^(-1)) were 81.68 and 106.07% higher in 2018 and 2019,respectively,than those in the control.The N translocation and N translocation contribution rates increased with the increase in the N application rate and hill density,whereas N productivity of dry matter and grain first increased and then decreased with the increase in N application rate and hill density.Agronomic N-use efficiency decreased with an increase in N application rate,whereas hill density did not significantly affect it.Nitrogen productivity of dry matter and grain,and agronomic N-use efficiency,were negatively correlated with grain yield.Thus,rice yield in sodic saline–alkaline paddy fields can be improved by combined changes in the N application rate and hill density to promote aboveground N accumulation.Our study provides novel evidence regarding optimal N application rates and hill densities for sodic saline–alkaline rice paddies.

Diagnosis of Nitrogen Status in Rice Leaves with Canopy Spectral Reflectance

The investigation was made on the relationship of seasonal time-course canopy spectral reflectance and ratio index to total leaf nitrogen accumulation (leaf nitrogen content per unit ground area) in rice under different nitrogen treatments. The results showed there was a close correlation between the canopy spectral reflectance and total leaf nitrogen accumulation. Ratio of near infrared to green band (R810/R560) was linearly related with total leaf nitrogen accumulation. independent of nitrogen levels and development stages. Different datasets were used to test the linear regression equation, with average estimation accuracy of 91. 22%, RMSE of 1.09 and average relative error of 0. 026. Thus, the ratio index R810/R560 of canopy spectral reflectance should be useful for non-destructive monitoring and diagnosis of nitrogen status in rice plants.

Effects of Straw Returning with Different Tillage Patterns on Corn Yield and Nitrogen Utilization

To explore the effects of farming methods,straw returning and their interaction on corn yield and nitrogen utilization,the experiment was conducted for two consecutive years from 2016 to 2017 at the Xiangyang Experimental Base of Northeast Agricultural University in Heilongjiang Province of China.The method of combining farming with straw returning was used and six treatments as rotary tillage(R)+no straw returning(K),rotary tillage(R)+straw returning(S),tillage(T)+no straw returning(K),tillage(T)+straw returning(S),tillage(T)+subsoiling(D)+no straw returning(K)and tillage(T)+subsoiling(D)+straw returning(S)were set to study the effects of different tillage methods and straw returning on corn yield and nitrogen accumulation and utilization.The corn yield,nitrogen accumulation,nitrogen transport,grain weight and dry matter accumulation of tillage(T)+subsoiling(D)and tillage(T)were significantly higher than those of rotary tillage(R)treatment.Meanwhile,the corn yield,nitrogen accumulation and dry matter accumulation of TD treatment were significantly higher than those of T treatment;the corn yield,dry matter accumulation,kernel weight,nitrogen dry matter production efficiency and nitrogen grain production efficiency of S treatment were significantly higher than those of K treatment.Among the treatments,the yield,nitrogen accumulation and utilization efficiency of TDS,TS and TDK were the highest.The yield,nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen transport of TDS were significantly higher than those of TS.In 2016,TDS production increased by 7.30%and 8.20%compared with TS;and TDS nitrogen accumulation increased by 6.78%and 9.50%compared with TS,while the yield and nitrogen grain production efficiency were significantly higher than those of TDK.Therefore,under the conditions of this experiment,on the basis of straw returning,tillage+subsoiling was the suitable farming method.

Strip deep rotary tillage combined with controlled-release urea improves the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize in the North China Plain

Inappropriate tillage practices and nitrogen(N) management have become seriously limitations for maize(Zea mays L.) yield and N use efficiency(NUE) in the North China Plain(NCP). In the current study, we examined the effects of strip deep rotary tillage(ST) combined with controlled-release(CR) urea on maize yield and NUE, and determined the physiological factors involved in yield formation and N accumulation during a 2-year field experiment. Compared with conventional rotary tillage(RT) and no-tillage(NT), ST increased the soil water content and soil mineral N content(Nmin) in the 20–40 cm soil layer due to reduction by 10.5 and 13.7% in the soil bulk density in the 0–40 cm soil layer, respectively. Compared with the values obtained by common urea(CU) fertilization, CR increased the Nmin in the 0–40 cm soil layers by 12.4 and 10.3% at the silking and maturity stages, respectively. As a result, root length and total N accumulation were enhanced under ST and CR urea, which promoted greater leaf area and dry matter(particularly at post-silking), eventually increasing the1 000-kernel weight of maize. Thus, ST increased the maize yield by 8.3 and 11.0% compared with RT and NT, respectively, whereas CR urea increased maize yield by 8.9% above the values obtained under CU. Because of greater grain yield and N accumulation, ST combined with CR urea improved the NUE substantially. These results show that ST coupled with CR urea is an effective practice to further increase maize yield and NUE by improving soil properties and N supply, so it should be considered for sustainable maize production in the NCP(and other similar areas worldwide).

Contributions of Different Wetland Plants to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal in Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands with Cyperus altrnlifolius,Pennisetum sinese Roxb and elephant grass as vegetation were built to study the nitrogen and phosphorous removal from domestic sewage in cold climate.It was found that these three plants could all grow slowly and stably under low temperature stress in winter,and the biomass,nitrogen and phosphorus absorption characteristics and absorbing capacity of the three plants were different.The growth rate and biomass were as follows:P.sinese Roxb>elephant grass>C.altrnlifolius,and these three plants could be used as winter wetland decontamination plants in Southwest China;the absorption characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus in different tissues of the three plants were as follows:nitrogen content in leaf>nitrogen content in stem,phosphorus content in stem>phosphorus content in leaf;the removal of total nitrogen(TN)by three plants in the wetland was ranged form 4.3%to 7.8%,and the removal of total phosphorus(TP)was ranged from 3.3%to 5.3%.Different plants had different absorption effects on nitrogen and phosphorus.There was a significantly positive correlation between plant nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation and biomass,and nitrogen removal rate in wetland showed a significantly positive correlation with biomass.

Yield characteristics of japonicalindica hybrids rice in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China

Although a lot of researches have been done on yield characteristics of japonica/indica hybrid rice,there is itte information on differences of yield characteristics between different types of hybrid.To determine common characteristics of japonical indica hybrid rice(JIHR)and identify the differences between different types of JIHR,the present study assessed yield characteristics,such as panicle trait,leaf area index(LAI),above-ground biomass accumulation,and nitrogen absorption and uilization,among three types of cultivar of JIHR.In our field experiments,three types of JIHR,e.g.,Yongyou,Chunyou and Jiayouzhongke,were divided,and each of them has two cultivars,which were used as materials,meanwhile,using conventional japonica rice(CJR)Wuyingjing 31 and Sujing 9 were as controls.The results showed that the mean yield of those JIHR was above 12 t ha^-1 in 2017 and 2018,and was 31.9 and 32.2%,respectively higher than that of CJR in the two years.Spikelet number per panicle of JIHR resulted in high yield.Higher yield of JIHR was likely contributed to greater panicle number and more spikelets per panicle.Higher yielding JIHR showed stronger tllering capacity,larger LAI and above-ground biomass accumulation from jointing to heading stages,which likely contributed to the higher number of spikelets per panicle.The long duration from heading to maturity stages allowed more nitrogen accumulation of higher yielding JIHR.

Effects of Aeration on Nitrification Process in a Polluted Urban River

[Objective] The study aimed to discuss the effects of aeration on nitrification process in a polluted urban river, [Metbod] Through indoor simulation experiments, the effects of different aeration conditions （aerating water named Ew, aerating sediment named Es ） on nitrification process in a polluted urban river were studied.[ Result]The nitrification of the control group named Ec proceeded slowly, while two kinds of aeration promo- ted the process of nitrification, that is, the peak values of nitrate nitrogen of Ew and Es group were respectively 5.15 and 3.83 times that of Ec group. During aeration, NO2 --N accumulation in the overlying water of Ew and Es group lasted for 10 and 14 days separately, and the maximum concentrations reached 11.41 and 7.41 mg/L respectively. Nitrification process was not consistent during the two aeration conditions, that is, the rate of nitrite oxidation in Ew group was faster than that in Es group. Denitrification process was significant after aeration, and the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in Ew and Es group was 1.26 and 2.82 mg/L respectively at the end of the experiment. [ Conclusion]The research could provide scientific references for the restoration of polluted urban rivers.

Non-climate environmental factors matter to Holocene dynamics of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in an alpine permafrost wetland,Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau

Studies on the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC)and nitrogen dynamics to Holocene climate and environment in permafrost peatlands and/or wetlands might serve as analogues for future scenarios,and they can help predict the fate of the frozen SOC and nitrogen under a warming climate.To date,little is known about these issues on the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau(QTP).Here,we investigated the accumulations of SOC and nitrogen in a permafrost wetland on the northeastern QTP,and analyzed their links with Holocene climatic and environmental changes.In order to do so,we studied grain size,soil organic matter,SOC,and nitrogen contents,bulk density,geochemical parameters,and the accelerator mass spectrometry(AMS)^(14)C dating of the 216-cm-deep wetland profile.SOC and nitrogen contents revealed a general uptrend over last 7300 years.SOC stocks for depths of 0-100 and 0-200 cm were 50.1 and 79.0 kgC m^(-2),respectively,and nitrogen stocks for the same depths were 4.3 and 6.6 kgN m^(-2),respectively.Overall,a cooling and drying trend for regional climate over last 7300 years was inferred from the declining chemical weathering and humidity index.Meanwhile,SOC and nitrogen accumulated rapidly in 1110e720 BP,while apparent accumulation rates of SOC and nitrogen were much lower during the other periods of the last 7300 years.Consequently,we proposed a probable conceptual framework for the concordant development of syngenetic permafrost and SOC and nitrogen accumulations in alpine permafrost wetlands.This indicates that,apart from controls of climate,non-climate environmental factors,such as dust deposition and site hydrology,matter to SOC and nitrogen accumulations in permafrost wetlands.We emphasized that environmental changes driven by climate change have important impacts on SOC and nitrogen accumulations in alpine permafrost wetlands.This study could provide data support for regional and global estimates of SOC and nitrogen pools and for global models on carbon‒climate interactions that take into account of alpine permafrost wetlands on the northeastern QTP at mid-latitudes.

A putative 6-transmembrane nitrate transporter OsNRT1.1b plays a key role in rice under low nitrogen

OsNRT1.1a is a low-affinity nitrate（NO_3^-） transporter gene. In this study, another mRNA splicing product, OsNRT1.1b,putatively encoding a protein with six transmembrane domains, was identified based on the rice genomic database and bioinformatics analysis. OsNRT1.1a/OsNRT1.1b expression in Xenopus oocytes showed OsNRT1.1a-expressing oocytes accumulated ^（15）N levels to about half as compared to OsNRT1.1bexpressing oocytes. The electrophysiological recording of OsNRT1.1b-expressing oocytes treated with 0.25 mM NO_3^- confirmed ^（15）N accumulation data. More functional assays were performed to examine the function of OsNRT1.1b in rice. The expression of both OsNRT1.1a and OsNRT1.1b was abundant in roots and downregulated by nitrogen（N） deficiency. The shoot biomass of transgenic rice plants with OsNRT1.1a or OsNRT1.1b overexpression increased under various N supplies under hydroponic conditions compared to wild-type（WT）. The OsNRT1.1a overexpression lines showed increased plant N accumulation compared to the WT in 1.25 mM NH_4NO_3 and 2.5 mM NO_3^- or NH_4~＋ treatments, but not in 0.125 mM NH_4NO_3.However, OsNRT1.1b overexpression lines increased total N accumulation in all N treatments, including 0.125 m M NH_4NO_3,suggesting that under low N condition, OsNRT1.1b would accumulate more N in plants and improve rice growth, but also that OsNRT1.1a had no such function in rice plants.

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on root-shoot characteristics,grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of different maize varieties in North China Plain

Excessive nitrogen(N)fertilizer application in crop production has resulted in a series of environmental issues in North China Plain(NCP).Breeding N-efficient maize varieties is one of the effective strategies to improve the N use efficiency of maize and reduce environmental pollution.This study designed an experiment for two maize varieties(‘Xian-Yu 335’[XY335]and‘Hua-Nong 138’[HN138])with three N-level treatments(0 kg/hm^(2),180 kg/hm^(2),300 kg/hm^(2),i.e.N0,N180,N300).The aim of the study was to determine the response characteristics of maize canopy structure,root morphology,and anatomical structure,as well as N uptake and utilization of N fertilizer.Results showed that grain yield,N use efficiency,and N harvest index of XY335 were higher 5.20%-13.68%,11.86%-19.11%,and 6.07%-3.33%than those of HN138,respectively.Compared with HN138,XY335 had a higher leaf area index and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency.The root length,root length density,root absorption area,root absorption area,and root active absorption area of XY335 in each period were higher than that of HN138.The proportion of RCA of XY335 was significantly higher than that of HN138,which was 14.64%higher on average.In the future breeding process,the high N and low N double-high-efficiency varieties should pay more attention to the improvement of root cortex aeration tissue.

Effects of autumn plowing on the movement and correlation of moisture,heat and nitrate nitrogen in seasonal freeze-thaw soil

A two-year experiment was established in northern Xinjiang to investigate the effects of autumn plowing methods on nitrate nitrogen accumulation,spring-sown soil conditions and cotton emergence rate,and to explore the response relationship between soil water,heat and nitrate nitrogen.The experiment included five autumn plowing treatments,namely,plough tillage(FG),no-tillage(MG),ridge and furrow alternation(LG),plough tillage with straw mulch(FJ)and plough tillage with activated charcoal mulch(FH).The results showed that both FH and FJ treatments were beneficial to promote the nitrate-nitrogen accumulation in topsoil,while FG,MG and LG treatments aggravated the nitrate nitrogen leaching in topsoil.During the freezing period,FH and FJ treatments were beneficial to reduce soil heat loss and facilitate the coordinated upward migration of soil water and nitrate nitrogen.In the thawing period,FH and FJ treatments favored suppressing the synergistic downward transport of soil water and nitrate-nitrogen and motivated the synergistic upward migration of heat and nitrate nitrogen in deep soil.Binary regression analysis suggested that the interaction between water,heat and nitrate nitrogen under FH and FJ treatments showed a highly significant correlation.FH and FJ treatments showed obvious advantages in regulating soil conditions and optimizing soil water,heat and nitrate nitrogen co-transport mechanism.During the spring sowing period,the FH and FJ treatments increased the average soil temperature by 0.99℃and 1.29℃,and the average soil moisture content by 6.01%and 8.70%,and the average soil nitrate content by 10.20 mg/kg and 10.47 mg/kg,in the 0-25 cm soil layer,respectively.FH and FJ treatments significantly grew the emergence rate of cotton,which can be used as the main autumn tillage strategies in arid areas of northern Xinjiang.

Human-caused increases in reactive nitrogen burial in sediment of global lakes

Human activities have increased reactive nitrogen(Nr)input to terrestrial ecosystems compared with the pre-industrial era.However,the fate of such Nr input remains uncertain,leading to missing sink of the global nitrogen budget.By synthesizing records of Nr burial in sediments from 303 lakes worldwide,here we show that 9.6±1.1 Tg N year^(-1)(Tg=10^(12) g)accumulated in inland water sediments from 2000 to 2010,accounting for 3%-5% of global Nr input to the land from combined natural and anthropogenic pathways.The recent Nr burial flux doubles pre-industrial estimates,and Nr burial rate significantly increases with global increases in human population and air temperature.Sediment ratios of C:N decrease after 1950 while N:P ratios increase over time due to increasingly elevated Nr burial and other related processes in lakes.These findings imply that Nr burial in lakes is overlooked as an important global sink of Nr input to terrestrial ecosystems.

N_2O emission from nitrogen removal via nitrite in oxic-anoxic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor

Bionitrification is considered to be a potential source of nitrous oxide （N2O） emissions, which are produced as a by-product during the nitrogen removal process. To investigate the production of N2O during the process of nitrogen removal via nitrite, a granular sludge was studied using a labscale sequence batch reactor operated with real-time control. The total production of N2O generated during the nitrification and denitrification processes were 1.724 mg/L and 0.125 mg/L, respectively, demonstrating that N2O is produced during both processes, with the nitrification phase generating larger amount. In addition, due to the NEO-N mass/oxidized ammonia mass ratio, it can be concluded that nitrite accumulation has a positive influence on N2O emissions. Results obtained from PCRDGGE analysis demonstrate that a specific Nitrosomonas microorganism is related to N2O emission.

Aerobic N_2O emission for activated sludge acclimated under different aeration rates in the multiple anoxic and aerobic process

Nitrous oxide（N_2O） is a potent greenhouse gas that can be emitted during biological nitrogen removal. N_2O emission was examined in a multiple anoxic and aerobic process at the aeration rates of 600 m L/min sequencing batch reactor（SBRL） and 1200 m L/min（SBRH）.The nitrogen removal percentage was 89% in SBRLand 71% in SBRH, respectively. N_2O emission mainly occurred during the aerobic phase, and the N_2O emission factor was 10.1%in SBRLand 2.3% in SBRH, respectively. In all batch experiments, the N_2O emission potential was high in SBRLcompared with SBRH. In SBRL, with increasing aeration rates, the N_2O emission factor decreased during nitrification, while it increased during denitrification and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification（SND）. By contrast, in SBRHthe N_2O emission factor during nitrification, denitrification and SND was relatively low and changed little with increasing aeration rates. The microbial competition affected the N_2O emission during biological nitrogen removal.