The Impacts of Supplemental Irrigation Based on Soil Moisture Measurement and Nitrogen Use on Winter Wheat Yield and Nitrogen Absorption and Distribution

Based on split plot design method of field test,the impacts of supplemental irrigation based on soil moisture measurement and nitrogen use on winter wheat yield and nitrogen absorption and distribution were studied.Supplemental irrigation had three levels: 60%(W_1),70%(W_2) and 80%(W3) of the targeted relative water content at 0-40 cm of soil layer during jointing period of winter wheat.Nitrogen fertilization had three levels: not using nitrogen(N_0),using pure nitrogen of 195 kg/hm^2(N_(195)) and 255 kg/hm^2(N_(255)).Results showed that:(i)different supplemental irrigation and nitrogen fertilization significantly affected plant height and leaf area of winter wheat during key growth period.Under the same supplemental irrigation treatment,both plant height and leaf area of winter wheat showed as N_(255)> N_(195)> N_0(P <0.05).Plant height in N_(195) and N_(255)treatments was significantly higher than that in N_0 treatment,but there was not significant difference between N_(195) and N_(255)(P >0.05).Under the same nitrogen fertilization,plant height in W_2(569.4 m^3/hm^2) and W3(873.45 m^3/hm^2) treatments was significant higher than that in W_1(265.2 m^3/hm^2),but there was not significant difference between W_2 and W3(P >0.05).It illustrated that excessive nitrogen fertilization and supplemental irrigation did not significantly affect plant height and leaf area of winter wheat.(ii) Under the same nitrogen fertilization level,yield increase effect of winter wheat by supplemental irrigation showed a declining trend with nitrogen application amount increased.It illustrated that nitrogen fertilization and supplemental irrigation had certain critical values on the yield of winter wheat.When surpassing the critical value,the yield declined.When nitrogen fertilization amount was 195 kg/hm^2,and supplemental irrigation amount was 70% of field moisture capacity(569.4 m^3/hm^2),the highest yield 8500 kg/hm^2 could be obtained.(iii) During mature period of winter wheat,nitrogen accumulation amount of plant treated by nitrogen was significantly higher than that not treated by nitrogen(P <0.05).But under the treatments of W_2 and W3,nitrogen accumulation amount in N_(255) significantly declined when compared with N_(195)(P <0.05).Especially under W3(873.45 m^3/hm^2) level,nitrogen accumulation amount in N_(255) was even lower than N_0.Under the treatments of N_0 and N_(195),nitrogen accumulation amount of plant significantly increased with supplemental irrigation increased(P < 0.05).But under N_(255) treatment,there was not significant difference(P > 0.05).It illustrated that moderate supplemental irrigation and nitrogen fertilization could improve nitrogen absorption ability of winter wheat,but excessive supplemental irrigation and nitrogen fertilization were not favorable for plant's nitrogen absorption.(iv) Although the increase of supplemental irrigation during jointing period improved nitrogen absorption ability of winter wheat and promoted winter wheat absorbing more nitrogen,it inhibited nitrogen transferring and distributing to seed.Comprehensively considering growth condition of winter wheat and nitrogen risk condition,it is suggested that nitrogen application amount was 195 kg/hm^2,and supplemental irrigation reached 70% of field moisture capacity(569.4 m^3/hm^2),which could be as the suitable water and fertilizer use amounts in the region.

Hydrogen and nitrogen absorption properties of Ce-added Zr_(2)(Fe_(1-x)Ni_(x)) alloys

To improve the nitriding resistance of Zr_(2)Fe alloy,the Ce-added Zr_(2)(Fe_(1-x)Ni_(x))(x=0,0.15,0.3,0.5)alloys were prepared by magnetic levitation melting method.The effects of Ni substitution for Fe on the phase structure,hydrogen and nitrogen absorption properties of the alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and p-c isotherm measurements.The experimental results show that Ni substitution can effectively inhibit the formation of both α-Zr and ZrFe_(2) phases and promote the formation of C16 structure Zr_(2)(Fe,Ni)phase,causing Ni-substituted alloys to exhibit low nitrogen absorption rate and capacity.At 623 K under 0.5 MPa nitrogen pressure,the nitrogen absorption capacity of Ce-added Zr_(2)(Fe_(0.5)Ni_(0.5))alloy reaches to 0.8 mL/g,much lower than that of Zr_(2)Fe alloy(1.5 mL/g).Ni substitution decreases the crystal cell volume of the C_(16)Zr_(2)(Fe,Ni)phase,resulting in an increase in the hydrogen absorption equilibrium pressure.At 623 K under 0.05 MPa hydrogen pressure,the hydrogen absorption capacity decreases from 1.46 wt%of Zr_(2)Fe alloy to 1.41 wt%of Ce-added Zr_(2)(Fe_(0.5)Ni_(0.5))alloy.

Integrated numerical model of nitrogen transportation,absorption and transformation by two-dimension in soil-crop system

A series of simulation experiments of nitrogen transportation, absorption and transformation were conducted, and the different cropping patterns of winter wheat and wastewater irrigation plans were taken into consideration. Based on the experiments, an integrated model of crop growth, roots distribution, water and nitrogen absorption by roots, water and nitrogen movement and transformation in soil-crop system by two-dimension was developed. Parameters and boundary conditions were identified and an effective computing method for optimizing watering and wastewater irrigating plans was provided.

Methods on Identification and Screening of Rice Genotypes with High Nitrogen Efficiency

In order to establish methods for indentification and screening of rice genotypes with high nitrogen （N） efficiency, N absorption efficiency （NAE）, N utilization efficiency （NUE） and N harvest index （NHI） in ten rice genotypes were investgated at the elongation, booting, heading and maturity stages under six N levels in a pot experiment with soil-sand mixtures at various ratios. NAE in various rice genotypes firstly increased, peaked under a medium nitrogen rate of 0.177 g/kg and then decreased, but NUE and NHI always decreased with increasing nitrogen levels. NAE in various rice genotypes ever increased with growing process and NUE indicated a descending tendency of elongation stage〉heading stage〉maturity stage〉booting stage. N level influenced rice NAE, NUE and NHI most, followed by genotype, and the both effects were significant at 0.01 level. In addition, the interaction effects of genotype and nitrogen level on rice NAE and NUE were significant at 0.01 level, but not significant on rice NHI. Because the maximum differences of NAE and NUE were found at the elongation stage, it was thought to be the most suitable stage for identification and screening these two paremeters. Therefore, the optimum conditions for identification and screening of rice NAE, NUE and NHI in a pot experiment were the nitrogen rate of 0.157 g/kg at the elongation stage, low nitrogen at the elongation stage, and the nitrogen rate of 0.277 g/kg at the maturity stage, respectively.

Physiological and Molecular Analysis of Applied Nitrogen in Rice Genotypes

Ten genotypes of rice （Oryza sativa L.） were grown for 30 d in complete nutrient solution with 1 mmol/L （N-insufficient）,4 mmol/L （N-moderate） and 10 mmol/L （N-high） nitrogen levels,and nitrogen efficiency （NE） was analyzed.Growth performance,measured in terms of fresh weight,dry weight and lengths of root and shoot,was higher in N-efficient than in N-inefficient rice genotypes at low N level.Of these 10 genotypes,Suraksha was identified as the most N-efficient,while Vivek Dhan the most N-inefficient.To find out the physiological basis of this difference,the nitrate uptake rate of root and the activities of nitrate assimilatory enzymes in leaves of N-efficient and N-inefficient rice genotypes were studied.Uptake experiments revealed the presence of two separate nitrate transporter systems mediating high-and low-affinity nitrate uptake.Interestingly,the nitrate uptake by the roots of Suraksha is mediated by both high-and low-affinity nitrate transporter systems,while that of Vivek Dhan by only low-affinity nitrate transporter system.Study of the activities and expression levels of nitrate assimilatory enzymes in N-efficient and N-inefficient rice genotypes showed that nitrate reductase （NR） and glutamine synthetase （GS） play important roles in N assimilation under low-nitrogen conditions.

Evaluating Nitrogen Behavior in Sugarcane after Fertilization Using Leaf and Sap Extract Analyzes

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is important for sugarcane crops, for both agronomic and environmental reasons. Better use of N from fertilizer is required for crop management, and in order to achieve it, adequate N nutrition monitoring is necessary. Sap extract analysis is a sensitive technique that has been adopted in other crops to tackle this objective, and can be used for sugarcane. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of N and the response of sugarcane after N fertilization, using sap and leaf tissue analysis. The study was undertaken in two experimental areas in 2012/2013 season, using ratoon cane, following application of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg&middotha-1 of N. The youngest visible leaves were sampled from sugarcane at five time points between 0 and 150 days after fertilization, to evaluate the nitrate, ammonium, and total N content of sap extract, and total N content of leaf tissue. At the first sampling point (30 days after N fertilizer application), mineral N in sap increased as a result of N fertilization in medium-textured soil, and remained high until 120 days after fertilization in clayey soil. The total N content of sap followed a similar behavior. Stalk yield was only observed to increase in sugarcane grown in the clayey soil. Sap analysis proved to be an efficient method for monitoring N status in sugarcane grown in different soil types.

Influence of nitrogen and magnesium doping on the properties of ZnO films

Undoped ZnO and doped ZnO films were deposited on the MgO（111） substrates using oxygen plasma-assisted molecular beam expitaxy. The orientations of the grown ZnO thin film were investigated by in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and ex situ x-ray diffraction（XRD）. The film roughness was measured by atomic force microscopy, which was correlated with the grain sizes determined by XRD. Synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy was performed to study the doping effect on the electronic properties of the ZnO films, compared with density functional theory calculations.It is found that, nitrogen doping would hinder the growth of thin film, and generate the NOdefect, while magnesium doping promotes the quality of nitrogen-doped ZnO films, inhibiting（N_2）Oproduction and increasing nitrogen content.

Source and Control of Nitrogen for X70 Pipeline Steel

The effects of some key factors on nitrogen absorption during the smelting process of X70 pipeline steel were studied,and the source of nitrogen pick-up was analyzed to find the bottleneck for nitrogen control.A series of measures were put forward to decrease the nitrogen pick-up.The results indicated that an exponential relationship existed between the nitrogen absorption index and the free oxygen in molten steel.Nitrogen absorption index could decrease below 0.3when free oxygen in molten steel was above 100×10^（-6） after tapping.For low sulfur killed steel,the nitrogen absorption ratio and sulfur content satisfied a linear relationship with a slope of-0.007.Low free-oxygen and sulfur were beneficial to the deep desulfurization during vacuum treatment.The contradiction of high desulfurization ratio and low nitrogen pick-up during LF process could be resolved by skimming oxidizing slag after tapping and making new high basicity top slag.After optimization,the average content of nitrogen in final product decreased from 46×10（-6）to 35×10（-6）.

NitroMAC：An instrument for the measurement of HONO and intercomparison with a long-path absorption photometer

Nitro MAC（French acronym for continuous atmospheric measurements of nitrogenous compounds） is an instrument which has been developed for the semi-continuous measurement of atmospheric nitrous acid（HONO）. This instrument relies on wet chemical sampling and detection using high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）-visible absorption at540 nm. Sampling proceeds by dissolution of gaseous HONO in a phosphate buffer solution followed by derivatization with sulfanilamide/N-（1-naphthyl）-ethylenediamine. The performance of this instrument was found to be as follows： a detection limit of around 3 ppt with measurement uncertainty of 10% over an analysis time of 10 min. Intercomparison was made between the instrument and a long-path absorption photometer（LOPAP） during two experiments in different environments. First, air was sampled in a smog chamber with concentrations up to 18 ppb of nitrous acid. Nitro MAC and LOPAP measurements showed very good agreement. Then, in a second experiment, ambient air with HONO concentrations below250 ppt was sampled. While Nitro MAC showed its capability of measuring HONO in moderate and highly polluted environments, the intercomparison results in ambient air highlighted that corrections must be made for minor interferences when low concentrations are measured.

Low phosphorus promotes NSP1–NSP2 heterodimerization to enhance strigolactone biosynthesis and regulate shoot and root architecture in rice

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant development and metabolism,and plants have evolved ingenious mechanisms to overcome phosphate(Pi)starvation.However,the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of shoot and root architecture by low phosphorus conditions and the coordinated utilization of Pi and nitrogen remain largely unclear.Here,we show that Nodulation Signaling Pathway 1(NSP1)and NSP2 regulate rice tiller number by promoting the biosynthesis of strigolactones(SLs),a class of phytohormones with fundamental effects on plant architecture and environmental responses.We found that NSP1 and NSP2 are induced by Oryza sativa PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE2(OsPHR2)in response to low-Pi stress and form a complex to directly bind the promoters of SL biosynthesis genes,thus markedly increasing SL biosynthesis in rice.Interestingly,the NSP1/2–SL signaling module represses the expression of CROWN ROOTLESS 1(CRL1),a newly identified early SL-responsive gene in roots,to restrain lateral root density under Pi deficiency.We also demonstrated that GR24^(4DO) treatment under normal conditions inhibits the expression of OsNRTs and OsAMTs to suppress nitrogen absorption but enhances the expression of OsPTs to promote Pi absorption,thus facilitating the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in rice.Importantly,we found that NSP1p:NSP1 and NSP2p:NSP2 transgenic plants show improved agronomic traits and grain yield under low-and medium-phosphorus conditions.Taken together,these results revealed a novel regulatory mechanism of SL biosynthesis and signaling in response to Pi starvation,providing genetic resources for improving plant architecture and nutrient-use efficiency in low-Pi environments.