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Shoot and Root Production and Nitrogen Uptake in Barley, with and without Nitrogen Fertilization
Author(s) -
Hansson A.C.,
Pettersson R.,
Paustian K.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.1987.tb00258.x
Subject(s) - nitrogen , shoot , agronomy , human fertilization , biomass (ecology) , dry weight , chemistry , crop , nitrogen fertilizer , hordeum vulgare , poaceae , horticulture , biology , organic chemistry
Two barley crops, one fertilized with 120 kg N ha −1 (B120) and the other without nitrogen fertilization (BO), were cultivated for the second year on the same plot. In 1981 the growth and nitrogen content of the whole plant, above‐ and below‐ground parts were measured by sampling every second week. Production was calculated as the difference between annual maximum and minimum amounts of biomass found above‐ and below‐ground. Nitrogen uptake was estimated as the sum of the peak amounts of nitrogen present in the roots and shoots. The amount and concentration of nitrogen in partly decomposed plant debris in the soil was estimated simultaneously with the biomass. Total net production in B120 was 1004 g m −2 of which the roots constituted 16%. The unfertilized barley produced 558 g m −2 of which 23% were produced below‐ground. The maximum amount of living roots found in B120 was 160 g ash‐free dry mass m −2 and 128 g m −2 in BO. In the fertilized treatment 15 g N m −2 (21% in roots) was taken up by the plant, compared to 5.8 g N m −2 (28% in roots) in the unfertilized crop.