Premium
Comparative Effect of Nitrogen Sources on Maize under Saline and Non‐saline Conditions
Author(s) -
Irshad M.,
Eneji A. E.,
Yasuda H.
Publication year - 2008
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.2008.00310.x
Subject(s) - shoot , urea , chemistry , saline , soil salinity , nitrate , nitrogen , agronomy , salinity , nutrient , zoology , biology , biochemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , endocrinology
The main objective of this study was to compare the relationship between biomass yield and nutrient uptake in salt‐stressed maize ( Zea mays L.) following nitrogen (N) nutrition in a greenhouse. Three forms of N were applied, each at the rate of 100 kg ha −1 : urea‐N, nitrate‐N, 1/2 urea‐N + 1/2 nitrate‐N (mixed‐N) and no N application (control). Maize was grown as a test crop for 6 weeks. All N sources greatly stimulated crop growth and nutrient uptake compared with the control. The biomass (shoot and root) of maize was significantly greater in mixed‐N treatment than in single sources in saline soil whereas it varied in the order of urea‐N > mixed‐N > nitrate‐N > control in non‐saline soil. Under both soil conditions, the concentration of Ca, Mg and Na in shoot was highest in nitrate‐N treatments while that of K was highest in the control. Shoot nitrogen concentration was not significantly different among N sources under non‐saline treatment, whereas under saline conditions, the concentration varied markedly in the order of nitrate‐N > urea‐N > mixed‐N > control. The mineral concentrations in the shoot increased under salt treated soil when compared with non‐saline soil. The ratios of Na/K, Na/Ca and Na/Mg were also higher under salt stress due to higher accumulation of Na ion in the shoot. Among N‐fertilizer sources, Na/Ca and Na/Mg ratios were highest in control whereas Na/K ratio was the highest in nitrate‐N treatment. The lowest cation ratios were noted in mixed‐N‐treated plants under both soils. Regression analysis showed that maize biomass was related to N concentration by the following equations: Y = −4.54 + 0.97N for the non‐saline soil and Y = 0.89 + 0.25N for the saline soil. Nitrogen use efficiency for non‐saline soil exceeded that of saline soil by 15 %.