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Nitrogen Availability to Wheat as Affected by Depth of Nitrogen Placement 1
Author(s) -
Daigger L. A.,
Sander D. H.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1976.00021962006800030024x
Subject(s) - loam , agronomy , growing season , nitrogen , environmental science , ammonium nitrate , soil water , field experiment , alluvium , dry matter , spring (device) , fertilizer , chemistry , biology , soil science , mechanical engineering , paleontology , organic chemistry , engineering
The availability of residual N in the root zone greatly influences the amount of N fertilizer required to optimize winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) yields. In order to determine the availability of N at different depths in the root zone, and N placement study was conducted in the field on two soils in western Nebraska, a deep alluvial fine sandy loam (Entic Haplustoll) and a loess‐derived silt loam (Typic Arguistoll). Ammonium nitrate was placed on the soil surface and at depths of 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 cm. Wheat plants were harvested six times during the spring growing season to determine N uptake. Soil moisture was at field capacity in the spring when experiments were established. While N uptake tended to decrease as the depth of N application increased, total dry matter production was not affected by depth of N placement. Wheat plants easily obtained N placed at depths up to 150 cm. The results indicate winter wheat roots are mostly established during the fall growing season and are in a position to provide N early in the spring for rapid above ground growth.