Long-term straw management and N fertilizer rate effects on crop yield, N uptake and N balance sheet in a Black Chernozem

Abstract

A field experiment with barley monoculture (1983-1996), and wheat/barley-canola-triticale-pea rotation (1997-2009) was conducted on a Black Chernozem [Albic Argicryoll] silty clay loam at Ellerslie, Alberta, to assess the influence of straw management (straw removed [SRem] and straw retained [SRet]), N fertilizer rate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg N ha-1) and N source (urea and polymercoated urea [called ESN]) under conventional tillage on seed yield, straw yield, total N uptake in seed + straw and N balance sheet. On the average, SRet produced greater seed yield (by 205-220 kg ha-1), straw yield (by 154-160 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 5.2 kg N ha-1) than SRem in almost all cases in both periods for both N sources. There was a considerable increase in yield and total N uptake up to 75 kg N ha-1 rate. Urea produced greater straw yield (by 95 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 3.3 kg N ha-1) than ESN in the 1983-1996 period. The N balance sheets over the 1983-2009 study duration indicated large amounts of applied N unaccounted for ranging from 696 to 1334 kg N ha-1, suggesting a great potential for N loss from the soil-plant system through denitrification and/or nitrate leaching, and from the soil mineral N pool by N immobilization. In conclusion, the findings suggest that long-term retention of crop residue may gradually improve soil productivity.