Long-term straw management and N fertilizer rate effects on crop yield, N uptake and N balance sheet in a Gray Luvisol
Date
2012-03-13
Authors
Malhi, S.S.
Nyborg, M.
Solberg, E.D.
Dyck, M.
Puurveen, D.
Leach, D.
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Abstract
A field experiment with barley monoculture (1983-1996), and wheat/barley-canola-triticale-pea
rotation (1997-2009) was conducted on a Gray Luvisol [Typic Haplocryalf] loam soil at Breton,
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 polymer-coated 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 102 kg ha-1),
straw yield (by 196 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 3.7 kg N ha-1) in the 1997-2009 period for
both N sources. There was a considerable increase in yield and total N uptake up to 75 kg N ha-1
rate. The ESN was superior to urea in increasing seed yield (by 109 kg ha-1), straw yield (by 80
kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 2.4 kg N ha-1) in the 1983-1996 period (mainly at the 25 and 50
kg N ha-1 rates). The N balance sheets over the 1983-2009 study duration indicated large
amounts of applied N unaccounted for, ranging from 740 to 1518 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 longterm
retention of crop residue may gradually improve soil productivity.
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Soils and Crops Workshop