Effects of Polymer Conditioner and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Nitrogen Absorption and Utilization of Drip-Irrigated Wheat in Arid Areas

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 232
• Main Authors: Hong, Dashuang, Chang, Doudou, Shao, Changlong, Cui, Wenli, Lu, Xiaoyu, Dong, Wen, Fan, Hua, Wang, Kaiyong, Liu, Yantao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Aridity; Crop growth; Crops; Data analysis; Dry matter; Efficiency; Fertilizer application; Fertilizers; Grain; Nitrogen; Nitrogen fertilizers; nitrogen reduction; nitrogen release; Plot (Narrative); polymer amendment; Polymer industry; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Software; Water soluble polymers; Wheat; China
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14020232

Nitrogen (N), an important element for crop growth, has a great impact on dry matter weight and yield. Currently, improving N fertilizer use rate is an urgent problem to be solved in agricultural production in the world. In this field experiment, a self-developed water-soluble polymer material (PPM) with water retention and slow-release characteristics was combined with different doses of N fertilizer (N300 (100% N), PN300 (PPM + 100% N), PN240 (PPM + 80% N), PN180 (PPM + 60% N), CK (no N and PPM)) to analyze the impacts on N uptake and use efficiency of wheat plants. The results showed that the combined application of PPM and N fertilizer significantly improved yield, plant height, biomass, and N uptake and use efficiency of drip irrigated wheat, and the PN240 group had the highest N use rate. In addition, the PN300 group had the highest yield. N use efficiency in the PN240 group was 40.23% higher than that in the N300 group. Therefore, the combined application of PPM and N fertilizer, especially PN240, can reduce the N fertilizer application rate by increasing N use efficiency. This study provides technical reference for improving the N use efficiency of drip-irrigated wheat in arid areas.