Nitrogen accumulation and translocation for winter wheat under different irrigation regimes

• Published in: Journal of agronomy and crop science (1986) Vol. 191; no. 6; pp. 439 - 449
• Main Authors: Xu, Z.Z, Yu, Z.W, Wang, D, Zhang, Y.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Germany Blackwell Verlag 01.12.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; cultivars; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; grain; grain yield; harvest index; irrigation rates; irrigation regime; Irrigation. Drainage; nitrogen; nitrogen accumulation; nitrogen translocation; nutrient transport; nutrient uptake; plant nutrition; translocation (plant physiology); Triticum aestivum; Triticum aestivum L; vegetative organ; winter wheat; Translocation; Irrigation; Monocotyledones; Grains; vegetative organ; Triticum aestivum L; Nitrogen; irrigation regime; Cereal crop; nitrogen accumulation; Gramineae; Agronomy; Angiospermae; Vegetative apparatus; Water engineering; Spermatophyta; grain; nitrogen translocation; Triticum aestivum; Organ
• ISSN: 0931-2250; 1439-037X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-037X.2005.00178.x

The translocation of pre‐anthesis nitrogen to the grain is an important source for winter wheat. The relation between the nitrogen translocation and irrigation regime was studied in the field under a rain‐proof trough shelter. Nitrogen (N) translocation amount, N translocation efficiency decreased with a decline in irrigation amount or by excessive irrigation. Compared with different organs, the leaf and stem had higher N translocation amounts, and contributions to grain for both cultivars – Jinan 17 and Lumai 21, indicating that stem also is a major N source for grain development. The contribution of pre‐anthesis total above ground N to grain N ranged from 57 to 76 %, indicating the importance of pre‐anthesis storage of N for achieving high grain N concentrations. Grain nitrogen and yield (kg ha−1) were positively and significantly correlated with the N translocation amounts and contributions, respectively, suggesting that the sink strength may be involved in the translocation of N from a vegetative organ to the grain. N harvest index (NHI) was significantly correlated with N translocation efficiency, suggesting that the latter is a prerequisite for increasing grain N and improving grain quality. The experiment showed that N translocation status is enhanced by better irrigation practices, but limited by severely deficient or excessive irrigation.