Effects of Nitrogen Application at Different Levels by a Sprinkler Fertigation System on Crop Growth and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat in the North China Plain

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for crop growth; therefore, N deficit can greatly limit crop growth and production. In the North China Plain (NCP), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the main food crops, and its yield has increased from approximately 4000 kg ha−1 to 6000 kg ha−1 in the last two decades. Determining the proper N application rates at different growth stages and in all seasons is very important for the sustainable and high production of wheat in the NCP. A field experiment with five N application rates (250, 200, 150, 100, and 40 kgN·ha−1, designated as N250, N200, N150, N100, and N40, respectively) was conducted during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 winter wheat seasons to investigate the effects of the N application rate on water- and fertilizer-utilization efficiency and on the crop growth and yield of winter wheat under sprinkler fertigation conditions. The results showed that in the N application range of 40–200 kg ha−1, crop yield and water- and fertilizer-use efficiencies increased as the N application rate increased; however, further increases in the N application rate (from N200 to N250) did not have additional benefits. The N uptake after regreening of winter wheat linearly increased with crop growth. Considering the wheat yield and N-use efficiency, the recommended optimal N application rate was 200 kg ha−1, and the best topdressing strategy was equal amounts of N applied at the regreening, jointing, and grain-filling stages. The results of this study will be useful for optimizing field N management to achieve high wheat yield production in the NCP and in regions with similar climatic and soil environment conditions.