Dicyandiamide application improved nitrogen use efficiency and decreased nitrogen losses in wheat-maize crop rotation in Loess Plateau. Issue 4 (21st March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raza, Sajjad; Chen, Zhujun; Ahmed, Muneer; Afzal, Muhammad Rahil; Aziz, Tariq; Zhou, Jianbin
• Is Part Of: Archives of agronomy and soil science. Volume 65:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 450
• Page End: 464
• Publication Date: 2019-03-21
• Subjects: Nitrification inhibitor -- nitrogen use efficiency -- nitrate leaching -- nitrogen uptake -- wheat-maize rotation; Horticulture -- Periodicals; Soils -- Periodicals; 630.5
• DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2018.1506584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0365-0340

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Inhibition of nitrification as a mitigation tool to abate nitrogen (N) losses and improve N use efficiency (NUE) is a promising technology. Nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide, DCD) was evaluated in two consecutive wheat-maize rotations (2015–2017), with two different N fertilizer levels applied in wheat (160, 220 kg N ha −1 ) and maize (180, 280 kg N ha −1 ). More NH4 + -N contents (101% and 102% in wheat and 74% and 73% in maize) and less NO3 – -N contents (37% and 43% in wheat and 46% and 57% in maize) were observed at both N levels treated with DCD compared to without DCD. Higher pH, lower EC and reduced NO3 – -N accumulation were the other benefits of DCD. The NO3 – -N accumulation within the 0–200 cm soil profile was significantly less at both N levels with DCD (66 mg kg −1 and 121 mg kg −1 ) compared to without DCD (96 mg kg −1 and 169 mg kg −1 ). Application of DCD also improved the growth and yield in both crops. Increase in NUE from 38% to 49% in wheat and 27% to 33% in maize with DCD at higher N level was also observed. Overall, the effectiveness of DCD in retarding the nitrification process was higher in wheat than maize.