Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat
Nitrogen (N) losses are a major environmental issue. Globally, crop N fertilizer applications are excessive, and N use efficiency (NUE) is low. N loss represents a significant economic loss to the farmer. NUE is difficult to quantify in real time because of the multiple chemical–biological–physical...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Nitrogen |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/3/2/16 |
| _version_ | 1797483729982062592 |
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| author | Rebecca L. Whetton Mary A. Harty Nicholas M. Holden |
| author_facet | Rebecca L. Whetton Mary A. Harty Nicholas M. Holden |
| author_sort | Rebecca L. Whetton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nitrogen (N) losses are a major environmental issue. Globally, crop N fertilizer applications are excessive, and N use efficiency (NUE) is low. N loss represents a significant economic loss to the farmer. NUE is difficult to quantify in real time because of the multiple chemical–biological–physical factors interacting. While there is much scientific understanding of N interactions in the plant–soil system, there is little formal expression of scientific knowledge in farm practice. The objective of this study was to clearly define the factors controlling NUE in wheat production, focusing on N inputs, flows, transformations, and outputs from the plant–soil system. A series of focus groups were conducted with professional agronomists and industry experts, and their technical information was considered alongside a structured literature review. To express this understanding, clear graphical representations are provided in the text. The analysis of the NUE processes revealed 16 management interventions which could be prioritized to increase farm nitrogen use efficiency. These management interventions were grouped into three categories—inputs, flow between pools, and outputs—and include management options through the range of application errors, fertilizer input choice, root development, pests and disease, soil structure, harvesting and storage errors, and soil resources of water, micronutrients, carbon, nitrogen, and pH. It was noted that technical solutions such as fertilizer formulation and managing organic matter require significant supply chain upgrades. It was also noted that farm-scale decision support would be best managed using a risk/probability-based recommender system rather than generic guidelines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48e1e5b9c98e4f1c9884e784e88d5086 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-3129 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nitrogen |
| spelling | doaj.art-48e1e5b9c98e4f1c9884e784e88d50862023-11-23T18:19:13ZengMDPI AGNitrogen2504-31292022-04-013221324610.3390/nitrogen3020016Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global WheatRebecca L. Whetton0Mary A. Harty1Nicholas M. Holden2UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandUCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandUCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandNitrogen (N) losses are a major environmental issue. Globally, crop N fertilizer applications are excessive, and N use efficiency (NUE) is low. N loss represents a significant economic loss to the farmer. NUE is difficult to quantify in real time because of the multiple chemical–biological–physical factors interacting. While there is much scientific understanding of N interactions in the plant–soil system, there is little formal expression of scientific knowledge in farm practice. The objective of this study was to clearly define the factors controlling NUE in wheat production, focusing on N inputs, flows, transformations, and outputs from the plant–soil system. A series of focus groups were conducted with professional agronomists and industry experts, and their technical information was considered alongside a structured literature review. To express this understanding, clear graphical representations are provided in the text. The analysis of the NUE processes revealed 16 management interventions which could be prioritized to increase farm nitrogen use efficiency. These management interventions were grouped into three categories—inputs, flow between pools, and outputs—and include management options through the range of application errors, fertilizer input choice, root development, pests and disease, soil structure, harvesting and storage errors, and soil resources of water, micronutrients, carbon, nitrogen, and pH. It was noted that technical solutions such as fertilizer formulation and managing organic matter require significant supply chain upgrades. It was also noted that farm-scale decision support would be best managed using a risk/probability-based recommender system rather than generic guidelines.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/3/2/16N inputsN flowN poolsN transformationsN outputsrecommendation system |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca L. Whetton Mary A. Harty Nicholas M. Holden Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat Nitrogen N inputs N flow N pools N transformations N outputs recommendation system |
| title | Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat |
| title_full | Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat |
| title_fullStr | Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat |
| title_short | Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat |
| title_sort | communicating nitrogen loss mechanisms for improving nitrogen use efficiency management focused on global wheat |
| topic | N inputs N flow N pools N transformations N outputs recommendation system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/3/2/16 |
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