Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i>
Irrigation and nitrogen (N) are two crucial factors affecting perennial grass seed production. To investigate the effects of irrigation and N rate on seed yield (SY), yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE) of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> (Roshevitz) Ohwi, an ecologically signi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/3/466 |
| _version_ | 1797415261484089344 |
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| author | Qibo Tao Mengjie Bai Cunzhi Jia Yunhua Han Yanrong Wang |
| author_facet | Qibo Tao Mengjie Bai Cunzhi Jia Yunhua Han Yanrong Wang |
| author_sort | Qibo Tao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Irrigation and nitrogen (N) are two crucial factors affecting perennial grass seed production. To investigate the effects of irrigation and N rate on seed yield (SY), yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE) of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> (Roshevitz) Ohwi, an ecologically significant perennial grass, a four-year (2016–2019) field trial was conducted in an arid region of northwestern China. Two irrigation regimes (I1 treatment: irrigation at tillering stage; I2 treatment: irrigation at tillering, spikelet initiation, and early flowering stages) and four N rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) were arranged. Increasing amounts of both irrigation and N improved SY, evapotranspiration, WUE, and related yield components like fertile tillers m<sup>−2</sup> (FTSM) and seeds spikelet<sup>−1</sup>. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed between 120 and 180 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> treatments for most variables. The highest SY and WUE was obtained with treatment combination of I2 plus 120 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> with four-year average values of 507.3 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> and 1.8 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> mm<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Path coefficient and contribution analysis indicated that FTSM was the most important yield component for SY, with direct path coefficient and contribution coefficient of 0.626 and 0.592. Overall, we recommend I2 treatment (three irrigations) together with 120 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> to both increase SY and WUE, especially in arid regions. Future agronomic managements and breeding programs for seed should mainly focus on FTSM. This study will enable grass seed producers, plant breeders, and government program directors to more effectively target higher SY of <i>C. songorica</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:46:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-838487e786a54159bb988c80a1a4aef3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:46:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-838487e786a54159bb988c80a1a4aef32023-12-03T12:21:14ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-03-0111346610.3390/agronomy11030466Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i>Qibo Tao0Mengjie Bai1Cunzhi Jia2Yunhua Han3Yanrong Wang4State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaIrrigation and nitrogen (N) are two crucial factors affecting perennial grass seed production. To investigate the effects of irrigation and N rate on seed yield (SY), yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE) of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> (Roshevitz) Ohwi, an ecologically significant perennial grass, a four-year (2016–2019) field trial was conducted in an arid region of northwestern China. Two irrigation regimes (I1 treatment: irrigation at tillering stage; I2 treatment: irrigation at tillering, spikelet initiation, and early flowering stages) and four N rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) were arranged. Increasing amounts of both irrigation and N improved SY, evapotranspiration, WUE, and related yield components like fertile tillers m<sup>−2</sup> (FTSM) and seeds spikelet<sup>−1</sup>. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed between 120 and 180 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> treatments for most variables. The highest SY and WUE was obtained with treatment combination of I2 plus 120 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> with four-year average values of 507.3 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> and 1.8 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> mm<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Path coefficient and contribution analysis indicated that FTSM was the most important yield component for SY, with direct path coefficient and contribution coefficient of 0.626 and 0.592. Overall, we recommend I2 treatment (three irrigations) together with 120 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> to both increase SY and WUE, especially in arid regions. Future agronomic managements and breeding programs for seed should mainly focus on FTSM. This study will enable grass seed producers, plant breeders, and government program directors to more effectively target higher SY of <i>C. songorica</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/3/466<i>Cleistogenes songorica</i>irrigationnitrogen application ratepath coefficient analysisseed yieldseed yield components |
| spellingShingle | Qibo Tao Mengjie Bai Cunzhi Jia Yunhua Han Yanrong Wang Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> Agronomy <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> irrigation nitrogen application rate path coefficient analysis seed yield seed yield components |
| title | Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> |
| title_full | Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> |
| title_short | Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> |
| title_sort | effects of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on seed yield yield components and water use efficiency of i cleistogenes songorica i |
| topic | <i>Cleistogenes songorica</i> irrigation nitrogen application rate path coefficient analysis seed yield seed yield components |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/3/466 |
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