Evaluation of Nitrogen Fertilization Systems Based on the in-Season Variability in the Nitrogenous Growth Factor and Soil Fertility Factors—A Case of Winter Oilseed Rape (<i>Brassica napus</i> L.)

Application of nitrogen (N) in contrastive chemical form changes availability of soil nutrients, affecting crop response. This hypothesis was evaluated based on field experiments conducted in 2015/16 and 2016/2017. The experiment consisted of three nitrogen fertilization systems: mineral-ammonium ni...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Witold Grzebisz, Remigiusz Łukowiak, Karol Kotnis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1701
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Summary:Application of nitrogen (N) in contrastive chemical form changes availability of soil nutrients, affecting crop response. This hypothesis was evaluated based on field experiments conducted in 2015/16 and 2016/2017. The experiment consisted of three nitrogen fertilization systems: mineral-ammonium nitrate (AN) (M-NFS), organic-digestate (O-NFS), <sup>2</sup>/<sub>3</sub> digestate + <sup>1</sup>/<sub>3</sub> AN (OM-NFS), and N rates: 0, 80, 120, 160; 240 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>. The content of nitrogen nitrate (N-NO<sub>3</sub>) and available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) were determined at rosette, onset of flowering, and maturity of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) growth from three soil layers: 0.0–0.3, 0.3–0.6, 0.6–0.9 m. The optimum N rates were: 139, 171 and 210 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> for the maximum yield of 3.616, 3.887, 4.195 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, for M-NFS, O-NFS, OM-NFS. The N-NO<sub>3</sub> content at rosette of 150 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> and its decrease to 48 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> at the onset of flowering was the prerequisite of high yield. The key factor limiting yield in the M-NFS was the shortage of Ca, Mg, O-NFS—shortage of N-NO<sub>3</sub>. Plants in the OM-NFS were well-balanced due to a positive impact of the subsoil Mg and Ca on the N-NO<sub>3</sub> content and productivity. The rosette stage was revealed as the cardinal for the correction of WOSR N nutritional status.
ISSN:2073-4395