Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (12): 2778-2787    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60535-3
Soil & Fertilization · Irrigation · Agro-Ecology & Environment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Timing of N Application Affects Net Primary Production of Soybean with Different Planting Densities
 ZHANG Ming-cong, SUN Wen-xiang, LIU Yuan-ying, LUO Sheng-guo, ZHAO Jing, WU Qiong, WU Zhen-yu , JIANG Yi
Resource and Environment College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P.R.China
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  Understanding the relationship between the timing of N fertilizer applications and crop primary production is crucial for achieving high yield and N use efficiency in agriculture. This study investigated the effects of starting-N plus topdressing N applications (as compared to the common practice of all basal application) on soybean photosynthetic capacity under different planting densities. A field experiment was conducted in two growing seasons (2011 and 2012), and the soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivar was Dongnong 52, three planting densities (20, 25 and 30 plants m-2), and four N fertilizer application patterns (all N fertilizer of 6 g N m-2 as basal fertilizer, all N fertilizer as topdressing at beginning pod stage (R3), 1.8 g N m-2 as basal fertilizer and 4.2 g N m-2 as topdressing at stage R3 and full pod stage (R4), respectively). The results indicated that under the same planting density, compared to applying all N as basal fertilizer, the application of starter-N plus topdressing N substantially reduced the rate of pod abscission, and enhanced leaf area index (LAI) significantly at beginning seed stage (R5) (P<0.05), net assimilation rate (NAR) during stages R4-full seed stage (R6) (P<0.05), contribution rate of post-seed filling assimilate to seed (CPA) (P<0.05), and yield (P<0.05). Applying topdressing N at stage R4 resulted in higher net primary production and yield than applying topdressing N at stage R3. When applying starter-N plus topdressing N at planting density of 25 plants m-2, LAI after stage R5 and NAR after stage R4 were increased by 5.92-16.3% (P<0.05) and 13.7-26.6% (P<0.05) with the planting density of 20 plants m-2, respectively, and yield was 8.46-14.0% (P<0.05) higher than that under 20 plants m-2. When planting density increased to 30 plants m-2, only LAI during stages R4-R5 and NAR during stages R4-R5 increased by applying starter-N plus topdressing N, while the other indexes declined. Overall, results of this study demonstrated that applying starter-N plus topdressing N could significantly enhance soybean photosynthetic capacity after stage R5 at planting density of 25 plants m-2.

Abstract  Understanding the relationship between the timing of N fertilizer applications and crop primary production is crucial for achieving high yield and N use efficiency in agriculture. This study investigated the effects of starting-N plus topdressing N applications (as compared to the common practice of all basal application) on soybean photosynthetic capacity under different planting densities. A field experiment was conducted in two growing seasons (2011 and 2012), and the soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivar was Dongnong 52, three planting densities (20, 25 and 30 plants m-2), and four N fertilizer application patterns (all N fertilizer of 6 g N m-2 as basal fertilizer, all N fertilizer as topdressing at beginning pod stage (R3), 1.8 g N m-2 as basal fertilizer and 4.2 g N m-2 as topdressing at stage R3 and full pod stage (R4), respectively). The results indicated that under the same planting density, compared to applying all N as basal fertilizer, the application of starter-N plus topdressing N substantially reduced the rate of pod abscission, and enhanced leaf area index (LAI) significantly at beginning seed stage (R5) (P<0.05), net assimilation rate (NAR) during stages R4-full seed stage (R6) (P<0.05), contribution rate of post-seed filling assimilate to seed (CPA) (P<0.05), and yield (P<0.05). Applying topdressing N at stage R4 resulted in higher net primary production and yield than applying topdressing N at stage R3. When applying starter-N plus topdressing N at planting density of 25 plants m-2, LAI after stage R5 and NAR after stage R4 were increased by 5.92-16.3% (P<0.05) and 13.7-26.6% (P<0.05) with the planting density of 20 plants m-2, respectively, and yield was 8.46-14.0% (P<0.05) higher than that under 20 plants m-2. When planting density increased to 30 plants m-2, only LAI during stages R4-R5 and NAR during stages R4-R5 increased by applying starter-N plus topdressing N, while the other indexes declined. Overall, results of this study demonstrated that applying starter-N plus topdressing N could significantly enhance soybean photosynthetic capacity after stage R5 at planting density of 25 plants m-2.
Keywords:  soybean       starter-N plus topdressing N       density       leaf area index (LAI)       net assimilation rate (NAR)  
Received: 23 April 2013   Accepted:
Fund: 

This study was conducted in the Key Laboratory of Soybean Biology, Ministry of Education and financially supported by the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest, China (201103003), and the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2012BAD20B04).

Corresponding Authors:  LIU Yuan-ying, Mobile: 13895705271, Tel: +86-451-55190439,E-mail: yuanyingl@163.com     E-mail:  yuanyingl@163.com
About author:  ZHANG Ming-cong, Mobile: 15845001970, E-mail: zhangmingcong@163.com

Cite this article: 

ZHANG Ming-cong, SUN Wen-xiang, LIU Yuan-ying, LUO Sheng-guo, ZHAO Jing, WU Qiong, WU Zhen-yu , JIANG Yi. 2014. Timing of N Application Affects Net Primary Production of Soybean with Different Planting Densities. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(12): 2778-2787.

Aslam M, Khan N A, Siddique Mirza M, Naeemullah. 1993.Effect of different row and plant spacing on soybeanyield and its components. Pakistan Journal AgriculturalResearch, 14, 143-148

Chang Y Z. 1981. Problems of the leaf area of the high yieldculture in soybean. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2, 22-26 (in Chinese)

Dordas C A, Sioulas C. 2009. Dry matter and nitrogenaccumulation, partitioning, and retranslocation insafflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) as affected by nitrogenfertilization. Field Crops Research, 110, 35-43

Egli D B, Bruening W P. 2005. Shade and temporal distributionof pod production and pod set in soybean. Crop Science,45, 1764-1769

Egli D B. 1988. Plant density and soybean yield. Crop Science,28, 977-981

Faluyi M A. 1990. Implications of selecting improved strainsof soybeans for dry-matter accumulation and grain yield.Euphytica, 50, 197-201

Flavio H G, Javier D S, Helena R, Raul S L. 2004. Lateseason nitrogen fertilization of soybeans: Effects on leafsenescence, yield and environment. Nutrient Cycling inAgroecosystems, 68, 109-115

Fu J, Huang Z H, Wang Z Q, Yang J C, Zhang J H. 2011.Pre-anthesis non-structural carbohydrate reserve in thestem enhances the sink strength of inferior spikelets duringgrain filling of rice. Filed Crops Research, 123, 170-182

Fu J, Yang J C. 2012. Research advances in high-yieldingcultivation and physiology of super rice. Rice Science,19, 177-184

Golparvar P, Mirshekari B, Borhani P. 2012. Nitrogen sprayingof soybeans at earlier flowering stage will be an ecologicalfriendly fertilization management and improve crop yield.World Applied Sciences Journal, 19, 1388-1392

Gou L, Yan J, Han C L, Zhao R H, Zhang W F, Yang X J. 2004.Effects of nitrogen rates on photosynthetic characteristicsand yield of high-yielding cotton in Xinjiang. PlantNutrition and Fertilizer Science, 10, 488-493 (in Chinese)

Gourdon F, Planchon C. 1982. Responses of photosynthesisto irradiance and temperature in soybean. PhotosynthesisResearch, 3, 31-43

Hao N B, Ge Q Y, Zhang Y Z, Xu J, Zhang G Z, Tan K H.1989. Studies on the photosynthetic properties of soybeanwith photosynthetic efficiency. Soybean Science, 8, 283-287 (in Chinese)

Heitholt J J, Egli D, Leggett J E. 1986. Role of assimilateand carbon-14 photo synthate partitioning in soybeanreproductive abortion Crop Science, 26, 999-1004

Herbert S J, Litchfield G V. 1984. Growth response of shortseasonsoybean to variations in row spacing and density.Field Crops Research, 9, 163-171

Hou Y H, Chen C Y, Hu X F, Dong S T, Zhao M. 2012. NARdynamic characteristics and quantitative analysis for highyieldingpopulation of spring maize. Journal of MaizeSciences, 20, 65-70 (in Chinese)

Koutroubas S D, Papakosta D K, Gagianas A A. 1998. Theimportance of early dry matter and nitrogen accumulationin soybean yield. European Journal of Agronomy, 9, 1-10

Lawrence A, Kapustka, Kenneth G W. 1990. The influence ofsoybean planting density on dinitrogen fixation and yield.Plant and Soil, 129, 145-156

Li Y K. 1983. Conventional Methods for Soil and AgricultureChemistry Analysis. Science and Technology Press,Beijing, China. pp. 67-172 (in Chinese)

Liu X B, Jin J, Herbert S J, Zhang Q Y, Wang G H. 2005.Yield components, dry matter, LAI and LAD of soybeansin Northeast China. Field Crops Research, 93, 85-93

Liu X B, Jin J, Wang G H, Herbert S J. 2008. Soybean yieldphysiology and development of high-yielding practicesin Northeast China. Field Crops Research, 105, 157-171

Masoni A, Ercoli L, Mariotti M, Arduini I. 2007. Post-anthesisaccumulation and remobilization of dry matter, nitrogenand phosphorus in durum wheat as affected by soil type.European Journal of Agronomy, 26, 179-186

Miao Y N, Zhu C P, Shi L X, Xu Y. 1999. Exploring theideal plant type for high yielding via physiologicalcharacteristics in yield form action in soybean. SoybeanScience, 18, 342-346 (in Chinese)

Setiyono T D, Weiss A, Specht J E, Cassman K G, DobermannA. 2008. Leaf area index simulation in soybean grownunder near-optimal conditions. Field Crops Research,108, 82-92

Teng Z L 2010. The effects of optimized fertilization onpopulation quality and yield of soybean. MSc thesis,Northeast Agricultural University, China. (in Chinese)

Wajid A, Hussain A, Ahmad A. 2004. Effect of sowing dateand plant density on growth, light interception and yieldof wheat under semi arid conditions. International Journalof Agriculture & Biology, 6, 1119-1123

Wang Y, Wang P R. 1984. Effects of dressing nitrogen on yieldof the summer soybean at flowering and podding. ChineseJournal of Oil Sciences, 2, 55-57. (in Chinese)

Wang Z L, Yin Y P, He M R, Cao H M. 1998. Source-sinkmanipulation effects on post-anthesis photosynthesis andgrain setting on spike in winter wheat. Photosynthetica,35, 453-459

Wei J J, Luo G T, Zhang L, Wang X G, Dong Z. 2009. Physiological parameters of super-high yielding soybeancultivar Zhonghuang 35. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 35,506-511. (in Chinese)

Xia M Z, Xiong F Q. 1986. Relationship between the netassimilation rate and the planting density in broad bean,Tillage and Cultivation, 3, 67-69. (in Chinese)

Zhang W Z. 2008. Effects of N management on C and Nmetabolisms and yield of soybean. Msc thesis, NortheastAgricultural University, China. (in Chinese)

Zhou X J, Liang Y, Chen H, Shen S H. 2006. Effects of rhizobiainoculation and nitrogen fertilization on photosyntheticphysiology of soybean. Photosynthetica, 44, 530-535

Zou B, Dong Z R, Wang J S, Zhang J, Tan J, Xu X G, LiuY, Li X W. 2011. Response of post-anthesis assimilatesremobilization and yield to nitrogen management. ChineseAgricultural Science Bulletin, 27, 63-67 (in Chinese)
[1] Jiang Liu, Wenyu Yang. Soybean maize strip intercropping: A solution for maintaining food security in China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(7): 2503-2506.
[2] Zhimin Wu, Xiaozeng Han, Xu Chen, Xinchun Lu, Jun Yan, Wei Wang, Wenxiu Zou, Lei Yan.

Application of organic manure as a potential strategy to alleviate the limitation of microbial resources in soybean rhizospheric and bulk soils [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(6): 2065-2082.

[3] Ping Chen, Qing Du, Benchuan Zheng, Huan Yang, Zhidan Fu, Kai Luo, Ping Lin, Yilin Li, Tian Pu, Taiwen Yong, Wenyu Yang.

Coordinated responses of leaf and nodule traits contribute to the accumulation of N in relay intercropped soybean [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(6): 1910-1928.

[4] Yiyan Zhao, Weimin Liu, Xiaoming Zhao, Zhitao Yu, Hongfang Guo, Yang Yang, Hans Merzendorfer, Kun Yan Zhu, Jianzhen Zhang.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2) is required for lipid export in the midgut of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(5): 1618-1633.

[5] Qianqian Chen, Qian Zhao, Baoxing Xie, Xing Lu, Qi Guo, Guoxuan Liu, Ming Zhou, Jihui Tian, Weiguo Lu, Kang Chen, Jiang Tian, Cuiyue Liang.

Soybean (Glycine max) rhizosphere organic phosphorus recycling relies on acid phosphatase activity and specific phosphorus-mineralizing-related bacteria in phosphate deficient acidic soils [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(5): 1685-1702.

[6] Haiqing Gong, Yue Xiang, Jiechen Wu, Laichao Luo, Xiaohui Chen, Xiaoqiang Jiao, Chen Chen.

Integrating phosphorus management and cropping technology for sustainable maize production [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(4): 1369-1380.

[7] Jingui Wei, Qiang Chai, Wen Yin, Hong Fan, Yao Guo, Falong Hu, Zhilong Fan, Qiming Wang. Grain yield and N uptake of maize in response to increased plant density under reduced water and nitrogen supply conditions[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(1): 122-140.
[8] Berhane S. GEBREGZIABHER, ZHANG Sheng-rui, Muhammad AZAM, QI Jie, Kwadwo G. AGYENIM-BOATENG, FENG Yue, LIU Yi-tian, LI Jing, LI Bin, SUN Jun-ming. Natural variations and geographical distributions of seed carotenoids and chlorophylls in 1 167 Chinese soybean accessions[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(9): 2632-2647.
[9] ZHAI Qian-hang, PAN Ze-qun, ZHANG Cheng, YU Hui-lin, ZHANG Meng, GU Xue-hu, ZHANG Xiang-hui, PAN Hong-yu, ZHANG Hao. Colonization by Klebsiella variicola FH-1 stimulates soybean growth and alleviates the stress of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(9): 2729-2745.
[10] YANG Hong-jun, YE Wen-wu, YU Ze, SHEN Wei-liang, LI Su-zhen, WANG Xing, CHEN Jia-jia, WANG Yuan-chao, ZHENG Xiao-bo. Host niche, genotype, and field location shape the diversity and composition of the soybean microbiome[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(8): 2412-2425.
[11] XU Lei, ZHAO Tong-hua, Xing Xing, XU Guo-qing, XU Biao, ZHAO Ji-qiu.

Model fitting of the seasonal population dynamics of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, in the field [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(6): 1797-1808.

[12] ZHANG Zi-han, NIE Jun, LIANG Hai, WEI Cui-lan, WANG Yun, LIAO Yu-lin, LU Yan-hong, ZHOU Guo-peng, GAO Song-juan, CAO Wei-dong. The effects of co-utilizing green manure and rice straw on soil aggregates and soil carbon stability in a paddy soil in southern China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(5): 1529-1545.
[13] TIAN Jin-yu, LI Shao-ping, CHENG Shuang, LIU Qiu-yuan, ZHOU Lei, TAO Yu, XING Zhi-peng, HU Ya-jie, GUO Bao-wei, WEI Hai-yan, ZHANG Hong-cheng. Increasing the appropriate seedling density for higher yield in dry direct-seeded rice sown by a multifunctional seeder after wheat-straw return[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(2): 400-416.
[14] GAO Hua-wei, YANG Meng-yuan, YAN Long, HU Xian-zhong, HONG Hui-long, ZHANG Xiang, SUN Ru-jian, WANG Hao-rang, WANG Xiao-bo, LIU Li-ke, ZHANG Shu-zhen, QIU Li-juan. Identification of tolerance to high density and lodging in short petiolate germplasm M657 and the effect of density on yield-related phenotypes of soybean[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(2): 434-446.
[15] Irshad AHMAD, Maksat BATYRBEK, Khushnuma IKRAM, Shakeel AHMAD, Muhammad KAMRAN, Misbah, Raham Sher KHAN, HOU Fu-jiang, HAN Qing-fang.

Nitrogen management improves lodging resistance and production in maize (Zea mays L.) at a high plant density [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(2): 417-433.

No Suggested Reading articles found!