Effects of nitrogen fertiliser on the growth, development … T11e Growth and Distribution of Maize...
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EFFEC'l'S OF NIIBOGEN 1".cltTILISETI ON THE GROWi'H , D:i!.:VELOPT·:EHT
AND YIT.;LD OF l•iAIZE (~ l·~AYS L. ) .
A thesis
presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the ciegree of
rt.ASTER. OF AGRICULTURAL SCI:C:NCE
in
PLANT SC IEllC E
at
!1.tASSSY UNIVERSITY
ERROL ROSS THOM
1974
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T ABL:S OF C or-:T1'NTS
LIST OF TABL:ES
LI S'l' OF FIGURES
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LIST OF PLATES
AC Ki\ OHLEDGEt~ENTS
s ur.::r.: .filly
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II~'TRODUC 'rI ON 1
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C HAP'l'E.'R ONE REVIul OF LITERATURZ
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.5
1.6
Introduction
Sources of Nitrogen for Crop Plants
Aspects of l0iaize Gr0\·1th and Dry ;.;atter Accumulation
1.3.1 Growth and Distribution of Dry 1.;atter in Pl an t Par ts
1.3.2 Dry l1iatt er Distribution in the I·iature ?·!ai ~e
Plant
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5 1.3 . 3 Ph otosynthes is and :Dr,y ;.:atter Production 6
1.3.4 Shoot-Root Re l a tions in i'0:aize 9
1. 3. 5 Black Layer and Physiological I1:aturi t:l in J0!aize 2.0
The J.:aL~e ]oot System 12
1.4.1 T11e Growth and Distribut ion of Maize Roots 13
1.4 . 2 The Effect of Environmen t on I•'.aize Root GroHth 15
1. 4. 3 Forms of I~i trogen Abs o!'bed by J.;aize Roo ts 20
Aspects of J.:aize Growth a!'ld l\ i t rcgen Accuraulation 21
l . 5 .1 I·:ai ze Growth and Nit rogen Uptake 21
1. 5.2 Plar1t Growth and Distributi on of Nitrogen in Plant Parts 23
1.5.3 Nitrogen Accumulation in the Grain at Maturity 23
Fertiliser Nitrogen and r.:aize Production
1.6.1 Nitrogen Fertil iser and Dry J1~atter Accumulation
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25 1. 6.2 Fertiliser Uptake , Nitrogen Content and Yield 26
1.6.3 The Utilisation of Ni trogen in Protein Production in the t•iaize Plant 30
1.6.4 The Timing of Nitrogen Fertiliser Application 31
1.6.5 Nitrogen Fertiliser, Leaf Area and Dry Matter Yield 34
i·.6 .6 Effect of Nitrogen Fertiliser on the Components of Yield 35
1.6.7 Recovery of Fertiliser Nitrogen by Maize Plants 36
1.6.8 Method of Application of Fertiliser, Source of Nitrogen and Effect on Recovery
Nitrogen Deficiency Symptoms in 1°laize
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CHAPTER Ti·TO
2.1 Introduction
KETIIODS A~ID ?·~ATIBIALS 41
42 2.1.1 F'~perimental Sito 42
2.1.2 ~perimental Layout 42
2.1. 3 His t ory of Plot Area and Cultural Operations 43 2. 2
2. 3
Experiment al Procedur es and Techniquco
2. 2.1 Intr oduction
2. 2. 2 Forrn of ~~i troeen Applied
2. ?. 3 Method of Fertiliser Application
2. 2. 4 Root Sampling Technique
2.2 . 5 Fiel d Observations
2. 2. 6 J<teasuremcnts on Harves ted Plants
2.2. 7 Per cen taee !h trogen Determi nation
Statistical Kethods
2.3 . 1 Preliminary Analysis of Data
2. 3. 2 The Analysis of Variance
2. 3. 3 Curve Fitting
CHAPTER THREE RESULTS
3. 1 General Descri;ition of the Gr owth and Development of the
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Kaize Crop 58
3.2 Grain Yield and Plant Dry Katter Production (Final Harvest) 60
3. 3 Growth in Total Dry :·leic:-it and Component Parts 61
3. 3 . l Total Shoot Dry Weicht
3.3. 2 Dry :·:eight Changes in Veget a tive Components
3. 3. 3 Dry '..feight Changes in Reproductive Components
3. 4 Dry Matter Contents of Plant Component s
3. 5 Total Plant Nitrogen
3. 6 Concentration of Nit rogen in Plant Components
3. 7 Recovery of Fertiliser Nitrogen
3. 8 Chlorophyll Content
CHAPTER FOUR DISCUSSION
4 . 1 Experimenta l Results
4 . 1.1 Grain and Total Dry Matter Yields
4. 1.2 Dry f•latter Accumula tion and th~ Nitrogen Response Curve
4.1 . 3 Time of Fertiliser Application and Plant Response
4. 1.4 Ni trogen Fertiliser, Lea f Area Index and Longevity of the Photosynthetic Area
4. i.5 Total Dry Weight Changes in Other Component s
4. 1. 6 Nitrogen Uptake and Distribution
4. 1. 7 Nitrogen Deficiency Symptoms and Maize Production
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92 95 99
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4.1.8 Fertiliser Nitrogen and Its Efficiency of Utilisation
Conclusions
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
1 (a) Heather Data for the Experimental Period
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(b) Accumulated Effective Degree Days A2
2 Schedule of Operat ions A3
3 r.;ethod for Determining Chloro'phyll Content of r1iaize Leaves A6
4 ~:icro-Kjcldahl It.ethod for Determining Nitrogen Content of Plant Ifaterial A7
5 Analysis of Variance of Grain Dry ~/eight Per Plant and Total Dry Weight Per Hectare at Harvest 6 ( Physioloc;ical l·ia turi ty) A9
6 Growth in Total Dry Height Per Plant AlO
7 Comparison of Dry I·iatter Increment (y) with Time (x,days) (Linear form of Gompertz Curves) Al2
8 Analysis of Variance of Leaf Dry Heicht Per Plant a t Harvests 3, 4, 5 and 6 Al3
9(a) Sun1mary of Leaf Arca and LAI per Plant for the Main Factor Treatments (N rate) Al5
9(b) Analysis of Va riance of Sheath Area per Plant at Harvest 6 (Physiological ~:a turi ty) Al6
10 Analysis of Variance of Leaf Dry Matter Content and Stem Dry J1:atter Content at Harvest 6 and Harvests 3 and 4 Respectively Al7
11 Analysis of Variance of Total Shoot Nitrogen Yield per Hectare at Harvests 2, 4 and 6 Al9
12 Analysis of Variance of Leaf nitrogen Content per Plant at Harvests 2, 4 and 6 A21
13 Summary of Leaf, Stem and Root N Concentration per Plant for the Main Factor Treatment (N rate) A23
14 Analysis of Variance of Leaf Nitrogen Concentration per Plant at Harvest 4 A25
15 Summary of Grain Nitrogen Concentration per Plant at Harvests 4, 5 and 6 for the Main Factor Treatment (N rate) A26
Table
1.1
2. 1 2. 2
2. 3 3.1 3. 2 3. 3
3. 4
3. 6
3. 7
3. 8
3.10
3 . 11
3 . 12
3 . 13
3 .14
3. 15
3 .16
3 . 17
3 .18
3. 19
3 . 20
LI~T OF TABLES
Percentage of total shoot dry matter in different plant parts at maturity
Summary of Ni trogcn Fertiliser Treatments
Summary of Nonthly Rainfall Data
Plant Variables J.~easured at Each Harvest
Da.yG to 50% tasselline, cilking and physioloV.cal maturity
Daily air temperatures fo r December 1972 r.:ean dai ly air temperatures
Summary of total dry matter yields for grain and the whole shoot
Regression coefficients for total shoot dry weicht over t i me
Surrmary of lea f dr y weight per plant
Interaction effects beti·1een N rate and time of application for leaf dr y weight
Summary of she.ath area per plant
Interaction effects between N rate and time of application for sheath area
Summary of stem dry weight per plant
Root dry wei c:;ht per plant
Shoot to root r atios
S"Ll:"Tlrr.ary of 11husk" dry Height per plant
Summary of cob dry weicht per plant
Summa~y of componer.ts of b!'ain yield at physiological maturity
Yield of N in the 1·1hole shoot
Interaction effects between N rate and time of application for total N content
Nitrogen uptake per day
Interaction effects between N r ate and time of application for leaf N content
Interaction effects between N rate and time of application for stem N content
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3 . 21 Root N content and yi eld 77
3 . 22 Interactio.!1 effects between N rate and time of application for "husk" N content 78
3 . 23 Interaction effects between N rate and time of application for stem N concentration 79
3. 24 Interaction effects between N rate and time of application for grain N concentration 81
3 . 25 Recovery of fertiliser N 81
Colour den:::1i ty after extraction in ethanol
E:::itirnated root dry weight data
Ratio of bI'i.i.in ni trogcn to stover nitrogen at physiological maturity
Paee 82
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LIST OF FI GUrc::s
F'i {';ure
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Experimental Layout
General Plant Growth and Development at :Sach Harvest
Total ~lant Production (excluding Roots) and Grain Yield
Comparison of Growth in Total Shoot Dry Weight Per Plant
Total Shoot Dry Weight and Percentage Distribution in Plant Parts
Re~Q.ti v.e Growth Rate of Leaves
Leaf Area Per Plant and LAI
Relative Growth Rate of Stem
Dry r.~atter Content (Fresh WeiGht Basis) of Shoot Cor.:ponents
Accumulation of Dry T·iatter and Xi trogen with Time Relative to the Final Harvest
Total Shoot Nitrogen Yield <md Percentage Distribution in Flan t Parts
Nitrogen Concentration in Leaf, Stem and Root
Nitrogen Concentration in Cob 1 "Husk" and Grain
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79 80
Pl::i.te
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LIST OF PLATGS
ShowinG the arrangement of irrication l aterals and whiGkers betwee n rows of maize plants
Showing the soil injector and its operation
Shoi·ri n;; root s ampli nr,- opera ti on; Gtecl frarr.e, container .:.rncl sample
Showin~ N deficiency symptoms in the lower portions of the plar,ts from a plot' receiving no N fertiliser
Showing normal colouration in the lower portions of plants from a. plot receiving G72 kg N/ha
Showi nc lower l eaf and stem portions of individual plants rcceivinr; 672 kg IT/ha (LBS ) and no N fertiliser (HHS)
ShowinG' individua) pl ants receiving 672 kc N/ha (LHS) and no N fertil:iGer (nHS)
Showing individual plants receiving 168 kg 11/ha (LHS) and no N fertiliser (RHS )
Showing indiviciual plants receiving 84 kg r;/ha (LHS) and no N fertiliser (RHS)
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ACKNOWLEDGE! .. ~"SNTS
If is my pleasure to acknowledge the constant interest,
encouragement and gi;.idance that I received from my supervisor
Professor B.R. ilatkin (Agronomy Department, Massey University ), during
the course of this project. His assistance and helpful criticism in
the preparation of this manuscri pt was also much appreciated.
To Mr . G.O. Fdmeades (presently at the University of Guelph,
Ontario, Canada) I extend my thanks for his interest and help in the
initial planning of this project.
I am indebted to Mr . J .s. Wheeler (former Dairy Farms Supervisor)
for permission to use land at his disposal and for the latitude given
in the choice of a site to conduct this experiment.
The respective donations of seed and insecticide by Thomas Corson
and Son, Ltd., Gisborne and Neill , Cropper and Co., Ltd., were
gratefully received.
For their encourage~ent and help in the computer analyses and time
willingly given in discussion and interpretation of results I wish to
t hank r.:r . A.C. P. Chu and £.:r. I.L. Gordon . I an1 grateful to I·'.r . A. G.
Robertson for helpful advice, the pr ovi si on of the soil injector, and
for taking t he photograph of the root sampling operation . Tta.~ks is
due to liiss R. K. F..d.monds for competent technical assistance during the
Kjeldahl analyses and for drawing Figure 2, and to I·ir • .s.rr,. Badger for
designing and constructing the steel frame used in the root sampling
operation.
I wish to extend my thanks to Dr. J.A. Pollok (Soil Science
Department, Massey University) for conducting a detailed study of the
soil in the plot area and to all other members of the Agronomy and
Soil Science Departments who offered helpful advice during the course
of this project.
I wish to gratefully acknowledge the interest and advice of
Mr. P.R. Ball (Grasslands Division, D.S.I.R., Palmerston North) that
was willingly given on numerous occasions throughout this study and
for permission to use unpublished data. I am grateful to the staff of
the Analytical Laboratory at Grasslands Division, D.S.I.R., Palmerston
North for carrying out total N' determinations on soil samples. I am
indebted to Professor R.L. Earle (Biotechnology Department, Massey
University) for providing suitable laboratory faoili ties for the
Kjeldahl analyses.
I would like to express my appreciation of the prompt and
efficient service received at all times from the staffs of the
:r.:assey University and D. S . I . R. Libraries .
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I·am particularly grateful to my friends and members of my family
who willingly gave of their time at critical stages of the field work .
I wish to express my gratitude to 1-lrs . P . O. ~·'.artis for her careful
and prompt typing of the draft and final .copy of this thesis and to
the staff of the Viassey University Printery for the production of the
figures.
·Th~ unlimited assistance and understanding of my family was of
immense value in eiving me the assurance necessary to complete this
project .
SUJ.'ITIIARY
The respon::;e of a commercial maize cultivar ( PX610). to nitrogen
fertiliser (urea) was studied . Four l evels of nitrocen viz. 84 , 168,
336 2.nd 672 kc/ha were applied over three different growth stages as
follows: (i) all at planting; (ii) tat planting, ~at 6 weeks
growth ; (iii) -} at planting, 1 at 6 Hecks GI'OWth 1 ~ at so;: Silking.
'l'he plants were crown at a population of 96,900/ha and water was
continuously applied to the crop throur,h a trickle irrii:;ation system .
A.L
'l'otLt1. · and cor.iponcnt plant responses were determined on several
occasions throuchout the experimental period to physioloGical maturity .
Nitrocen l evels and distribution within the plant were also measured.
The yields of grain (11,000-14,000 kg/ha) and total plant dry
matter (24,000-29,000 kg/ha) recorded at physiological maturity were
hi gh . However, no significant plant dry weight responses to different
rates and times of nitrogen fertiliser application were detected.
Nevertheless, critical analysis of these responses did show that the
rate at which plants reached their 1.1axir.rnm dr,y matter production
(upper asymptote) was c;reatest in the treatments receivi ng intermediate
levels (168 and 336 kg/ha) of nitrogen fertiliser .
Significant differences ivere recorded in terms of the nitrogen
content of the plant in the res pons e to t he nitrogen applied . Uptake
of nitrogen increased with nitrogen rate and the concentration of
nitrogen in the grain and most other plant components, increased with
higher rates of nitrogen fertiliser . During early growth there was a
precocious accumulation of nitrogen in the leaves . Substantial losses
of dry weight and nitrogen from non- grain components, ~specially the ·
stems, occurred over the period of rapid grain filling. These losses
were. noticeable at an earlier stage in plants showing visual nitrogen
deficiency symptoms (those receiving no nitrogen fertilis er and 84 kg
N/ha). However, these plants appeared to make more efficient use of
available nitrogen in grain production than plants receiving higher
rates of nitrogen.