Measuring the Influence of Key Management Decisions on the Nitrogen Nutritional Status of Annual Ryegrass-Based Forage Crops

Luís Silva; Sofia Barbosa; Fernando Cebola Lidon; José Santos-Silva; Luís Alcino Conceição

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/60375

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Authors

Luís Silva

Sofia Barbosa

Fernando Cebola Lidon

José Santos-Silva

Luís Alcino Conceição

Abstract(s)

Increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by improving agricultural practices and soil knowledge, and implementing precision agriculture, is essential to reduce the overuse of fertilizers and increase nutrient retention. This study aimed to optimize N management in agriculture by establishing a critical N dilution curve (CNDC) and analyzing variations in NUE and the N nutrition index (NNI) among different crops under various treatments. Using a Bayesian model, the CNDC was determined as %Nc = 3.63 × PDM−0.71. The results showed that plant dry matter (PDM) and plant N content (PNC) varied significantly with crop type and sampling moments. Strong positive correlations are presented by PDM with N uptake (NUp) (0.89) and NNI (0.88), along with an inverse correlation with critical N concentration (−0.95). The study found that crops under irrigation conditions had higher NUp and higher NNI. This study provides valuable insights into the influence of key management decisions on the N nutritional status of annual ryegrass-based forage crops. The results highlight the critical role of accurate and conscious decision-making in improving NUE and crop yields, emphasizing the complex interactions between biomass production and N dynamics in crops. The conclusions allow significant benefits to be realized, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Keywords

critical nitrogen concentration data-driven approach crop yield site-specific analysis sustainability variable rate fertilization

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/60375

Citation

Silva, L.; Barbosa, S.; Lidon, F.C.; Santos-Silva, J.; Conceição, L.A. Measuring the Influence of Key Management Decisions on the Nitrogen Nutritional Status of Annual Ryegrass-Based Forage Crops. Agronomy 2024, 14, 1817. https:// doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081817