Nitrogen Management, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Seed Yield and Quality of Creeping Signalgrass

Author(s)

Catuchi, Tiago A. ; Soratto, Rogerio P. ; Francisquini Junior, Amarildo ; Aranda, Elton A. ; Guidorizzi, Fernando V. C. ; Tiritan, Carlos S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CROP SCIENCE; v. 57, n. 5, p. 2865-2874, SEP-OCT 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilization management can affect the seed yield and quality of tropical forage grasses. Studies have shown the effect of N rates on tropical grass seed production, but no study has evaluated the effect of application timing of N on the N use efficiency (NUE) and seed yield and quality of creeping signalgrass {[}Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone \& Zuloaga, syn. Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick.]. Field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons in Santo Anastacio, Sao Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the influence of N fertilization timing on plant nutrition, herbage mass, N uptake, NUE, and seed yield and quality of creeping signalgrass `Llanero'. The treatments included a control (no N application) and four treatments with N applied at different times (150 kg N ha(-1) during the vegetative phase, 150 kg N ha(-1) at panicle initiation {[}prebooting], 100 kg N ha(-1) during the vegetative phase plus 50 kg N ha(-1) at panicle initiation, and 50 kg N ha(-1) during the vegetative phase plus 100 kg N ha(-1) at panicle initiation). Topdressed N fertilization increased the concentration of N in the flag leaf by 35.9% (from 12.2 to 16.6 g kg(-1)) and increased the herbage N uptake by 99.7% (from 72 and 144 kg ha(-1)). Herbage mass was not affected by topdressed N fertilization. The greatest seed yield (64.2% or 136 kg ha(-1) greater than the control, and an average of 22.5% or 64 kg ha(-1) greater than the other N treatments) was observed in response to 100 kg N ha(-1) applied during the vegetative phase plus 50 kg N ha(-1) applied at panicle initiation, which resulted in improved NUE. Seed viability was greater in the treatments where all or most of the N was applied at panicle initiation. In addition, the seed germination percentage was positively affected by N fertilization, regardless of the N application timing. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/09398-4 - Nitrogen management for common bean crop in succession to forage grasses grown for seed production
• Grantee: Tiago Aranda Catuchi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate