Effect of organic manure on wheat grain yield, nutrient accumulation, and translocation

Abstract

A field study was conducted for two consecutive growing seasons to assess the effect of organic manure on the growth, productivity and nutrient dynamics of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), as well as on the concentration of trace elements in soil and wheat plants. Treatments consisted of two rates of farmyard manure (16 and 32 Mg dry weight ha−1 yr−1), one rate of inorganic fertilizer (IF, 120 kg N ha−1 yr−1 plus 80 kg P2O5 ha−1 yr−1), and an unamended control. Manure improved wheat growth and productivity compared to the unamended control; the response was dependent on the application rate. The high manure rate increased the number of spikes m−2 and resulted in grain yield similar to that of the IF. Manure application caused no changes in N, P, and K concentrations in plant tissues. At the high manure rate, N and P uptake was similar to that of the IF. Averaged across years, manure application resulted in nutrient translocation from vegetative parts to grain at a lower (for the N) or similar (for the P) rate to that of the IF. No differences among treatments in nutrient translocation efficiency were observed. Nitrogen and P translocation was correlated with total aboveground N or P accumulation at anthesis, respectively. The N use efficiency of manure-N was lower compared with that of inorganic fertilizer-N, mainly because of the corresponding differences in uptake efficiency. Trace elements did not increase with added manure either in soil or in wheat plant tissues. © 2016 by the American Society of Agronomy 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711 USA. All rights reserved.