Improving nitrogen-use and radiation-use efficiencies of C4 summer cerealsby split nitrogen applications under an irrigated arid environment

Authors : SHAKEEL AHMAD, HAKOOMAT ALI, UMAIR FAROOQ, SHAHZAD USMAN KHAN, ATIQUE-UR REHMAN, NAEEM SARWAR, AHMAD NAEEM SHAHZAD, HÜLYA DOĞAN, SHABBIR HUSSAIN, MUHAMMAD TAUSEEF SULTAN, ABDUL WAHEED, MUHAMMAD ZIA UL HAQ, KHADIM HUSSAIN, MUHAMMAD AZAM KHAN

Pages : 280-289

View : 16 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2016-04-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Increasing resource-use efficiency is of prime importance in sustainable agriculture. A field study was carried out to improve nitrogen-use efficiency insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(NUE); and radiation-use efficiency insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RUE); of three C4 summer cereals, i.e. Maize, millet, and sorghum, under an irrigated arid environment. The results showed that among various cultivars of cereals, cultivars Pearl insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(maize);, 18 BY insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(millet);, and Jumbo insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(sorghum); produced the highest aboveground total dry matters and grain yields. The highest NUE and RUE were obtained by splitting the nitrogen dose 3 times, i.e. At sowing and at first and second irrigation. The NUE for maize, millet, and sorghum varied from 30.97 to 32.97, 21.34 to 23.32, and 17.39 to 20.22 kg kg-1, respectively. RUE ranged from 1.14 to 1.47, 0.85 to 1.08, and 0.91 to 1.13 g MJ-1 for maize, millet, and sorghum crops, respectively. Maximum resource-use efficiency was achieved by 3 splits, while the minimum was obtained in the control group. It is inferred from this study that those varieties of C4 summer cereals may be commercially grown that are more efficient in utilizing the available resources for harnessing greater NUE as well as RUE under an irrigated arid environment.
Keywords : Maize, millet, nitrogen management, resource use efficiency, sorghum