ENHANCING NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF POTATO AND CEREAL CROPS BY OPTIMIZING TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE, BALANCED NUTRIENTS AND OXYGEN BIOAVAILABILITY

Enhancement of nutrient use efficiency is imperative for increasing economic returns and reducing environmental pollution caused by fertilizer use in crop production systems. In this paper, we have demonstrated at a given soil temperature and nitrogen (N) rate, N loss via ammonia emission at 80% field capacity (FC) soil water regime in potato production was decreased by 58 to 81% compared to that at 20% FC, in two soils. In another study, N uptake by flooded corn (genotype: FR27 × FRMO17) seedlings with oxygen fertilization was 8-fold greater than that without oxygen fertilization. Nitrogen utilization efficiency of wheat (cv. ‘Yanzhong 144’) seedlings grown in a complete nutrient solution was 10-fold greater than that of the seedlings under low-phosphorus stress. It is concluded that appropriate management of soil water, oxygen fertilization, and of well-balanced nutrients supply significantly enhance N uptake and utilization efficiencies of corn and wheat, and minimize N loss.