Nitrogen balance approach to sunflower fertilization

Matías L. Ruffo, Fernando O. García, Germán A. Bollero, Karina Fabrizzi, R. A. Ruiz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is very limited information on sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) response to nitrogen (N) fertilizer in comparison to other crops. The N-balance method has been proposed to estimate fertilizer rates for many crops but this system has not been developed for sunflower fertilization and thus there is a lack of specific parameters for the use of the N-balance method in sunflower fertilization. The objectives of this experiment were to analyze the response of sunflower yield and yield components to N fertilizer, and to estimate parameters needed to develop a working N balance method. A 2-year study was conducted in Balcarce, Argentina. Five N fertilizer rates were broadcasted (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 kg N ha-1) when the crop reached three pairs of fully expanded leaves. Nitrogen fertilization increased sunflower grain and oil yields, but had no effect on grain oil concentration. A positive response of grain number and grain yield to crop N uptake at the end of flowering was found. In order to maximize yield, sunflower required 47 kg N Mg-1 grain and an uptake of 150 kg N ha-1. Crop N uptake was linearly related to N supply (soil NO3--N at fertilization + mineralized soil N between fertilization and end of flowering + fertilizer N). A 59% uptake efficiency of N supply was estimated. An N supply of 231 kg N ha-1 was required to maximize sunflower yield.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2645-2657
Number of pages13
JournalCommunications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
Volume34
Issue number17-18
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Grain yield
  • N balance method
  • Nitrogen fertilizer
  • Oil yield
  • Sunflower

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