IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v13y2023i2p468-d1070244.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Seasonal Plant Nitrogen Use and Soil N pools in Intermediate Wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum intermedium )

Author

Listed:
  • Michelle Dobbratz

    (Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55018, USA)

  • Jacob M. Jungers

    (Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55018, USA)

  • Jessica L. M. Gutknecht

    (Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN 55018, USA)

Abstract

Intermediate wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum intermedium ; IWG) is a perennial grass under development as a grain and forage crop. Although IWG is known for its ability to take up nitrate and improve water quality, seasonal nitrogen (N) demand and uptake by IWG is not well known. We measured IWG shoot, root, and grain production, tissue N concentration, and soil mineral N at multiple plant growth stages in 1- and 2-year-old IWG stands fertilized with various rates of N: (1) 80 kg N ha −1 applied at spring regrowth (spring), (2) 40–40 kg N ha −1 applied at spring regrowth and anthesis (split), and (3) an unfertilized control. We also calculated nitrogen use efficiency and biomass N yield. Soil mineral N, N-mineralization rates, and plant N concentration increased with fertilization, and lodging increased with spring fertilization, while root physiological N use efficiency (PNUE) declined with fertilization. Seasonally, shoot and root N concentration declined at physiological maturity, while shoot PNUE was highest at maturity, suggesting either that surplus N was allocated to grain or that more biomass was being produced per unit N taken up. In the 1-year-old stand, during fall regrowth, soil mineral N levels were among the lowest; however, the total soil N was highest compared with other sampling times, suggesting a large influx of organic N between physiological maturity and fall regrowth. Based on our results, IWG is well suited to use nitrogen inputs and avoid excess N leaching into groundwater, but it is also clear that IWG has strong seasonal N allocation patterns that should be taken into consideration with N recommendations and best practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle Dobbratz & Jacob M. Jungers & Jessica L. M. Gutknecht, 2023. "Seasonal Plant Nitrogen Use and Soil N pools in Intermediate Wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum intermedium )," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:2:p:468-:d:1070244
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/2/468/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/2/468/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mary H. Ward & Rena R. Jones & Jean D. Brender & Theo M. De Kok & Peter J. Weyer & Bernard T. Nolan & Cristina M. Villanueva & Simone G. Van Breda, 2018. "Drinking Water Nitrate and Human Health: An Updated Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-31, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Douglas J. Cattani, 2024. "Perennial Grains and Oilseeds: Current Status and Future Prospects," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-6, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anusha Ganta & Yasser Bashir & Sovik Das, 2022. "Dairy Wastewater as a Potential Feedstock for Valuable Production with Concurrent Wastewater Treatment through Microbial Electrochemical Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-34, November.
    2. Langhans, Kelley E. & Schmitt, Rafael J.P. & Chaplin-Kramer, Rebecca & Anderson, Christopher B. & Vargas Bolaños, Christian & Vargas Cabezas, Fermin & Dirzo, Rodolfo & Goldstein, Jesse A. & Horangic, , 2022. "Modeling multiple ecosystem services and beneficiaries of riparian reforestation in Costa Rica," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    3. Gonzalez, Rodrigo Barbone & Haas Ornelas, José Renato & Silva, Thiago Christiano, 2023. "The Value of Clean Water: Evidence from an Environmental Disaster," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13273, Inter-American Development Bank.
    4. Angelo Earvin Sy Choi & Benny Marie B. Ensano & Jurng-Jae Yee, 2021. "Fuzzy Optimization for the Remediation of Ammonia: A Case Study Based on Electrochemical Oxidation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Naiara dos Santos & Dominic Clyde-Smith & Ying Qi & Fan Gao & Rosa Busquets & Luiza C. Campos, 2023. "A Study of Microfiber Phytoremediation in Vertical Hydroponics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Adrián Hernández-Fernández & Eduardo Iniesta-López & Yolanda Garrido & Ioannis A. Ieropoulos & Francisco J. Hernández-Fernández, 2023. "Microbial Fuel Cell Using a Novel Ionic-Liquid-Type Membrane-Cathode Assembly with Heterotrophic Anodic Denitrification for Slurry Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-18, October.
    7. Braamhaar, Dagmar J.M. & van der Lee, Jan & Bebe, Bockline O. & Oosting, Simon J., 2025. "From rural to urban: Exploring livestock farming practices in urbanizing landscapes," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    8. Ibrahim Zaganjor & Thomas J. Luben & Tania A. Desrosiers & Alexander P. Keil & Lawrence S. Engel & Adrian M. Michalski & Suzan L. Carmichael & Wendy N. Nembhard & Gary M. Shaw & Jennita Reefhuis & Mah, 2020. "Maternal Exposure to Disinfection By-Products and Risk of Hypospadias in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (2000–2005)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Chai, Yuan & J. Pannell, David & G. Pardey, Philip, 2023. "Nudging farmers to reduce water pollution from nitrogen fertilizer," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    10. Kanthilanka, H. & Ramilan, T. & Farquharson, R.J. & Weerahewa, J., 2023. "Optimal nitrogen fertilizer decisions for rice farming in a cascaded tank system in Sri Lanka: An analysis using an integrated crop, hydro-nutrient and economic model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    11. Peter Ravenscroft & Lucy Lytton, 2022. "Practical Manual on Groundwater Quality Monitoring," World Bank Publications - Reports 37196, The World Bank Group.
    12. Wenwen Feng & Chao Wang & Xiaohui Lei & Hao Wang & Xueliang Zhang, 2020. "Distribution of Nitrate Content in Groundwater and Evaluation of Potential Health Risks: A Case Study of Rural Areas in Northern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Chunlin Hua & Zejun Li & Jeremy Clark, 2025. "Addressing Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Incidentally via Collaboration with Larger Farms: Evidence from China," Working Papers in Economics 25/03, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    14. Maria Fiore & Gea Oliveri Conti & Rosario Caltabiano & Antonino Buffone & Pietro Zuccarello & Livia Cormaci & Matteo Angelo Cannizzaro & Margherita Ferrante, 2019. "Role of Emerging Environmental Risk Factors in Thyroid Cancer: A Brief Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, April.
    15. Dauda Kamara & Doris Bah & Momodu Sesay & Anna Maruta & Bockarie Pompey Sesay & Bobson Derrick Fofanah & Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara & Joseph Sam Kanu & Sulaiman Lakoh & Bailah Molleh & Jamie Guth & Karun, 2022. "Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality and Bacterial Antibiotic Sensitivity in Wells and Standpipes at Household Water Points in Freetown, Sierra Leone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    16. Marek Ruman & Dominika Dąbrowska, 2024. "Evaluation of Water Quality from the Zimny Sztok Spring (Southern Poland)—Preliminary Results," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-14, June.
    17. Gary G. Schwartz & Marilyn G. Klug, 2019. "Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-8, October.
    18. Callum Lowe & Johanna Kurscheid & Aparna Lal & Ross Sadler & Matthew Kelly & Donald Stewart & Budi Laksono & Salvador Amaral & Darren Gray, 2021. "Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Nitrate in Drinking Water in Central Java, Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, March.
    19. Ronald Tenywa & Timothy Omara & Gerald Kwikiriza & Christopher Angiro & Emmanuel Ntambi, 2024. "Spring Water Quality in a Flood-Prone Area of Kampala City, Uganda: Insights Furnished by Sanitary and Limnochemical Data," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, September.
    20. Martínez-García, V. & Martínez-Paz, J.M. & Alcon, F., 2025. "Sustainability assessment of agricultural practices integrating both LCA and ecosystem services approaches," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:2:p:468-:d:1070244. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.